BoxRec

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/boxing/4112658.stm

September in Sheffield probably. Also mention of Hobson looking for the Tarver fight should Woods come through this one.

This is a toughie for Woods, I do make Clinton the favourite - I don't think Gonzales is a huge puncher and is quite small. However, he has a good jab and is tall. I haven't seen Woods fight someone with a jab and a reach advantage for a while.

Woods might have to dig deep, he will probably have to force the pace and he is going to have to do a better job than Michaelswecki.

Its a tough fight to call, not a nice first defence - but one he has to come through either sooner or later given he is the mandatory.

This should be a good fight with Clinton having the slight edge, Gonzales isn't as fast as he used to be but is still a good boxer and doesn't mind going toe to toe if he has to.

I'd pick Woods on points.

stujones wrote:This is a toughie for Woods, I do make Clinton the favourite - I don't think Gonzales is a huge puncher and is quite small. However, he has a good jab and is tall. I haven't seen Woods fight someone with a jab and a reach advantage for a while.

Woods might have to dig deep, he will probably have to force the pace and he is going to have to do a better job than Michaelswecki.

Its a tough fight to call, not a nice first defence - but one he has to come through either sooner or later given he is the mandatory.

by small do you mean Lanky? gonzales is a nice boxer from range, but I see the woods who beat hoye in with a good shout of making a defence of his title.

Woods definitely has the capacity to beat Gonzalez, especially at home, but this seems an odd first defence to make. Dennis Hobson must be pretty confident that Clinton can beat this guy because there must be bigger money fights floating around. I've got a lot of respect for Woods abilities though and I'm sure he can beat Gonzalez. Thinking back to the night Clinton was losing to David Starie years ago no-one would have ever imagined that he would one day be a legitimate world title contender fighting the likes of Roy Jones.

jamesmcdonnell wrote:

stujones wrote:This is a toughie for Woods, I do make Clinton the favourite - I don't think Gonzales is a huge puncher and is quite small. However, he has a good jab and is tall. I haven't seen Woods fight someone with a jab and a reach advantage for a while.

Woods might have to dig deep, he will probably have to force the pace and he is going to have to do a better job than Michaelswecki.

Its a tough fight to call, not a nice first defence - but one he has to come through either sooner or later given he is the mandatory.

by small do you mean Lanky? gonzales is a nice boxer from range, but I see the woods who beat hoye in with a good shout of making a defence of his title.

Yes I do, will edit.

I too make Woods the favourite, but its a toughy.

Was it the iron problem that gave Woods problems? Looks like the nutritionist stuff paid off against Hoye though.

Lets hope they put it on ITV as Woods said after Hoye they need more fights on the BBC but they pulled out so theres ITV if they want national Tv.

Gonzalez is tough but limited, i remember him getting into a slugfest with Julian Letterlough and dropped twice and nearly stopped but to be fair Letterlough could always punch a bit. Look at the job Zsolt Erdei did on Gonzalez though, made him look like a mug and then struggled twice with Garay. So i think Woods on form can deal with Gonzalez but it does appear to be a risk.

If Woods can keep up that workrate he showed last time out I have faith in him winning this clearly.

steve689 wrote:Gonzalez is tough but limited, i remember him getting into a slugfest with Julian Letterlough and dropped twice and nearly stopped but to be fair Letterlough could always punch a bit. Look at the job Zsolt Erdei did on Gonzalez though, made him look like a mug and then struggled twice with Garay. So i think Woods on form can deal with Gonzalez but it does appear to be a risk.

I saw this fight too, and boy was it a good one, Gonzalez got stupid, got caught and got dropped twice. Teddy Atlas was furious that the rangey Gonzalez was fighting on the inside, but it looked as though he could mix it up a bit.
This could be one helluva fight, I just wonder if Gonzalez has matured or aged??

C'mon Woods.

steve689 wrote:Gonzalez is tough but limited, i remember him getting into a slugfest with Julian Letterlough and dropped twice and nearly stopped but to be fair Letterlough could always punch a bit. Look at the job Zsolt Erdei did on Gonzalez though, made him look like a mug and then struggled twice with Garay. So i think Woods on form can deal with Gonzalez but it does appear to be a risk.

I think Gonzalez was down 3 times against Letterlough mate, easy to forget mind as it was such a wild fight!! The last knockdown had Gonzalez flat on his back, he did well just to get up This is tough defence for Clinton, though I think he'll win, I was expecting a softer opponent for a first defence.

Normally should Gonzalez outpoint Woods. But if Woods had really improved (I heard some rumuors.....) and Gonzalez not it could also go the other way round even in a home fight.

Clints got no choice- he won the belt so he has to take the mandatory/and therfore his beating. Its Clints fault since he never should have been fighting for the title anyway since Tarver is the undisputed champ. Clints just a paper chump.

Why are you guys all picking Woods? Gonzalez yes lost comprehensively to RJJ but at least he went 12 rds & gave a good effort- unlike Clint who got his ass handed to him. Clint got beat back to bakc fair & square by Glencoffee too, and now all of a sudden hes a "new & improved" fighter just because he waxes a guy who obviously was all hype & no chin.

Gonzalez also bumped off DM which is waaay more than Clint will ever achieve. Gonzalez wins this fight. Clint is never gonna hold onto his paper belt.

good to see you round here again overhand, got to disagree though, I think woods will win. I don't know if you saw Zoltt Erdei handle gonzalez, but that was a walkover, and Erdei is pretty ordinary.

overhand_right wrote:Gonzalez wins this fight. Clint is never gonna hold onto his paper belt.

I don't agree with that, Gonzalez is nothing to write home about either, I see him in the same bracket as Woods, about fringe world-class. Woods has hung in there with some tough guys and got some good wins at light-heavy. I agree he is just a paper champion, but's he as good as Gonzalez for my money. Michalczewski had been there to be beaten for some time, something Joe Calzaghe should be pondering on.

jomothepure wrote:http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/boxing/4112658.stm

September in Sheffield probably. Also mention of Hobson looking for the Tarver fight should Woods come through this one.

September 4th, Sheff. Arena