Clinton Woods
Encyclopedia
Clinton Woods is a retired professional boxer
from Sheffield
, England
. He is the former IBF
, European
, British, & Commonwealth light heavyweight
champion.
Growing up in tough surroundings, he was involved in a life of drugs and crime before taking up boxing as an escape.
. After compiling a record of 13–0 he stepped in with Craig Joseph and beat him over 10 rounds to win the Central Area super middleweight title. After a series of victories Woods, with a record of 18–0, fought for the vacant Commonwealth belt against Mark Baker, who had a record of 20–1. Woods won the fight and claimed the belt with a 12 round points decision.
. The fight ended in a first defeat for Woods.
Woods bounced back from the Starie defeat by moving up a weight division to light heavyweight and winning his next two fights before landing a shot at fellow Yorkshireman and current holder of the British, Commonwealth and European light-heavyweight titles Crawford Ashley. Woods knocked out Ashley in the eighth round and captured the three belts.
He ended up defending his Commonwealth and European titles twice each and adding the WBC
International light-heavyweight title to his résumé. The latter victory being for a WBC strap set himself up for an eliminator for the full WBC light heavyweight title. The fight took place in Sheffield, in September 2001. Woods beat the experienced Italian-Ugandan Yawe Davis in a unanimous decision to land himself a shot at a world title.
, WBA
, & IBF
titles on the line. Woods lost after being stopped in the sixth round and later said that he wasn't really ready for a fight of that magnitude.
Woods rebuilt from the defeat by Jones with three straight wins and then found himself in the ring with Glen Johnson
. His second world title attempt was for the IBF belt and took place in November 2003 at Sheffield's Hillsborough Leisure Centre and the fight ended in a draw. Three months later in February 2004 the two met once again in Sheffield
this time at the Ponds Forge Centre, the result this time going Johnson's way after 12 rounds.
. The fight took place in Rotherham and ended with Woods winning when the referee stopped the fight in the 5th round.
In September 2005 at the Hallam FM Arena, Sheffield, Yorkshire, Woods defeated mandatory challenger and former WBO & Lineal
champion Julio Cesar Gonzalez
via a clear unanimous decision. A voluntary defence against Jason Delisle followed, before Woods fought Glen Johnson
for a third time. In the ninth round Woods sustained heavy punishment to the head at the hands of the Jamaican, but the Sheffield boxer fought back to win the subsequent rounds. The American judge, Richard Bays scored the fight 115–112 in favour of Woods, Mickey Vann
scored the contest 115–113 in favour of Johnson and Roberto Ramirez
116–112 scored in favour of Woods. It was a split decision but Woods had defeated the man who had beaten him in 2004.
In September 2007, Woods again successfully defended his IBF title against Julio Cesar Gonzalez with a unanimous decision.
and lost his IBF title. Tarver out boxed the Sheffield man on the way to a comfortable points victory. Following the defeat, a dejected Woods hinted that he may quit the sport. A change of trainer followed the defeat with Woods replacing Richard Poxon for Glyn Rhodes. The change seemed to have reaped dividends when on 14 February 2009 Woods travelled to the Channel Island of Jersey
to defeat Kosovan
fighter Elvir Muriqi
in an eliminator for his old IBF title.
In August 2009, Woods once more fought on the world stage when he again traveled to Florida
, to challenge local man Tavoris Cloud
for the now-vacant IBF title. Woods went on to drop a 12 round decision. When asked about retirement after the defeat, Woods said "To be honest, the thought of that upsets me more than losing the world title, retiring from the sport I love".
Woods announced his retirement from boxing on 8 September 2009.
Boxing
Boxing, also called pugilism, is a combat sport in which two people fight each other using their fists. Boxing is supervised by a referee over a series of between one to three minute intervals called rounds...
from Sheffield
Sheffield
Sheffield is a city and metropolitan borough of South Yorkshire, England. Its name derives from the River Sheaf, which runs through the city. Historically a part of the West Riding of Yorkshire, and with some of its southern suburbs annexed from Derbyshire, the city has grown from its largely...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. He is the former IBF
International Boxing Federation
The International Boxing Federation or IBF is one of four major organizations recognized by IBHOF which sanction world championship boxing bouts, alongside the WBA, WBC and WBO.- History :...
, European
European Boxing Union
The European Boxing Union is an organization that oversees competition in that sport over the continent of Europe.-History:The EBU started life as the International Boxing Union in Paris in 1910...
