British Scene: Rhodes Batters Messi - World Title Shot Looms

Andrew Harrison recaps Friday night's European light-middleweight title clash. For more from Andrew, make sure to check out his blog, Safe Side of the Ropes.

Luca Messi emerged into the Ponds Forge Arena to the strains of "Firestarter" on Friday evening, yet the outgunned Italian challenger wasn’t even afforded time to gather up his kindling in Sheffield, before European light middleweight champ Ryan Rhodes extinguished his spark, with a punch perfect performance.

Defending the title he so brilliantly wrenched away from Jamie Moore in Bolton, Rhodes dismantled his brave but outgunned challenger just prior to the half way mark, dropping him three times in all throughout a powerful and stylish exhibition.

Messi brought along plenty of support with him to the Steel City. A pocket of Italian flag waving fans set up camp close to ringside, and they made themselves heard above the locals with chants of "Luca, Luca" as he strode to the ring. Rhodes, meanwhile, was surrounded by alumni past and present from the Brendan Ingle sweat shop which crafted him; Kell Brook, Jon Thaxton, Johnny Nelson and Prince Naseem Hamed were all present and correct.

Messi barely landed a punch in the opener, despite being the aggressor. Rhodes, boxing on the back foot and switching stances, got off with some salty counter punches whenever Messi came into range, quickly reddening the challenger’s face.

As Messi chased him into a corner and set himself to retaliate, Rhodes landed a perfectly timed counter left which crashed through the middle of Messi’s guard and sent him flying onto his backside. Undaunted, the tough veteran complained of a slip and then continued to pursue the champion up unto the bell.

The second round was slightly more encouraging for "The Bergamo Bomber" as he stuck to his guns, advancing with his mitts held high before attempting to get off with two handed bursts. Rhodes continued to land left hands with impunity, whilst spinning away from Messi in familiar Wincobank fashion when cornered.

Rhodes flew off his blocks in the third. As Messi followed him, Rhodes banged in a quick right hook behind the guard to move his man into position, before shooting a laser sharp straight left through his gloves, dumping him onto the canvas for the second time. On this occasion, there were no protestations, Luca was hurt and went into full retreat. Rhodes steadily walked his man down, launching thumping punches behind Messi’s high shield and pinning him into a shell in a corner. A stoppage looked imminent, yet the Italian showed his grittiness in hanging tough and riding out the storm.

Messi began to swarm in the fourth, looking to close the distance on Rhodes before getting off with two handed combinations. Rhodes, meanwhile, jabbed coolly from the orthodox stance, cancelling out his opponent’s volume and industry with meatier, single thwacks.

The fifth was quieter, yet the gulf in power and indeed size, was beginning to tell.

Rhodes lowered the boom in the sixth, battering the remaining resistance out of his gutsy foe with the right hand, straight left tactic which worked so well for him. He sucked the fight from his man completely with a booming shot upstairs; the right body shot which sunk him to his knees was perfunctory. Messi rose gallantly but was battered against the ropes, Rhodes topping off his stellar showing with a right hand and left hook-cum-uppercut which thudded into the Italian’s face. Referee Manuel Palomo’s intervention was right on schedule and he called time on proceedings at the 1:09 mark.

It was exactly the type of performance Rhodes needed to reaffirm his credentials for a world title shot at light middleweight. "The last of the brat pack" as he was described by former gym mate Nelson, is enjoying a late career purple patch, still packing them in and strutting his stuff. If promoter Ricky Hatton can land him a title shot on home soil, and if the man in the opposing corner just happened to be the disgraced Antonio Margarito (who Rhodes spoke of post fight), he’ll find himself with more than just Sheffield in his corner.

Rhodes extends his record to 44-4 (30), whilst Messi falls to 36-8-1 (12).