BoxRec

Top win by the man last night.

What was everyone's verdict?

I was impressed, Woods looked fresh and strong compared to some previous lacklustre showing and popped a sharp jab and the left hook worked well too. He was a bit open to right hands and i was surprised how Gonzalez didn't set a harsher pace but that may have been down to weight issues or probably Woods's better work keeping him off.

Woods does seem to be improving and this was an impressive display. On the undercard i wasn't impressed with Matthew Hatton, despite them excusing his poor display against an awkward operator his opponent was 7-6-1, i don't think Hatton is going anywhere.

I loved the way SKY kept on digging at "Genuine World Titles" all the time in an attempt to erase there Alphabelt past

I loved the way SKY kept on digging at "Genuine World Titles" all the time in an attempt to erase there Alphabelt past

I know what you mean. Still, I think the WBF title still has some prestige.

The champion makes the belt!

It was a good performance by Woods against Gonzales although I thought Gonzales would bring more to the table.

Do you guys think he should fight the winner of Jones/Tarver next or get another defence under his belt and make some money maybe on the Hatton undercard.

Kev

Kevin wrote:The champion makes the belt!

It was a good performance by Woods against Gonzales although I thought Gonzales would bring more to the table.

Do you guys think he should fight the winner of Jones/Tarver next or get another defence under his belt and make some money maybe on the Hatton undercard.

Kev

Personally, as i said in a previous thread, I think Clinto should go for a Johnson rematch if he comes through his mandatory challenge. It's an easy fight to make and it's also a big TV fight either here or the states (moreso here though obviously) and at this stage I feel it's probably the most winnable fight for Clinton. I'd also like to see the possibilty of him fighting maybe Erdei, Tiozzo or Adamek and unifying a belt or 2.

I was very impressed with Woods, I think at pushing 33 he should look at high profile defences and pretty much whoever can make him the most money - even if thats a fighter he has said doesn't deserve the chance (Calzaghe).

Personally would like to see fight the winner of Tarver vs Jones, unless Roy is back to near his best - then he should avoid Roy and maybe just fight Tarver.

if i had to make a decision, i would like to see him fight calzaghe. the fight interests me alot, they are the same age, but clinton seems much bigger. lets see who's britan's best.

I too was impressed with Clinton Woods performance last night. Gonzalez is a tough, determined World class fighter and Clinton beat him by about 5 points on my card. Woods showed good determination, stamina and a very good array of punches. Woods really seems to have 'descovered' himself stylewise as a fighter and this performance showed this with his focused and 'compact' style of fighting.

He was a little open to the right hand, but that can be worked on.

As for Woods future I think he should go for the high profile, big paydays as soon as possible. He seems to be in his prime now and often a fighters peak years can be quite short so he should make the most of his current form. The winner of Tarver - Jones is the obvious target, but there are a number of other opertunities as already mentioned.

It's great to have another worthy World Champion in the UK.

Woods should try the other title holders.

Well done to Woods. I'd probably go with a Johnson rematch, presuming he gets through the eliminator.

I'd also really love to see him smash Calzaghe to pieces (just an objective assertion of course 8) )

Tiozzo would be a good one too. It's all good.

If Calzaghe actually fights and beats Lacy, what would you think he would do? Would this taste of good opponents and unifications prompt him to clean up SM, or would staying at that weight for the rest of his career be too much?

steve689 wrote:I loved the way SKY kept on digging at "Genuine World Titles" all the time in an attempt to erase there Alphabelt past

Me to, although I thought it was funny at one point after Dempsey mention it he then turned to talk to WBO Champ Johnny Nelson sat beside him in the studio.

I also noticed the "Too many fighters have soft, easy defences these days" comment as well.

KOJOE90 wrote:

steve689 wrote:I loved the way SKY kept on digging at "Genuine World Titles" all the time in an attempt to erase there Alphabelt past

Me to, although I thought it was funny at one point after Dempsey mention it he then turned to talk to WBO Champ Johnny Nelson sat beside him in the studio.

That cracked me up. "Clinton holds one of the 3 belts that are recognised and respected worldwide...... And here's Johnny. Who, erm, doesn't."

I was impressed by Clinton, and quite disapointed with Gonzales.

I tipped Gonzales to win on points, I just felt the company he`d been in with would give him the edge and outwork and boss Clinton.

But all respect to Cinton he has shown he does deserve to be ranked one of the top guys in the division now.

What impressed me the most is how calm he looked whatever was happening, just shows he has that Sheffield steel running through him also

I`d give him a chance against anybody in the division right now, Nicky Piper said he like him to have a couple easy defences but why waste time by going backwards, he`s proved he`s better than the hyped Hoye and the dangerous Gonzales, his two fights with Johnson show he would make it a 50/50 fight again, and Tarver is no way a different level...give him any of them...except maybe Erdei...but who needs him anyway

jomothepure wrote:.

If Calzaghe actually fights and beats Lacy, what would you think he would do? Would this taste of good opponents and unifications prompt him to clean up SM, or would staying at that weight for the rest of his career be too much?

