BoxRec

I just want to wish Clinton Woods all the very best in his fight with Julio Gonzalez on Saturday evening.

Whilst it is accepted that some boxing fans may not be happy Woods is fighting Gonzalez again, this particular fight has been forced on Team Woods in the form of a mandatory obiligation from the IBF - once the fight is out of the way lets hope Fight Academy can produce a decent opponent for Woods which will make the fans sit up and take notice.

Make no mistake - unlike yourselves I have a gut feeling this fight with Gonzalez will not be as easy as some people think - this is Gonzalez very last chance to capture a world title - whether we like it or not Gonzalez is a genuine operator in the Light Heavyweight ranks and is good enough to give any of the world champions a genuine fight - you guys also have to remember Clinton Woods has been out of the ring for a year - there will be ring rust to shake off and putting all of this into the pot this makes this fight a lot closer than a lot of people are giving it credit for.

Clinton Woods is a world champion of a genuine belt and he needs the support of the boxing fans in the UK - Yes you have all made your comments concerning the career of Clinton Woods and some of those comments I am sure have been taken on board - but this country does not have that many genuine world champions and we need to support them when they are fighting - and yes I include Joe Calzaghe and Junior Witter in those comments.

It is time to put criticisms and banter to one side.

Come on Clinton!!!!

Clinton Woods defends his IBF light-heavyweight title at the Hallam FM Arena in his home city of Sheffield against mandatory challenger Julio Cesar Gonzalez.
It's a rematch.
Woods outscored the Mexican bruiser at the same arena in September 2005, dominating the final third of the 12-rounder after Gonzalez had proved dangerous with right hands. "I feel so strong now," Woods told Bob Mee. "This guy was supposed to be the toughest and strongest light-heavyweight in the world but I felt stronger than him."
The tall, gritty, conventional, iron-jawed local man won the IBF belt outclassing American Rico Hoye in five rounds in Rotherham in 2005. He outwilled Gonzalez in his first defence and hammered Aussie Jason DeLisle in six rounds in defence No. 2. Then came an emotional split decision over Jamaican Glen Johnson last September in Bolton to underline the champion's improvement. Johnson had previously held Woods to a draw and outscored him.
Woods, a former undefeated British, Commonwealth and European champion, has mastered his trade in a career dating back to 1994. He tackled a peak Roy Jones, he came through that trilogy with throwback Johnson; he really earned his world title.
Gonzalez has also paid his dues. The 31-year-old (four years younger than Woods) worked as a picker in the California garlic fields and is a classic Mexican fighter: long-limbed, cute, tough, aggressive and dangerous. Based in the States, Gonzalez broke through against the late Julian "Mr KO" Letterlough in Ohio in February 2001 when he survived three knockdowns to secure a unanimous 12-round decision with better boxing (and two knockdowns of his own).
It was a big, thrilling win, and five months later in July 2001 Gonzalez was challenging the mighty Jones for the undisputed light-heavyweight title in front of a 20,000 crowd in Los Angeles. He was down again three times (Woods was never off his feet, although stopped in six with body shots) but stuck it out the full 12 and proved his right in world class.
More importantly, Julio came back a better fighter. He reeled off seven wins, including a close but merited decision over that man Johnson, to earn a crack at long-reigning WBO champion Dariusz Michalczewski in Hamburg in October 2003. The Hamburg-based Pole had held the title nine years and made 23 defences (two from the great Joe Louis). At 48-0, he was one win from Rocky Marciano's ghostly record. But Gonzalez refused to be daunted, and worked hard from the start. His body punching took its toll on the slow-starting champion who was unable to mount his usual late-round surge in front of an increasingly subdued crowd of 15,000. Michalczewski's promoter Klaus-Peter Kohl could be heard shouting: "You have to do more!" Trainer Fritz Szunek asked the champion at the end of round 10, "Are you OK?" There was no reply.
It still went to a split decision (What else, in Germany?), but Gonzalez, the busier man, got it by two scores of 116-112. A magnificent, magnificent victory.
But he held the title just three months. He returned to Germany and was roundly outboxed by Michalczewski's stablemate, Zsolt Erdei, an unbeaten but unheralded Hungarian who used footwork and combination punching to frustrate the champion and emerge on unanimous scores of 117-111 and 118-110 (twice).
It was back to the rankings for Gonzalez, who won three on the spin to secure the first Woods crack but was outboxed again and conceded wide scores, although there was never that much between them. Gonzalez claims he under-performed. He's won three more since to take his record to an impressive 41-3 (25) - the only losses in world title fights. He's never been stopped.
Woods is an almost identical 40-3-1 (24). Only Jones has stopped him. Only DeLisle and Ole Klemetsen have floored him (Woods climbed up to halt both).
So another hard fight looks on the cards between two working class heroes, one of whom gets stronger as a fight progresses (Woods), the other who surprisingly fades (if opponents don't buckle, of course, and Woods does have lazy middle-round spells). Rust may also play a part. Woods threw so many left hands in the Johnson thriller, he required an op on his left elbow - an injury which has plagued him since. He's been out 12 months. Fortunately for him, Gonzalez has been out 10 months.
Bottom line reads: Woods has already beaten Gonzalez and beaten him in the same venue. What he has done once, he can presumably do again.