, British, & Commonwealth light heavyweight
Light heavyweight
In boxing, the light heavyweight is a weight division above 168 pounds [12 Stone or 76.204 kilograms] and up to 175 pounds [12.5 stone or 79.38 kilograms]), falling between super middleweight and cruiserweight...
champion.
Growing up in tough surroundings, he was involved in a life of drugs and crime before taking up boxing as an escape.
Early professional career
Woods started his pro career with a points win over Dave Proctor in his home town of SheffieldSheffield
Sheffield is a city and metropolitan borough of South Yorkshire, England. Its name derives from the River Sheaf, which runs through the city. Historically a part of the West Riding of Yorkshire, and with some of its southern suburbs annexed from Derbyshire, the city has grown from its largely...
. After compiling a record of 13–0 he stepped in with Craig Joseph and beat him over 10 rounds to win the Central Area super middleweight title. After a series of victories Woods, with a record of 18–0, fought for the vacant Commonwealth belt against Mark Baker, who had a record of 20–1. Woods won the fight and claimed the belt with a 12 round points decision.
Defeat and refocus
In his next fight the unbeaten Woods found himself opposite former British champion David StarieDavid Starie
David Starie, in Bury St. Edmunds, England was a fringe British professional boxer. He is a former Commonwealth super middleweight champion and British super middleweight champion.-Professional career:...
. The fight ended in a first defeat for Woods.
Woods bounced back from the Starie defeat by moving up a weight division to light heavyweight and winning his next two fights before landing a shot at fellow Yorkshireman and current holder of the British, Commonwealth and European light-heavyweight titles Crawford Ashley. Woods knocked out Ashley in the eighth round and captured the three belts.
He ended up defending his Commonwealth and European titles twice each and adding the WBC
World Boxing Council
The World Boxing Council was initially established by 11 countries: the United States, Argentina, United Kingdom, France, Mexico, Philippines, Panama, Chile, Peru, Venezuela and Brazil plus Puerto Rico, met in Mexico City on February 14, 1963, upon invitation of the then President of Mexico, Adolfo...
International light-heavyweight title to his résumé. The latter victory being for a WBC strap set himself up for an eliminator for the full WBC light heavyweight title. The fight took place in Sheffield, in September 2001. Woods beat the experienced Italian-Ugandan Yawe Davis in a unanimous decision to land himself a shot at a world title.
World title fights
Clinton travelled to the United States for his big chance in September 2002. He stepped into the ring at the Rose Garden in Oregon and stood opposite Roy Jones, with the WBCWorld Boxing Council
The World Boxing Council was initially established by 11 countries: the United States, Argentina, United Kingdom, France, Mexico, Philippines, Panama, Chile, Peru, Venezuela and Brazil plus Puerto Rico, met in Mexico City on February 14, 1963, upon invitation of the then President of Mexico, Adolfo...
, WBA
World Boxing Association
The World Boxing Association is a boxing organization that sanctions official matches, and awards the WBA world championship title at the professional level. It was previously known as the National Boxing Association before changing its name in 1962...
, & IBF
International Boxing Federation
The International Boxing Federation or IBF is one of four major organizations recognized by IBHOF which sanction world championship boxing bouts, alongside the WBA, WBC and WBO.- History :...
titles on the line. Woods lost after being stopped in the sixth round and later said that he wasn't really ready for a fight of that magnitude.
Woods rebuilt from the defeat by Jones with three straight wins and then found himself in the ring with Glen Johnson
Glen Johnson (boxer)
Glengoffe Donovan Johnson is a professional boxer. Nicknamed Gentleman and The Road Warrior, Johnson is the former IBF and Ring magazine light heavyweight champion.-Amateur career:...
. His second world title attempt was for the IBF belt and took place in November 2003 at Sheffield's Hillsborough Leisure Centre and the fight ended in a draw. Three months later in February 2004 the two met once again in Sheffield
Sheffield
Sheffield is a city and metropolitan borough of South Yorkshire, England. Its name derives from the River Sheaf, which runs through the city. Historically a part of the West Riding of Yorkshire, and with some of its southern suburbs annexed from Derbyshire, the city has grown from its largely...
this time at the Ponds Forge Centre, the result this time going Johnson's way after 12 rounds.
IBF champion
Woods found himself in an IBF title eliminator in his next fight. Eight months after his defeat to Johnson, Woods took on the Australian Jason DeLisle at the Octagon Centre in Sheffield. He won the fight despite being put down in the first round and set himself up for world title fight number 4. The title was vacant again and this time Woods found himself in the ring with undefeated American Rico HoyeRico Hoye
Rico Hoye is an American professional boxer who competes in the light heavyweight and cruiserweight divisions. He comes from Monroe, MI, is a former World title challenger and was a contestant in the fourth season of the Contender.-Early professional career:...
