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Boxer Ryan Rhodes KO's wrestler at Bret Hart show - VIDEO
BOXER Ryan Rhodes has lived up to the hype and knocked out his latest big mouth challenger – in the WRESTLING ring.
WATCH VIDEO: Click the green button to watch the Ryan Rhodes knockout punch, wrestling action, interviews with Rhodes and Egan – plus WWE icon Bret Hart's guest appearance.
iPHONE VIDEO: Watch the Ryan Rhodes knockout punch, Big Joe Egan action and WWE legend Bret Hart's appearance on your iPhone, with a wifi connection. CLICK HERE.
Rhodes, the 32-year-old Sheffield fight hero and Star Sports Personality of the Year winner was under orders from his team to withdraw from the boxer v wrestler grudge match against Scott Gallagher, 24, at iceSheffield.
It was feared Rhodes, not a trained wrestler, could have suffered serious injuries threatening his world title boxing dreams.
And that's how the bout began, in front of a crowd of around 1,000 fight fans - with Rhodes reluctantly stepping aside to be replaced by pal Big Joe Egan, Mike Tyson's former sparring partner and now movie tough guy.
The wrestler's kicks and punches just bounced off the man Iron Mike labelled "the toughest white man on the planet".
But when Gallagher jumped on his back, to win with a strangle hold which Egan later classed as "cheating", Rhodes – cheered on by his fans at ringside - pulled on his gloves, jumped back in the ring and knocked the wrestler spark out with one punch.
"I couldn't let it end with the wrestler gloating after what he did to win Joe. My fans expected more of me and they got it. I love wrestling. It's great entertainment and it was fun to be involved,'' said Rhodes who, ranked eighth light middleweight in the world by the WBC, will now be concentrating on a world title shot in the next 12-months.
WWE hall of fame legend Bret "The Hitman" Hart, who flew in from Canada for the spectacle and to meet fans, helped to raise cash for Sheffield Children's Hospital with a raffle of one of his signed belts. He praised the organisation of the LGI promoted 1PW wrestling show and said: "I didn't see all of it but the boxers were one of my favourite parts. It was very entertaining."
The retired wrestler, who has made an almost full recovery after a major stroke a few years ago, says he won't ever wrestler again. His autobiography is currently a best seller and he hopes to make more guest appearances. He said: "It was great to see lots of fans who had so many kind things to say in Sheffield. I had said this might be my last visit. But after this I wouldn't say never."
Also on the bill at Steel City Ice Rage – Total Meltdown was Sheffield's own Kris Travis, plus TV superstar wrestlers including ex WWE star Colt Cabana, ROH Champion Jerry Lynn and TNA giant, The Masked Monster Abyss.
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Weather for Sheffield
Saturday 26 May 2012
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