by James Slater: Former IBF light-heavyweight world champion Clinton Woods is the first to admit he looked anything but great in his April fight with Antonio Tarver. Losing his belt via a wide points margin to “The Magic Man,” Sheffield’s Woods later blamed a possible viral condition for his poor showing. The loss hurt the proud British fighter, and afterwards retirement was very much an option. Indeed, a number of fans felt Woods would hang ’em up, having no real alternative..
Woods is a much tougher fighter than many people seem to realise, however, and the 36-year-old is far from done. Wanting very much to re-establish himself and hopefully earn another shot at a world title, Clinton will be taking the European route in an effort to get back to the top. According to his promoter, Dennis Hobson, Woods will be boxing Algerian-born French man Rachid Kanfouah for the European crown at 175-pounds before the end of the year.
Speaking to The Sheffield Star, Hobson had the following things to say.
“Clinton has to re-establish himself after that bad performance against Tarver, but he’s done it before, ” Hobson said. When he lost to Glen Johnson, he got going again by boxing Jason DeLisle before seizing his chance to beat Rico Hoye. Clinton in 36 but lives well and is fresh and ready for his comeback. It’s not as if he’s like Ricky Hatton who abuses his body in between fights. He is like Bernard Hopkins, who is still around at age 43.”
Hobson is 100-percent correct when it comes to Woods being a healthy liver, he is also a committed trainer. But what are his chances of beating Kanfouah?, his fight against whom is to go to purse bids on October 15th.
Kanfouah is no spring chicken himself at age 35. A good European level fighter, with a 29-6(23) record, Kanfouah has boxed most of his fights in France, where he lives. A 10th round TKO loss to Germany’s Thomas Ulrich back in January of 2007 marked the only time the 35-year-old has been stopped. Woods will have to go some if he’s to win inside the distance. It’s not known yet where the fight will be held, but there must be a good chance the bout will take place in the U.K.
Kanfouah began his pro career as a middleweight, while Woods began his as a super-middleweight and has been boxing at 175-pounds for well over ten years now. The stronger man physically, I expect Clinton, currently 41-4-1(24), to win a fairly clear UD – wherever the fight is staged.