Rhodes: Spice Boy is back

Remember that exciting Sheffield switch-hitter Ryan Rhodes. Naseem Hamed's great pal was a decent fighter in his own right and he even became the youngest British champion for more than half a century. That was in December 1996. Doesn't time fly?

Adam Smith
Quotes of the week

All of a sudden the heavyweight division looks more alive - and it's the Eastern Europeans who are conquering the West.

Russia's former Olympic Gold Medallist Alexander Povetkin notched up his 15th straight professional win by dominating an IBF eliminator at the week-end against the former unbeaten American Eddie Chambers.

Povetkin, who is now calling himself 'The White Lion' is classy and powerful and in line to fight the winner of the big Wladimir Klitschko-Sultan Ibragimov unification fight, which is exclusively live on Sky Sports. Don't miss it!

We are off to New York for that one, in the home of world boxing, Madison Square Garden, where maybe boxing's glamorous division can take off again soon; the Eastern Europeans are certainly the big men to beat.

Back home, Friday Fight Night's action was for the European light-welterweight title. After a magnificent comeback to his career, Colin Lynes couldn't afford to let it all slip against Finland's Juho Tolppola... and he didn't. It was an exhibition of text-book boxing behind as authoritative a jab as you will see anywhere in Britain.

Lynes completely schooled Tolppola for an emphatic first defence of his belt. It was one for the purists and the only real question it raised was if Lynes possesses enough firepower to go all the way to world level. Still, he showed real quality and kept his momentum rolling in front of a very appreciative home crowd in Dagenham.

Meanwhile, fellow light-welter Ted Bami struggled in his comeback fight and will need more drive in order to beat a fighter of Lynes' calibre.

One youngster we really like the look of was way down the card. Swansea's former top amateur Ricky Owen is quietly making headway. He moves like a good fighter. Owen's precise, has decent balance, a steady work-rate and a bit of power. He switches a bit too much from his preferred southpaw stance, but he's only 22 and worth keeping an eye on.

Revenge

An old favourite returns to headline Friday Fight Night this week. Portsmouth's Tony Oakey is a real crowd pleaser with his come-forward aggression.

Things haven't always run smoothly for Oakey, but he has re-ignited his career of late. He beat Steve Spartacus for the British light-heavyweight title, was perhaps unlucky to get a draw in Ireland with Brian Magee and aims for revenge against Peter Haymer.

Haymer won their first encounter in June 2005, and is keen to prove he is indeed the better man. Could be tough for Haymer though over 12 rounds with Oakey's fitness, desire and engine likely to keep the British belt on the South coast.

The bill is packed. There's another tasty looking 12st 7lbs tussle between two talented prospects Tony Salam and Courtney Fry, we'll have a chance to assess the promising progress of Akaash Bhatia, and the popular Horndon heavyweight John McDermott's also back.

Plus the knowledgeable York Hall crowd will get to see the much touted female lawyer-turned fighter Laura Saperstein.

Some excellent debate followed last week's blog about Oscar de la Hoya's ring finale. Some of you feel he's over-rated; some believe he's an incredible six-weight world champion.

He may not be thought of amongst the greatest fighters of all-time but he will be remembered as one of the most magnetic.

The Golden Boy's the most successful pay-per-view boxer in history, who has brought many female fans to the sport as well as being a hero to both American and Latin-American people.

Not a great deal Stateside in the rumour mill this week except to say that Antonio Margarito won't be facing Zab Judah after all. The Tijuana Tornado is now set for an even more enticing clash with big-punching Kermit Cintron. This will be an eagerly awaited re-match after Margarito won their first encounter in five exciting rounds when they met in 2005.

Backwaters

Clinton Woods-Antonio Tarver is set for April 12th, and the much loved Mi Vida Loca, Johnny Tapia, is still fighting on - albeit in the American backwaters...

In Germany the word is that their unbeaten super-middleweight star Sven Ottke is on his way back to meet former World light-heavyweight champion Darius Michalczewski.

And finally, two forgotten men of British boxing are hoping to get back to the top. After Jason Booth's successful battle with personal demons resulted in his Commonwealth bantamweight victory just before Christmas, brother Nicky has apparently been in secret training for the past few months.

His career looked over due to turmoil outside the ring, but apparently Nicky's in fabulous shape and hopes to get his licence back soon. Maybe the Booth brothers can bring those electric nights back to Nottingham.

And remember that exciting Sheffield switch-hitter Ryan Rhodes. Naseem Hamed's great pal was a decent fighter in his own right and he even became the youngest British champion for more than half a century. That was in December 1996. Doesn't time fly?

Well Ryan is looking to regain that same light-middleweight belt this April when he challenges current holder Gary Woolcombe.

"We had some fun back then Adam, didn't we?" Ryan told me last week. "Now time to dust down those features again because the Spice Boy is back!"

Well The Spice Girls are thrilling the fans again, re-living their youth, and it will be interesting to see if Ryan Rhodes can take boxing fans back down his own memory lane...

What do you remember of Ryan Rhodes? What did you make of Colin Lynes performance and what of the heavyweight division? Let Adam know your thoughts below...