Clinton Woods … speaks to Boxrec

[Spud]

I caught up with former IBF World Light Heavyweight
Champion … Clinton Woods

what age did you have your 1st spar?

First spar would have been very early age I started age 7 , so body spar when about 8 , head spar age 10

Were you immediately dedicated to boxing or did someone have to convince you to stick at it?

I loved boxing amateur, no one had to push me to go to the gym.

You turned professional with Neil Port as your 1st trainer, how did his personal life effect you?

Neil trained me for many years , he kept his personal things to himself so it never got inbetween our training , when he did come out we had already parted.

You took the traditional route in boxing, were you not tempted to jump steps to earn more money?

We did it the traditional route and it was best iway , there wasn’t really the silly titles about like they are now.

my first fights we’re I was earning under £300 it was probably my defence against David Starie around 18 grand which I lost , the money we would have just banked it

What was your 1st decent purse, what did you spend the money on?

We were always sensible with money nothing flash.

It is well known your wife Natalia kept you grounded in life is she the biggest reason why you were so successful?

Without my wife my career would not have happened , well put it this way it wouldn’t have been a success story.

You turned professional with Dennis Hobson as your manager did you always agree with the direction you took?

Dennis was more than a manager for the biggest part of my career , we were a top team. I wasn’t always happy we some of the trainers who were picked but I suppose it worked.

What was it like fighting RJJ at his best?

Fighting jones was a great experience, I was no where near at my best or peak in my career where has jones was at his, can’t really say the build up to the fight went well we were a very inexperienced team , actually enjoyed fight night probably best part of the Roy jones experience.

Who had the hardest punch in your professional opponents?

The biggest puncher was ole klempenson he hit so hard.

You won the IBF title against Rico Hoye were you surprised at the convincing nature of that victory?

When I beat rico hoye I was in my best shape ide ever been in, no light heavy would have beaten me that night.

Do you have any regrets in regards your professional career?

My only regret was the Tarver fight I should have pulled out nothing went right in training it was a shambles and people around me at the time knew it.

Why have you not played more of a role in being a professional trainer but yet you run a very successful amateur gym

I did train professional boxers at first but it wasn’t for me hated fight night and being in the corner.

What do you think of youtube boxing?

My views on YouTube boxing is if they want to fight let them , I don’t watch and never will .

Usyk v fury who wins?

If it happens always thought fury but the heavyweight division don’t interest me think it’s shite.

Is there a fighter would turn on your tv for or actually go to a show for?

I like watching Dalton smith from Sheffield and it’s only recently I’ve started to get back to attending boxing shows , my son Jude loves it.

What are you up to now?

We are not flash, we have cars and nice clothes, live a nice life and still both work?

Thank you for speaking to Boxrec Clinton?

Thank you Spud you are a top man.

[Bercli]

Excellent,love Clinton. Normal down to earth fella.

[SeanBrennan]

I caught up with former IBF World Light Heavyweight
Champion … Clinton Woods

what age did you have your 1st spar?

First spar would have been very early age I started age 7 , so body spar when about 8 , head spar age 10

Were you immediately dedicated to boxing or did someone have to convince you to stick at it?

I loved boxing amateur, no one had to push me to go to the gym.

You turned professional with Neil Port as your 1st trainer, how did his personal life effect you?

Neil trained me for many years , he kept his personal things to himself so it never got inbetween our training , when he did come out we had already parted.

You took the traditional route in boxing, were you not tempted to jump steps to earn more money?

We did it the traditional route and it was best iway , there wasn’t really the silly titles about like they are now.

my first fights we’re I was earning under £300 it was probably my defence against David Starie around 18 grand which I lost , the money we would have just banked it

What was your 1st decent purse, what did you spend the money on?

We were always sensible with money nothing flash.

It is well known your wife Natalia kept you grounded in life is she the biggest reason why you were so successful?

Without my wife my career would not have happened , well put it this way it wouldn’t have been a success story.

