Rhodes derailed in title match-up

The ring-craft of the Canadian schoolteacher Otis Grant proved too much for Ryan Rhodes in Sheffield on Saturday night as the 29-year-old from Montreal took the vacant WBO World Middleweight Championship on a unanimous points decision.

Rhodes, 21, was taking a big step up in class and never seemed capable of solving the problems set by a man who looked superior in almost every department. Grant may be a quietly spoken gentleman of the ring, but he is a formidable boxer. Working behind a tight defence, the southpaw Grant countered Rhodes' flashy hooks and uppercut with telling effect.

Although the ring side judges scored the fight in Grant's favour by two rounds on two cards, and by a single round on the third, the margin of victory seemed considerably wider.

Once Rhodes' much-vaunted power had failed to take effect, the Sheffield youngster was unable to vary his tactics sufficiently and ultimately was on the receiving end of a boxing lesson. Grant, who teaches children with behavioural difficulties and is a university graduate, quickly offered instructional points to his beaten opponent. "Ryan can be a world champion one day, but he must learn not to telegraph his punches and he must pace himself better. There were a few rounds where he started well, but I finished stronger to take the eye of the judges," said Grant.