Good question, but I think Calzaghe will fight bums and harp on about the Lacy win for the next 8 years.

stujones wrote:

jomothepure wrote:.

If Calzaghe actually fights and beats Lacy, what would you think he would do? Would this taste of good opponents and unifications prompt him to clean up SM, or would staying at that weight for the rest of his career be too much?

Good question, but I think Calzaghe will fight bums and harp on about the Lacy win for the next 8 years.

You're probably right

Yeah Calzaghes belt is shit but what makes Clinton Woods a "genuine world champ"? The guy is a paper champ pure & simple.

The only reason he holds the IBF title is because the company with a long history of corruption & poor rankings stripped the real champ because the 2 recognised best Light-heavies in the world wanted to fight each other to determine who was #1.

Clint has already lost to RJJ & Glencoffe who both are underneath Tarver right now who doesnt even hold a belt. The whole situtation is pure political bollocks & just because Clintons winning over a couple of second tier fighters doesnt make him "reinvented" or "improved".

Shame on the crappy IBF.

Your exactly right about that fellas...Woods i think should look for unification bouts, instead of defending against tough guys he should aim for the likes of Adamek, Tiozzo etc I think he now has the beating of Glen Johnson, i believe his lack of strength excuse. He went from a guy who got tired and lacked stamina mid way through fights to this new improved fighter, i think the new diet and fitness regime is working well. He pushed Johnson close twice before and Johnson struggled last time out with Tarver, i think Clinton could now beat Johnson.

I have never seen Adamek but he beat Briggs in what was apparently a stormer, Briggs is tough but limited but i would keep the Woods that ships too many right hands away from Briggs as Briggs can launch you with his right. Woods V Tarver...why not? Come on Clinton!

"New diet & fitness" lol... sounds like complete bollocks to me. He'll still lose to Johnson, Tarver, and RJJ etc whatever his diet is hes only a paper champ in the end. Nothing more.

overhand_right wrote:Yeah Calzaghes belt is shit but what makes Clinton Woods a "genuine world champ"? The guy is a paper champ pure & simple.

The only reason he holds the IBF title is because the company with a long history of corruption & poor rankings stripped the real champ because the 2 recognised best Light-heavies in the world wanted to fight each other to determine who was #1.

Clint has already lost to RJJ & Glencoffe who both are underneath Tarver right now who doesnt even hold a belt. The whole situtation is pure political bollocks & just because Clintons winning over a couple of second tier fighters doesnt make him "reinvented" or "improved".

Shame on the crappy IBF.

agreed. Said the same before the fight. There's nothing 'real' or 'genuine' about Woods' title- that's being used as a relational term to the crappiness of WBU and WBF bullshit.

If anyone accepts his title as 'genuine', they have no right decrying the WBU or the WBF as believing themselves to be 'genuine'- so what if the IBF has a better track history, there is still no connection with Clinton Woods being 'the man' at light heavyweight.

Although I do believe that the current Woods would beat the current RJJ who is absolutely shot to shit.

Yeah but the guys who beat up on RJJ- Glencoffe already beat up Woods TWICE & Tarver is better than all of them.

Woods at absolute best is #4 in the world (and thats stretching it) and none of the other 3 even have a belt.

The fact that Tarver isnt the undisputed champ is the perfect example of how fornicating ridiculous boxing & the supposedly 'real' sanctioning bodies are.

I think we all accept that Woods is in no way the genuine champion of the world. It's just that he ran Johnson close, and seems to have improved since then, hence you have to give him a shout against anyone right now, because since the demise of Roy Jones, nobody really stands out at 175lb's.

Last night was a good win against a good top 6 contender, it just so happens that a respected belt was on the line.

I don`t think Johnson really beat Clinton up, both were close and yes Johnson deserved them but he never beat Clinton up.

Tarver had close fights with Johnson also and Johnson does seem to have aged more in each of them so I think that evens things out when matching Johnson and Tarver for Woods.

Tarver may be the slight favourite but it is only slight.

Oh and just to continue my rant i also hate it when confirmed second tier fighters like Woods who have already lost to the best, come back with a new diet/haircut/trunks etc and string together a few wins & suddenly everyone believes he is a reinvented fighter. (listen to the yanks with Hasim Rahman)

Woods will still lose when he steps up.

I just don`t see he has anything to step to, he is on the level.

I too never rated Clinton highly and was of the opinion that he moved up to lt-heavy because he could not compete with the good crop of supermiddles about in Britain at the time.

But like it or not he has come good and deserves his place at the top of the division

[quote="states"]I think we all accept that Woods is in no way the genuine champion of the world. It's just that he ran Johnson close, and seems to have improved since then, hence you have to give him a shout against anyone right now, because since the demise of Roy Jones, nobody really stands out at 175lb's.

Last night was a good win against a good top 6 contender, it just so happens that a respected belt was on the line.[/quononsense. two close fights with johnson, a demolition job on hoye and a dominating performance against gonzales, clinton has proven himself worthy of the strap. i rate tarver and johnson ahead, but itis close. i do think tarvers style would pose problems, and he is huge at the weight and has a proper dig