You turned professional with Dennis Hobson as your manager did you always agree with the direction you took?

Dennis was more than a manager for the biggest part of my career , we were a top team. I wasn’t always happy we some of the trainers who were picked but I suppose it worked.

What was it like fighting RJJ at his best?

Fighting jones was a great experience, I was no where near at my best or peak in my career where has jones was at his, can’t really say the build up to the fight went well we were a very inexperienced team , actually enjoyed fight night probably best part of the Roy jones experience.

Who had the hardest punch in your professional opponents?

The biggest puncher was ole klempenson he hit so hard.

You won the IBF title against Rico Hoye were you surprised at the convincing nature of that victory?

When I beat rico hoye I was in my best shape ide ever been in, no light heavy would have beaten me that night.

Do you have any regrets in regards your professional career?

My only regret was the Tarver fight I should have pulled out nothing went right in training it was a shambles and people around me at the time knew it.

Why have you not played more of a role in being a professional trainer but yet you run a very successful amateur gym

I did train professional boxers at first but it wasn’t for me hated fight night and being in the corner.

What do you think of youtube boxing?

My views on YouTube boxing is if they want to fight let them , I don’t watch and never will .

Usyk v fury who wins?

If it happens always thought fury but the heavyweight division don’t interest me think it’s shite.

Is there a fighter would turn on your tv for or actually go to a show for?

I like watching Dalton smith from Sheffield and it’s only recently I’ve started to get back to attending boxing shows , my son Jude loves it.

What are you up to now?

We are not flash, we have cars and nice clothes, live a nice life and still both work?

Thank you for speaking to Boxrec Clinton?

Thank you Spud you are a top man.

thanks so much for sharing this Spud, really enjoyed reading this. Excellent contacts and friendships you have in the sport mate.

[SeanBrennan]

never heard of Neil Port, was he a big part of the boxing scene?

[jimb0d]

A very solid pro and remember that latter part of his career especially the Johnson fights.

[Counter-puncher]

the heavyweight division don’t interest me think it’s shite.

[Fray Bentos]

You didn't ask him my question, Spud.

[Controversial]

Nice one Spud

[veriton]

never heard of Neil Port, was he a big part of the boxing scene?

Quite a story from memory. Murder and trans secksual

[SeanBrennan]

never heard of Neil Port, was he a big part of the boxing scene?

Quite a story from memory. Murder and trans secksual

blimey i'll leave reading into that if the chap has passed.

[Spud]

Thank you for the comments.

I am reasonably confident that Clinton was not happy with Richard Poxon.

[margaret thatcher]

checking out clinton's record. ............. he won everything! aside from a good chin, no real standout attribute, but could put it all together.

[Counter-puncher]

Thank you for the comments.

I am reasonably confident that Clinton was not happy with Richard Poxon.

I seem to recall Poxon was in the corner for at least one of the Glencoffe fights?

Who was the trainer for the Hoye fight? I would have guessed Poxon but now you’ve said that, it sounds like Clinton was very happy with his camp then.

[maverick23]

never heard of Neil Port, was he a big part of the boxing scene?

Quite a story from memory. Murder and trans secksual

blimey i'll leave reading into that if the chap has passed.

I’ve got his (Clinton’s) book. Haven’t read it yet but heard good things. I think it goes through the Port stuff in detail.

[SeanBrennan]

Quite a story from memory. Murder and trans secksual

blimey i'll leave reading into that if the chap has passed.

I’ve got his (Clinton’s) book. Haven’t read it yet but heard good things. I think it goes through the Port stuff in detail.

thanks Maverick, I am going to order Clinton's book if it is print, or look to buy a second hand copy. Clinton is the epitome of one of the good guys.

[Pugilist-specialist]

Thank you for the comments.

I am reasonably confident that Clinton was not happy with Richard Poxon.

I seem to recall Poxon was in the corner for at least one of the Glencoffe fights?

Who was the trainer for the Hoye fight? I would have guessed Poxon but now you’ve said that, it sounds like Clinton was very happy with his camp then.

