Knock on Wood

“Knock on Wood” Aussie Jason “the Nailer” Delisle has been in London for over a week, where he is scheduled to take on IBF # 5 Clinton Wood for the # 2 position on October 24 in Sheffield.
A carpenter by trade, Jason is used to working with wood everyday back in Australia – yet with an ironic twist of fate he now faces the namesake of his trade in Clinton Woods. Jason laughs when he says that he can’t remember when at trade school as an apprentice, studying any Wood like he has for the type he’s working with on October 24.

This is by far the most important fight in Jason’s 19 fight career and he knows exactly what he is up against. While he is confident he can conquer his more experienced opponent, he respects him equally as much. Clinton has been a great contributor to the sport and has a style that can give any light heavy a hard fight.

Preparation for this bout has been sensational with plenty of quality sparring against the likes of Sam Soliman – Danny Green – Glen Kelly – Nader Hamden – Sakio Bika and others. Trainer Dino Billinghurst is confident Jason has what it takes to counter the style of Woods and believes the preparation fro this bout has seen Jason lift again to another level. “Jason is peaking right now” said Billinghurst.

Delisle’s manager Stuart Duncan stated he felt the time was right for Jason and that despite being the “underdog” was confident his boxer has what it takes to defeat Woods. Yes Clinton is more experienced and yes we are travelling to his backyard, however we believe we have a number of things on our side – Clinton is coming of two gruelling wars where he drew once & lost once, sometimes wars like this can be like putting miles on a car. Jason is coming 3 KO wins including a devastating first round KO of the more experienced Justin Clements. Jason has a distinct psychological advantage going into this fight.

Clinton knows this is the longest period he has been without a fight since turning professional in 1994. Coming of a loss and a draw again in his own backyard clearly indicates he is slipping.

If I was a boxer coming off a loss and a draw, and a veteran of nearly 40 fights ( including two 12 round wars with out a win in my last two outings), I’d say there’s too many miles on the car. The result ? Duncan says “for some reason I think they will learn he’s not called the Nailer because of his trade”. While as Jason says we respect Clinton for what he has achieved – he will learn from this bout he is at the end of the road.

The message is loud and clear to Clinton Woods – “Expect the unexpected and if you think the venue is going to be your advantage, you will be proven wrong !