Woodhouse's Title Dreams Could Be Realized in 2012
By Terence Dooley
The general perception amongst British sporting fans is that boxing is full of wild characters whilst football is populated by sterile, quote free robots. Curtis Woodhouse stands alone as the exception to this generalisation. Hardly shy and retiring when he was a professional soccer player, the Yorkshire scrapper has emerged as one of the domestic scene's biggest characters over the past few years and has been one of the surprise packages of 2011.
Known for his love of a scrap, Woodhouse has added some finesse to his work in recent months, most notably when jabbing with former World Amateur Games Gold Medallist Frankie Gavin in July before losing a narrow split-decision for the Birmingham man's WBO Inter-Continental welterweight crown.
Woodhouse put the loss behind him with a one-sided retirement win over Gary McArthur at Rotherham's Magna Centre on Saturday night, the 29-year-old Scottish southpaw retired after four rounds due to a hand injury after losing every session.
McArthur (145lb) took the job when original opponent Jason Cook was pulled by the BBBoC on Thursday due to a 'medical query'. Both men were hoping that their aborted meeting would catapult the winner into a bout with either Ashley Theonpane or Nigel Wright, who fight for Theopane's British 140lb title on December 10th, only for Woodhouse (142½) to switch his attention to the Scottish southpaw when the news of Cook's misfortune came in.
Despite admitting that he hates dealing with portsiders, Woodhouse hammered home straight rights to the body followed by lefts to the head in the first before bringing through right and left uppercuts in the third and fourth. It was no walk in the park for McArthur, who was unable to hold Woodhouse at bay throughout; his corner used the break between rounds four and five to inform referee Howard Foster of his hand injury, bringing the scheduled ten-threes bout to a premature conclusion.
A win is win. Woodhouse, though, was honest when asked if had hoped to close the show with a KO. “I wanted to knock him out,” he said. “I'm not trying to be brutal. I'm disappointed that he retired. I got the win but like to take them out. I can't lose here (in Yorkshire). My mate said I'm like John Smith's bitter – I don't travel very well. When I come to the Magna I take some beating.”
Dave Coldwell promoted the show, the manager and trainer also brought Woodhouse along until current coach Glyn Rhodes took up the reins, both men channelling Woodhouse's natural aggression and fitness before adding a few boxing smarts into the mix. The fight with Gavin, although a losing effort, completed the job started by the two trainers, with Woodhouse gaining confidence in his ability after matching Frankie blow for blow until the final two rounds.
“I think the Gavin fight gave me belief in my boxing,” he admitted. “I know I can stand in the car park and have a fight with anybody but this is the sweet science and I'm trying to bring that into my natural style.
“I got the jab working then I loaded up a few times looking for the perfect shot but Glyn was happy and we had perfect preparation. We didn't have lots of time to practice on fighting a southpaw with the change in opponent, but I had weeks of southpaw sparring preparing for Frankie and we have some tricky southpaws at our gym.
“I knew the straight right hand with a left hook whipped in would work and tried touching him with the right hand a few times. Fair play to him, he took a fair few shots and was getting hurt in there, he wanted out.”
Woodhouse moves to 16-3 (11); McArthur drops to 16-3 (2); Curtis acknowledged the 'Clydebank Blitz's contribution to the show before loving the door ajar for Cook should Jason be given the go-ahead to fight in the New Year. “Everyone was looking forward to me and Jason having a good old-fashioned fight,” declared the 31-year-old. “I was gutted for Jason. I hope it isn't serious and if he gets through it OK we can get it on because me and him will have an absolute war – I look forward to those types of fights.”
However, there is a possible title bout in the horizon for Woodhouse. Coldwell manages the boxer and is lining up a title for early next year, with the British and Commonwealth belts a possibility should the Driffield man keep on winning.
“Dave told me I'll fight for the British or Commonwealth title in February, he'll make that happen. I'd just like to say a thank you to Whitestone Solicitors who have helped sponsor me so I can train full time. I'd been doing it part time and doing a bit of football but they made it possible for me to do the ten and twelve rounders and all of a sudden I look like a championship fighter.
“A lot of my fans have followed me for five years so I'd love to give them something back by becoming British or Commonwealth champion, whoever fights me for a title better be ready for a hell of a fight – I'll let it all go. When you believe something is destiny you sometimes get drawn towards it – I'll get my shot.”
Indeed, Woodhouse made a promise to his late father, Bernard, that he would win the coveted Lonsdale belt during his fighting career. This desire to bring silverware home, not to mention the thrill of fighting, has smoothed his transition from football to pugilism.
He said, “The only time I miss football is on the 28th of each month because that was payday. I don't miss it apart from that. But I do miss the drinking on a Sunday and Tuesday, and the Friday nights when the manager didn't know I was out. It is weird, if I knock people out in this game I get a pat on the back, in the past I'd have got locked up for it.”
The camaraderie at his trainer's Sheffield base has also made the transition from boot room to boxing ring easier to handle, although the spit and sawdust of Rhodes's approach is a million miles away from the polish of professional football.
“I love it with Glyn, he's as mad as a hatter,” laughed Woodhouse. “Listen to this, twenty minutes before the fight I go out for a pee and come back here (the dressing room) where there's the four of them stood outside eating a jacket potato and chilli, they'd locked themselves out! Manny Pacquiao doesn't have to put up with that. Can you imagine Freddie Roach standing outside the dressing room eating chilli when Manny's out the room? We were locked out for ten minutes. Our training camp's like a bunch of idiots trying to make the best of something”
Fun and games aside, there is a distinct sense that Woodhouse is marching towards another title shot; he will be a hard man to deter if that magnificent marble and gold Lonsdale belt is on the line at some point during 2012.
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