By Terence Dooley
Curtis Woodhouse took a few minutes out from celebrating with his gym mate Ryan Rhodes to confirm to us that his proposed match with Graham Earl is a now goer for the KC Sports Arena, Hull on the 27th of next month.
Woodhouse turned his back on the lucrative world of professional football in order to make his dreams come true in the boxing ring. A points reverse to Jay Morris, in Curtis’ last outing, has not dented Woodhouse’s confidence and the Sheffield boxer believes that he can add Earl’s scalp to his resume.
“Yep, Earl’s up next for me,” confirmed Woodhouse. “It is my biggest fight so far. The biggest name I’ve fought. Graham may not be at his peak but he is a big step up for me and I’m looking forward to it.
“It is a funny story really. The first person I met when going to the board for my pro license was Graham Earl, he was in a gym in London preparing for his fight with Yuri Romanov and I actually gave me a signed photo of himself. A few years on and I’m fighting him in my biggest fight!
“When Dave [Coldwell] phoned me and offered the fight I told him to take it. It is brilliant for me. It is what I’m in boxing for. This is the first name I’ve fought and I want to produce a performance. Earl can still bang and he is one of those who will get you in trouble if he hits you on the button. I’ll have to keep away from that right hand of his.”
Curtis is a late starter; he is 29-years-old and playing catch up in the sport of boxing. Woodhouse’s 10-1 (5 KO’s) slate has been complied against the usual roll call of journeymen but the fight with Earl, who won Commonwealth and British lightweight titles, sees him stepping up a class.
Graham fought Michael Katsidis for the interim WBO title in 2007, the man from Luton has been damaged goods for a few years now but he could be capable of springing one last upset, especially when you take into account the fact that Woodhouse is still coming to terms with the loss of his ‘0’.
“That defeat was hard to take but, like I’ve always said, I’m on a steep learning curve in the sport of boxing. When I turned pro I didn’t think I’d get to 49-0 and break Marciano’s record – I knew there’d be a few defeats along the way,” mused woodhouse.
“I was devastated for a few days after the loss but I got back into the gym and got it out of my system by training hard to improve my technique. The teams I played in as a footballer meant that you get used to losing! It was water off a ducks back in football but losing a boxing match is that bit more personal as it is an individual sport. In football you can blame the goalkeeper for a defeat but there is nowhere to hide in boxing.”
Woodhouse is also drawing strength from Ryan Rhodes return to the top; Rhodes has a few years, plus a decade of in-ring wear-and-tear, on Woodhouse, the former premiership footballer told me that Ryan is an inspiration figure.
“I’m here supporting Ryan tonight and he gives me that inspiration,” enthused Woodhouse. “Look where he has come from, he’s now on his way to a WBC world title shot. Just training in the gym with him, and seeing his technique, can take me to another level. I still believe I can get there, even if no one else does. I don’t think that my mum believes I’ve got a chance any more but I will get there!”
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