Albert wrote:Make no mistake - unlike yourselves I have a gut feeling this fight with Gonzalez will not be as easy as some people think - this is Gonzalez very last chance to capture a world title - whether we like it or not Gonzalez is a genuine operator in the Light Heavyweight ranks and is good enough to give any of the world champions a genuine fight

I'm tentatively picking Gonzalez to win. Clinton's getting on a bit, he's been out for a year injured, and MAY be a bit complacent/flat having to go over old ground. Meanwhile Gonzalez is, as you say, a top class light-heavy. Don't forget Clinton was the underdog last time they met.

This is a nothing contest. No interest in it.

Big Pussy wrote:This is a nothing contest. No interest in it.

That's the Spirit :(

Big Pussy wrote:This is a nothing contest. No interest in it.

It was a decent enough watch last time around and is a meeting between genuine top 10 guys. What's not to like?

I would be a real shame if Woods was to slip up now. He has been looking better in recent times and hopefully he'll just be looking forward to getting back in the ring again and performing. Light heavy has gone a bit stale of late

Whilst it can be argued there's not a lot of point in another fight with Gonzalez, and too that Clinton got a fistful of title shots himself before getting Hoye, it's the old cliche of Clinton Woods being a nice guy who you really hope can just do himself proud and keep on winning until his career ends.

Hopefully he can (well, get past Gonzalez first) then have three fights next year if he remains injury free. Would be nice for him to fight in America - maybe supporting Hatton-DLH if things go that way - and maybe even a part-unification at some point. Would suspect Johnson will be his next mandatory. Why the IBF couldn't mandate Johnson-Gonzalez as a final eliminator I don't know.

How on earth can Clinton lose to Gonzalez? He dominated him last time. Few Roy Jones victims go on to make anything of themselves and Woods has done himself proud. Gonzales is going to get outboxed and manhandled yet again.

Boxrec has Gonzales the favorite

I actually thought Gonzalez lost to a worn Dariusz Michelswecki - I know alot of people who have interpreted the fight differently.

Whilst it wasn't on paper, the first Gonzalez fight proved to be Woods' easiest title fight - with the exception of Rico Hoye. Even Delisle gave Woods more problems.

What happens to Glengoffe Johnson after this though? Wasn't he fighting an eliminator also?

I had Michaelczewski losing to Gonzalez. I think Universum wanted that result, to market Erdei as the guy to avenge him.

stujones wrote:I actually thought Gonzalez lost to a worn Dariusz Michelswecki - I know alot of people who have interpreted the fight differently.

Whilst it wasn't on paper, the first Gonzalez fight proved to be Woods' easiest title fight - with the exception of Rico Hoye. Even Delisle gave Woods more problems.

What happens to Glengoffe Johnson after this though? Wasn't he fighting an eliminator also?

The mandatories are on a ticket system. Gonzalez beat DeLisle to earn this spot, Johnson beat Griffin to earn the next one.

Got to be one of the most pointless returns in recent memory, can't imagine anyone wants this repeat outside of the Gonzalez/IBF camp.

I'm about to resign up for Setanta, for the Calzaghe and Pacman fights, but I'm not bothered getting it in time to watch this re run, to be honest.

oliverfennell wrote:

stujones wrote:I actually thought Gonzalez lost to a worn Dariusz Michelswecki - I know alot of people who have interpreted the fight differently.

Whilst it wasn't on paper, the first Gonzalez fight proved to be Woods' easiest title fight - with the exception of Rico Hoye. Even Delisle gave Woods more problems.

