clock menu more-arrow no yes mobile

Filed under:

Quigg vs Munroe Undercard: Ryan Rhodes in Crossroads Bout, Martin Murray in Action

Middleweight contender Martin Murray is back in action this Saturday on the Quigg vs Munroe undercard. (Photo by Lars Baron/Bongarts/Getty Images)
Middleweight contender Martin Murray is back in action this Saturday on the Quigg vs Munroe undercard. (Photo by Lars Baron/Bongarts/Getty Images)
Bongarts/Getty Images

We'll be taking a deeper look at Saturday's big super bantamweight fight in Manchester, England, between Scott Quigg and Rendall Munroe, but there are a couple of known names on the undercard, too, so let's first discuss the undercard.

The Sky Sports-televised co-feature is an interesting crossroads scrap between veteran Ryan Rhodes and unbeaten Sergey Rebchenko. Rhodes, 35, has fought once since his totally one-sided defeat last year in Mexico against Canelo Alvarez, a fight where many thought the experienced, crafty southpaw could have been a tricky proposition, but, well, he wasn't, to put it mildly, as Alvarez simply overpowered him.

[ Related: Scott Quigg Promotional Video ]

Rhodes (46-5, 31 KO) probably doesn't have a whole lot of career left as a notable fighter, but his story has been a roller coaster ride already. He was a majorly hyped prospect when he turned pro in 1995, and won the British title at 154 pounds in just his 11th pro fight. Then known as "Spice Boy," he suffered a setback when he moved to middleweight and lost to Otis Grant at home in Sheffield, with the vacant WBO belt on the line, in 1997.

He just never could get it together at 160, losing to Jason Matthews and Lee Blundell, both by stoppage, in 1999 and 2002, and then to Gary Buckland by decision in 2006. He mounted a comeback and regained the British title at 154 pounds, then won the European belt.

But that comeback is now old news, and he's fighting to hang on. He beat tough gatekeeper Siarhei Khomitski in December to get back in the win column.

Rebchenko (20-0, 15 KO), from Belarus, has moved his career to the UK and won four straight on their soil. Though he's unbeaten, a focused, in-shape Rhodes should be his toughest test to date.

Also in action will be middleweight contender Martin Murray (23-0-1, 10 KO), who will be fighting for the first time since his December draw against Felix Sturm. He'll be in a stay-busy fight, or so it would appear, against French middleweight champion (this means nothing) Karim Achour (13-2-2, 2 KO).

Former British welterweight champ Craig Watson (20-5, 8 KO) looks to bounce back from consecutive losses to Lee Purdy, facing Tomasz Mazurkiewicz (5-7-2, 1 KO).

32-year-old, 6'8" heavyweight Richard Towers (13-0, 10 KO) will face France's Gregory Tony (17-2, 14 KO).

Sign up for the newsletter Sign up for the Bad Left Hook Daily Roundup newsletter!

A daily roundup of all your global boxing news from Bad Left Hook