© Tom Casino

A week before the big Calzaghe vs. Hopkins light heavyweight showdown, Sheffield's Clinton Woods defends his IBF title against Antonio Tarver in Tampa, Florida.

For Woods, this is his well deserved spot in the big league, topping an American bill as champion. A pro since 1994, Woods has won titles at domestic, Commonwealth and European level at super middleweight and light heavyweight.

In his first tilt at world honours, Woods had the misfortune to run into Undisputed World Light Heavyweight Champion Roy Jones Jr, then at the peak of his powers, losing in six rounds in September 2002. After a draw and a points loss verdict to veteran Glencoffe Johnson, Woods finally made it fourth time lucky, stopping American Rico Hoye in five in March 2005, wining the vacant IBF title.

Since then, Woods has made four defences, two against the awkward Julio Gonzalez, who he defeated on points on both occasions. Australian Jason DeLisle was dispatched in six and to show just how much Woods had improved as champion, the Sheffield man finally managed to defeat veteran Johnson over 12 rounds.

The veteran Tarver could very well be his most difficult opponent. Now 39, Tarver holds two wins over Roy Jones Jr and also holds a win over Johnson, both common opponents with Woods.

In June 2006, Tarver met Bernard Hopkins in a fight that would officially give the winner the title of World's Best Light Heavyweight. Tarver that night gave a lacklustre performance, losing widely to the crafty Hopkins. The Magic Man has clocked up two wins since.

Had this fight taken place four years ago, I would have tipped Tarver to win nine times out of ten. In 2004, Woods had lost his rematch to Johnson and Tarver was the top man in the 175 pound division, having trounced Roy Jones Jr.

However in 2008, Woods has improved so much compared to the fighter who lost widely to Johnson in 2004 while Tarver, you could argue, has gone a step back, having lost lethargically to Hopkins two years ago, although Tarver blamed that on the weight he had to lose following the filming of the "Rocky Balboa" motion picture.

2008 could be a big year for Woods and there's the prospect of a huge domestic matchup with Joe Calzaghe if the Welshman gets by Hopkins next week. I see this fight going the distance and although the fight is being held in Tarver's home state of Florida, I feel that Woods has improved enough to defeat Tarver over the 12 round stretch.

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