Poxon was his trainer when he won the World title. He’s not the only one of his immediate team that Clinton fell out with.

[Counter-puncher]

and the Hoye fight?

anyone?

[Spud]

Thank you for the comments.

I am reasonably confident that Clinton was not happy with Richard Poxon.

I seem to recall Poxon was in the corner for at least one of the Glencoffe fights?

Who was the trainer for the Hoye fight? I would have guessed Poxon but now you’ve said that, it sounds like Clinton was very happy with his camp then.

Poxon was his trainer when he won the World title. He’s not the only one of his immediate team that Clinton fell out with.

I was part of the backroom staff…. I havnt got a clue who you are on about

[big lennox]

Spud, thanks for taking the time to assemble the questions, put them to Clinton and then for sharing the answers with everyone. Much appreciated.

A big thank you to Clinton as well, for taking the time to answer them and provide us with his insight.

I'm surprised that he and Poxon potentially fell out. They both seem like two of life's good guys.

[Counter-puncher]

I seem to recall Poxon was in the corner for at least one of the Glencoffe fights?

Who was the trainer for the Hoye fight? I would have guessed Poxon but now you’ve said that, it sounds like Clinton was very happy with his camp then.

Poxon was his trainer when he won the World title. He’s not the only one of his immediate team that Clinton fell out with.

I was part of the backroom staff…. I havnt got a clue who you are on about

who was the trainer for the Hoye fight though FFS

[Spud]

Its not like Clinton to moan about anything he rather keep quiet.

The only time I saw him get radgy before a fight was in the changing room before fighting Jason Delisle there were a few of us In there chatting Clinton piped up “everyone out for 10 minutes and yes that includes you spud” . As we were leaving clinton said to my son you stay ginge”.

A while later when i went back said to my lad what did clinton say to which my son replied “you lot were getting on his nerves and all he wanted to do was relax and he asked me whether i had a Bird (girlfriend) and chatted to me about school”.

Clinton was one for routine… 30 minutes before every fight I had to go and get his dad keith who gave him a piece of wrigleys chewing gum and wished him luck.

Clinton was a pleasure to be around.

[Spud]

I have subsequently found out the purse and venue was an agreed for Clinton to fight joe calzaghe only for Dennis Hobson to receive a call that Joe had agreed to fight RJJ in New York.

[TheLeprechaun]

I warmed to him when he was interviewed before the RJJ fight and was asked if he watched much of Jones and he said he did watch a bit but stopped watching as it was making him nervous

[Counter-puncher]

i love this interview:

“It worked. I went back into boxing just to get fit again.”

Little did Woods know it at the time, but his mother’s tearful intervention would mark the start of a journey that would take this hard-nosed fighter from a blue-collar area of the Steel City to world title fights in Hollywood.

Within months of re-joining a gym, Woods had been spotted by aspiring promoter Dennis Hobson and his life was about to change.

“The boxing seemed to come back quickly; the movement, footwork etc,” recalls Woods. “Dennis Hobson said what about going pro? I just laughed and shrugged my shoulders. The next minute he’s giving me papers to sign.”

Woods won his first 18 fights as a professional.

“I was a good ticket seller, that’s all. My mates would come and I was enjoying the fight nights, but I only ever thought as far as I’ll get beat one night and that would be it. There was no pressure on me so I kept winning and winning until I eventually got the big one, when I was chucked in against a kid who was fancied to beat me.”

That was against Mark Baker at Wembley Arena for the vacant Commonwealth super middleweight title in December, 1997.


Woods won, vindicating the faith placed in him by his trainer Neil Port, another granite-jawed hard man from the Sheffield fight scene.

“Neil was the only person who said I would do anything” says Woods.

“He said I’d be British champion. I asked him to stop because he was embarrassing me.”

[Pugilist-specialist]

and the Hoye fight?

anyone?

I’d already said that Poxon was his trainer when he won the World title.

*Hoye fight