What happens to Glengoffe Johnson after this though? Wasn't he fighting an eliminator also?

The mandatories are on a ticket system. Gonzalez beat DeLisle to earn this spot, Johnson beat Griffin to earn the next one.

Oh so Johnson is still in the running - so what is stopping the IBF not allowing Woods a voluntary.

DeLisle?? What is he related to the IBF president or something?

Johnson keeps on calling out other fighters and is supposed to be fighting Anthony Hanshaw.

I have a lot of respect for Woods..yes, the guy may not be THAT good but in the modern British erawinning a respected belt is something to be applauded..

The man has constatntly overachieved, I remember when he lost to Starie, he was finished! He has proven everyone wrong in the years since

The Nights against Ashley and Klementsen(neither fight he was expected to win) stand out to me.

Then Finally getting a title after 4 tries against a Champ who everyone thought woud eat him alive, what an achievement!!

I hope he gets his big payday, he has earned it

For a fairly genuine world title fight it's so low key. Shame Fight Academy couldn't stay on the BBC and getting better time slots. Woods just isn't a fashionable boxer and could do with as much exposure as possible.

This must be about his third defence and it seems to just be passing by. Good luck for Sturday.

Gonzalez will probably try to throw more right hands this time. That was his only success in the 1st bout, and Johnson hit Woods with a lot of rights in the ninth round of their thrilling 3rd fight.

Woods will be too strong and cute for him inside though. Last time he was able to stay inside, shoulder Gonzalez into the right position and hit away with short punches.

bennie wrote:Clinton Woods defends his IBF light-heavyweight title at the Hallam FM Arena in his home city of Sheffield against mandatory challenger Julio Cesar Gonzalez.
It's a rematch.
Woods outscored the Mexican bruiser at the same arena in September 2005, dominating the final third of the 12-rounder after Gonzalez had proved dangerous with right hands. "I feel so strong now," Woods told Bob Mee. "This guy was supposed to be the toughest and strongest light-heavyweight in the world but I felt stronger than him."
The tall, gritty, conventional, iron-jawed local man won the IBF belt outclassing American Rico Hoye in five rounds in Rotherham in 2005. He outwilled Gonzalez in his first defence and hammered Aussie Jason DeLisle in six rounds in defence No. 2. Then came an emotional split decision over Jamaican Glen Johnson last September in Bolton to underline the champion's improvement. Johnson had previously held Woods to a draw and outscored him.
Woods, a former undefeated British, Commonwealth and European champion, has mastered his trade in a career dating back to 1994. He tackled a peak Roy Jones, he came through that trilogy with throwback Johnson; he really earned his world title.
Gonzalez has also paid his dues. The 31-year-old (four years younger than Woods) worked as a picker in the California garlic fields and is a classic Mexican fighter: long-limbed, cute, tough, aggressive and dangerous. Based in the States, Gonzalez broke through against the late Julian "Mr KO" Letterlough in Ohio in February 2001 when he survived three knockdowns to secure a unanimous 12-round decision with better boxing (and two knockdowns of his own).
It was a big, thrilling win, and five months later in July 2001 Gonzalez was challenging the mighty Jones for the undisputed light-heavyweight title in front of a 20,000 crowd in Los Angeles. He was down again three times (Woods was never off his feet, although stopped in six with body shots) but stuck it out the full 12 and proved his right in world class.
More importantly, Julio came back a better fighter. He reeled off seven wins, including a close but merited decision over that man Johnson, to earn a crack at long-reigning WBO champion Dariusz Michalczewski in Hamburg in October 2003. The Hamburg-based Pole had held the title nine years and made 23 defences (two from the great Joe Louis). At 48-0, he was one win from Rocky Marciano's ghostly record. But Gonzalez refused to be daunted, and worked hard from the start. His body punching took its toll on the slow-starting champion who was unable to mount his usual late-round surge in front of an increasingly subdued crowd of 15,000. Michalczewski's promoter Klaus-Peter Kohl could be heard shouting: "You have to do more!" Trainer Fritz Szunek asked the champion at the end of round 10, "Are you OK?" There was no reply.
It still went to a split decision (What else, in Germany?), but Gonzalez, the busier man, got it by two scores of 116-112. A magnificent, magnificent victory.
But he held the title just three months. He returned to Germany and was roundly outboxed by Michalczewski's stablemate, Zsolt Erdei, an unbeaten but unheralded Hungarian who used footwork and combination punching to frustrate the champion and emerge on unanimous scores of 117-111 and 118-110 (twice).
It was back to the rankings for Gonzalez, who won three on the spin to secure the first Woods crack but was outboxed again and conceded wide scores, although there was never that much between them. Gonzalez claims he under-performed. He's won three more since to take his record to an impressive 41-3 (25) - the only losses in world title fights. He's never been stopped.
Woods is an almost identical 40-3-1 (24). Only Jones has stopped him. Only DeLisle and Ole Klemetsen have floored him (Woods climbed up to halt both).
So another hard fight looks on the cards between two working class heroes, one of whom gets stronger as a fight progresses (Woods), the other who surprisingly fades (if opponents don't buckle, of course, and Woods does have lazy middle-round spells). Rust may also play a part. Woods threw so many left hands in the Johnson thriller, he required an op on his left elbow - an injury which has plagued him since. He's been out 12 months. Fortunately for him, Gonzalez has been out 10 months.
Bottom line reads: Woods has already beaten Gonzalez and beaten him in the same venue. What he has done once, he can presumably do again.