. The fight took place in Rotherham and ended with Woods winning when the referee stopped the fight in the 5th round.
In September 2005 at the Hallam FM Arena, Sheffield, Yorkshire, Woods defeated mandatory challenger and former WBO & Lineal
Lineal championship
In professional boxing, the lineal championship of a weight class is a notional world championship title. It is initially held at some moment in time by a boxer universally acclaimed as the best in the class. Another boxer can win the lineal championship only by defeating the reigning lineal...
champion Julio Cesar Gonzalez
Julio Cesar Gonzalez
Julio César González Ibarra is a Mexican boxer and the former Lineal & WBO light heavyweight champion.Gonzalez was born in Guerrero Negro, Baja California Sur, and still claims Mexico as his native country although he has lived in the United States for several years...
via a clear unanimous decision. A voluntary defence against Jason Delisle followed, before Woods fought Glen Johnson
Glen Johnson (boxer)
Glengoffe Donovan Johnson is a professional boxer. Nicknamed Gentleman and The Road Warrior, Johnson is the former IBF and Ring magazine light heavyweight champion.-Amateur career:...
for a third time. In the ninth round Woods sustained heavy punishment to the head at the hands of the Jamaican, but the Sheffield boxer fought back to win the subsequent rounds. The American judge, Richard Bays scored the fight 115–112 in favour of Woods, Mickey Vann
Mickey Vann
Mickey Vann and based in Leeds, is a former boxer and British boxing referee. Vann was a 'Class A Star' referee and boxing judge. He arbitrated his first professional bout on 14 January 1985, and since has refereed many World, regional, and national title fights.Before becoming a referee, Vann...
scored the contest 115–113 in favour of Johnson and Roberto Ramirez
Roberto Ramírez
Roberto Sanchez Ramírez is a former Major League Baseball pitcher currently pitching for the Diablos Rojos del México in the Mexican League. He played two seasons in the majors, pitching in 21 games for the San Diego Padres in 1998 and 34 games for the Colorado Rockies in 1999. He joined the...
116–112 scored in favour of Woods. It was a split decision but Woods had defeated the man who had beaten him in 2004.
In September 2007, Woods again successfully defended his IBF title against Julio Cesar Gonzalez with a unanimous decision.
Defeat and comeback
In April 2008 at St. Pete Times Forum, Tampa, Florida, United States, Woods gave a lacklustre display against American Antonio TarverAntonio Tarver
Antonio Deon Tarver , nicknamed the "Magic Man", is a professional boxer from Orlando, Florida and the former WBC, WBA, IBF, & The Ring light heavyweight champion....
and lost his IBF title. Tarver out boxed the Sheffield man on the way to a comfortable points victory. Following the defeat, a dejected Woods hinted that he may quit the sport. A change of trainer followed the defeat with Woods replacing Richard Poxon for Glyn Rhodes. The change seemed to have reaped dividends when on 14 February 2009 Woods travelled to the Channel Island of Jersey
Jersey
Jersey, officially the Bailiwick of Jersey is a British Crown Dependency off the coast of Normandy, France. As well as the island of Jersey itself, the bailiwick includes two groups of small islands that are no longer permanently inhabited, the Minquiers and Écréhous, and the Pierres de Lecq and...
to defeat Kosovan
Kosovo
Kosovo is a region in southeastern Europe. Part of the Ottoman Empire for more than five centuries, later the Autonomous Province of Kosovo and Metohija within Serbia...
fighter Elvir Muriqi
Elvir Muriqi
Elvir Muriqi is a Kosovar-Albanian boxer. Elvir was born in Kosovo but moved to the United States in 1996 with his family to escape the growing tension in Kosovo. Muriqi boxed as an amateur in his homeland but never had a chance to become known outside Albania. Muriqi turned professional in New...
in an eliminator for his old IBF title.
In August 2009, Woods once more fought on the world stage when he again traveled to Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
, to challenge local man Tavoris Cloud
Tavoris Cloud
Tavoris Karod Cloud is an American professional boxer born in Tallahassee, Florida, USA, and the current IBF light heavyweight champion.-Early life:...
for the now-vacant IBF title. Woods went on to drop a 12 round decision. When asked about retirement after the defeat, Woods said "To be honest, the thought of that upsets me more than losing the world title, retiring from the sport I love".
Woods announced his retirement from boxing on 8 September 2009.