Woods/Gonzalez

[barryboy]

Britain's Clinton Woods will make the first defence of his IBF light heavyweight title against number one contender Julio Gonzalez in September.
The 33-year-old Yorkshireman is likely to take on the giant Mexican in his home city of Sheffield.

"He's 6ft 3ins, he comes forward, he is strong and throws lots of shots. It'll be a good fight to watch," Woods said.

Woods landed the world title at the fourth attempt in March when he beat American Rico Hoye.

After taking on Gonzalez, who boasts a 38-2 record with 23 knockouts, Woods has targeted a unification fight with undisputed IBO champion Antonio Tarver.

"I've been talking to Dennis (Hobson, promoter) and he is saying he can't see any other opponent for Tarver," said Woods.

"He can't see him wanting to fight the German (Zsolt Erdei) or the French guy (Fabrice Tiozzo) so the only big fight is against me.

"It is a lot more saleable in America to fight an English guy, so that can be made.

"It could be the next fight after Gonzalez. That's the fight I want, I want to fight the best. Tarver is back on top of the tree now."

But Woods has given up hope of a high-profile rematch with the dethroned American Roy Jones Jr.

Jones was humbled by Tarver last year and suffered another knockout loss to journeyman Johnson.

"The Americans want it but I think the IBF are said that they want him to fight an eliminator before he fights for the title," said Woods.

"It's not like when he was champion and he could command things. It might put him off. I was looking forward to that fight, I was very confident but it looks like it's off now."


Either way Woods v Gonzalez will be a great fight

[Neuraxis]

IBO, unification, undisbuted IBO champion, please. At this point in time, I'd say that Woods is probably the weakest of the 4 belt holders at LHW (sorry Brits), but Woods vs. Gonzalez should be a good fight.

[majestiC]

woods has improved alot recently, but he would get stopped by tarver

[Neuraxis]

woods has improved alot recently, but he would get stopped by tarver

Based on what exactly? Hoye is horrible and Jason DeLisle KD'd Woods two fights ago. I haven't seen the fight though, so maybe it wasn't a legit KD. Perhaps some Brit could clarify whether it was or not.

[TIGER]

Sunday 4th September 2005 England Sheffield Arena, Sheffield
Clinton Woods 37-3-1 - Julio Gonzalez 38-2-0 - IBF Light Heavyweight Title
- Julio Cesar Gonzalez Ibarra win PTS-UD

[J !]

Based on what exactly? Hoye is horrible and Jason DeLisle KD'd Woods two fights ago. I haven't seen the fight though, so maybe it wasn't a legit KD. Perhaps some Brit could clarify whether it was or not.

woods was punch perfect against Hoye, he had an iron problem when fighting johnson the second time (dont forget he earned a draw ion the first fight so he is no bum).

Tarver may be too much but woods on the hoye form will beat gonzales, also the other champs such as Erdei are no better than CW.

[barryboy]

I think a lot of people forget the first Johnson fight was very close and Woods had Johnson on wobbly legs in the last round so Woods is right up there, Erdei doesn't look anything special and Tiozzo's getting on a bit so apart from Tarver & Johnson, Woods is next best in the division imo.

Here's some more news:

WOODS WARNING FOR CALZAGHE
Tuesday 21st June 2005

IBF light-heavyweight champion Clinton Woods has told Sky Sports News that he is not interested in fighting Joe Calzaghe at the moment.
The Sheffield fighter is concentrating on proving his worth against top American opponents and is up against Mexican Julio Gonzalez in September.

Gonzalez, who pushed Roy Jones to the limits, will compete in Woods's first defence of the title he secured when beating Rico Hoye.

"I think, at the moment, Joe needs my title more than I need to fight Joe," Woods explained. "I want to fight the top Americans and be known as the best light-heavyweight.

"He [Gonzalez] is 6ft 3ins, actually taller than me, but I love fighting taller fighters. Anyone who watches the fight is in for a treat because Gonzalez is a tough fighter and I love fighting guys like him."

Antonio Tarver is the big target for Woods in a unification bout, as he stressed earlier this week.

"I think I'm going to fight in a similar way to I fought the last fight," he added. "Obviously [I'll] get in fantastic condition for it. It will be a tough fight but the way I've been feeling, I think I can beat any light-heavyweight."



"Gonzalez, who pushed Roy Jones to the limits"
I must've been watching a different fight eh!

[Neuraxis]

also the other champs such as Erdei are no better than CW.

Except for the fact that Erdei vs. Gonzalez wasn't even close. No one is saying that Woods is a bum, its just that unlike the other champs he really doesn't have any really good wins so therefore I rank him last among the four. Beating Gonzalez would be a good win.

[J !]

OH I AGREE THE REAL CHAMNPS ARE TARVER N JOHNSON.

rest are just belt custodians.

[ricecrispi]

Julio is a tough cookie. Woods better not over look him and get caught because with Julio you have to bring your A game. Look at who beat Gonzalez, a world amateur boxing champ and one of the best p4p boxers ever. Gonzalez doesn't like very fast fighters or great boxers because he has problems dealing with very fast punches and seeing them. THat's why they picked Erdei to fight him. This is a very tough fight for Woods because he doesn't have blazing speed ot incredible boxing skills. IMHO it's an even fight and every Gonzalez fight is a good one.

BTW, you have to defend the title to be a real champ. Who has Tarver defend his title against. One man, Johnson and loss to him. Johnson couldn't beat half of the guys holding the titles in LHEAVY division because they all got him figured out by now. I don't think Tarver can beat the rest of these guys because lack of motivation, lack of stamina, coasting in fights, and the lack of killer instincts. This allows guys to get a chance to knock him out if he doesn't finish them, like Johnson almost did in the rematch in round 11. How many more first fights does he have to lose for people to see he is a very skilled fighter but his flaws ouweighs his skills in the long run. He lost his first fight with Harding, Jones, and Johnson. NUff said.