pump....woods never fought a peak roy jones, RJJ was definately on the slide. i was proud of clinton that night, he gave his all and came out second best and learnt loads from it, but peak RJJ.. never...

see new thread

thepocketrocket wrote:I have a lot of respect for Woods..yes, the guy may not be THAT good but in the modern British erawinning a respected belt is something to be applauded..

The man has constatntly overachieved, I remember when he lost to Starie, he was finished! He has proven everyone wrong in the years since

The Nights against Ashley and Klementsen(neither fight he was expected to win) stand out to me.

Then Finally getting a title after 4 tries against a Champ who everyone thought woud eat him alive, what an achievement!!

I hope he gets his big payday, he has earned it

the ole klemetsen fight was a fantastic scrap, unfortunately there were hardly any fans there in the wembley arena that night but the scrap itself was memorable, i think it waS ON THE HOLMES MCCRACKEN BILL.

We can argue the benefits and the shit bits of this fight, my point is eventually the penny drops and we must support our boxers in world title fights - putting all of the b ollocks and banter that happens on these forums - Clinton is genuinally one of the good guys who deserves our support whether you are at the Arena or watching at home on your TVs.

rhino222 wrote:

thepocketrocket wrote:I have a lot of respect for Woods..yes, the guy may not be THAT good but in the modern British erawinning a respected belt is something to be applauded..

The man has constatntly overachieved, I remember when he lost to Starie, he was finished! He has proven everyone wrong in the years since

The Nights against Ashley and Klementsen(neither fight he was expected to win) stand out to me.

Then Finally getting a title after 4 tries against a Champ who everyone thought woud eat him alive, what an achievement!!

I hope he gets his big payday, he has earned it

the ole klemetsen fight was a fantastic scrap, unfortunately there were hardly any fans there in the wembley arena that night but the scrap itself was memorable, i think it waS ON THE HOLMES MCCRACKEN BILL.

I remember that fight - you were sat with your good pal Spud and even went into Wood's dressing room afterwards like 2 groupies!!!

thepocketrocket wrote:I have a lot of respect for Woods..yes, the guy may not be THAT good but in the modern British erawinning a respected belt is something to be applauded..

The man has constatntly overachieved, I remember when he lost to Starie, he was finished! He has proven everyone wrong in the years since

The Nights against Ashley and Klementsen(neither fight he was expected to win) stand out to me.

Then Finally getting a title after 4 tries against a Champ who everyone thought woud eat him alive, what an achievement!!

I hope he gets his big payday, he has earned it

Are you one about Rico Hoye here? He wasn't the champ it was for a vacant title.

stujones wrote:

thepocketrocket wrote:I have a lot of respect for Woods..yes, the guy may not be THAT good but in the modern British erawinning a respected belt is something to be applauded..

The man has constatntly overachieved, I remember when he lost to Starie, he was finished! He has proven everyone wrong in the years since

The Nights against Ashley and Klementsen(neither fight he was expected to win) stand out to me.

Then Finally getting a title after 4 tries against a Champ who everyone thought woud eat him alive, what an achievement!!

I hope he gets his big payday, he has earned it

Are you one about Rico Hoye here? He wasn't the champ it was for a vacant title.

Pocket Rocket is the most knowledgable man I know concerning boxing