On 7 November, 2002, Clinton Woods was to have his first taste of the water from across the other side of the pond. It wasnʼt good. Dismantled in six rounds by the great Roy Jones Jr, it took the Sheffield man almost six years to go back again. The water was no nicer.
After 12 rounds of uninspiring boxing last weekend from Woods, a unanimous decision loss to Antonio Tarver crushed any hope of a British super fight with Joe Calzaghe this autumn. Woods will be left with a feeling of missed opportunity and wondering if father time has finally got his number at 35 years old.
I had previously said that ʽTarver is a slick southpaw who has more natural talent and should comfortably outbox woods on the night to a 12 round decision.ʼ This was the opinion of many, however with Tarver's lacklustre recent bouts, the bookies and many people couldnʼt split the pair.
Despite Tarver visibly gasping for breath in between the later rounds, it was Woods who found age the defeating factor as he was unable to get into any sort of rhythm and had very little work rate. Some things just donʼt do what they used to do anymore; it appeared that way last weekend for Woods, and to some extent, Tarver.
Where to go after such a defeat?
No chance of a rematch with Tarver, who will use his remaining two or three fights to make as much money as possible. No chance of the super fight with Calzaghe, even if Joe loses to Bernard Hopkins, unless Calzaghe's performance mirrors that of Wood's last night. More...
On Saturday night, Sheffield Boxer Clinton Woods, put his IBF Light Heavyweight title at risk against ‘Magic Man’ Antonio Tarver in Tampa, Florida. Unfortunately for Woods, Tarver was indeed ‘Magic’ and Woods - having struggled to settle in to the fight from the first bell - lost his title after 12 rounds of passion-less boxing.
The slow start to the contest continued throughout. Woods realised that Tarver did not like the body-shots, so he tries to concentrate on them but the action was lacking. In the closing seconds of round three, the travelling British fans cheered as Woods strikes a straight left to the face of Tarver, who tilts off balance.
A couple of left jabs rock back the head of Woods mid-way through round four and, finding it difficult to settle in, he switches from southpaw to orthodox.
Throughout the fight, Tarver used a variety of shots but his most notable was the uppercut. More...
Antonio Tarver registered a unanimous 12 round decision over defending champion Clinton Woods to capture the IBF light heavyweight crown and WBC 175 pound kingpin Chad Dawson remained undefeated with a thrilling, hard-fought 12 round decision over hard-luck Glen Johnson Saturday on Showtime. More...
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. More...
Some fighters like to tell the world of their ring prowess and professional achievements, while others prefer to stay quiet and carefully build their reputation with solid performances. This weekendʼs IBF/IBO Light Heavyweight unification clash in Tampa, Florida features two boxers who perfectly epitomise those two very different moulds of men.
Sheffieldʼs IBF champion Clinton Woods is the quiet, unassuming type who would rather holiday in his caravan in Skegness than lavish himself with the finer things in life. He is the type of champion that is respectful and only shows his more frightful side in the ring.
Antonio "Iʼm prettier than a girl" Tarver is Woodʼs exact antithesis. Bold, brass and mouthy, listening to Tarver speak, you could easily be fooled into thinking that this man was the greatest to ever don trunks and gloves.
"If anyone has any doubt whoʼs the best light heavyweight, I will show them once again on Saturday nigh," Tarver said at this week's press conference. "I am delighted that Woods is here and sounds ready to fight, but like so many that fought me before him, his dreams and hopes will be dashed. There is only one true light heavyweight champion and thatʼs me." More...
The biggest night for the light heavyweight division is just one day away. "TNT: Title Night in Tampa," featuring the Antonio Tarver vs. Clinton Woods IBO/IBF title unification fight and undefeated WBC champion Chad Dawson's title defense against former world champion and "Fighter of the Year" Glen Johnson, takes place tonight Saturday, April 12, at the St. Pete Times Forum.
The fighters weighed in yesterday for their hotly anticipated clashes this evening: More...
Saturday night at the St. Pete Times Forum in Tampa, FL, sees a pair of light heavyweight world title fights as IBF Champion Clinton Woods faces IBO titlist Antonio Tarver and WBC Champion Chad Dawson faces former world titlist Glen Johnson.
Showtime televises live starting at 9PM ET/PT, delayed on the West Coast. More...
Showtime will thrill boxing fans with an explosive light heavyweight championship doubleheader when IBO 175-pound champion and former undisputed light heavyweight kingpin Antonio Tarver faces IBF world titleholder Clinton Woods at the St. Pete Times Forum in Tampa, Fla. on Saturday, April, 12.
Before Tarver and Woods exchange leather, fans will enjoy the highly anticipated light heavyweight championship fight between WBC titleholder Chad Dawson and former world champion Glen Johnson, making April 12 the most compelling and significant night for the division in years. More...
Following a hearty breakfast, undefeated WBC light heavyweight champion Chad Dawson stepped on the scale this morning and weighed 176 pounds at his official WBC seven-day weigh-in.
"After I chow down on Glen Johnson next week, it's on to Clinton Woods and his titles for dessert," said Dawson, 25-0 (17), from Hartford, CT. "There is no way Antonio Tarver survives his fight with Woods. Woods is going to make hash out of 'The Magic Spam;, er Man." More...
Former undisputed light heavyweight kingpin and current IBO champion Antonio Tarver will face IBF champion Clinton Woods and WBC 175-pound titleholder Chad Dawson will defend against former world champion Glen Johnson Saturday, April 12, on SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING (live at 9 p.m. ET/PT,delayed on the west coast). More...
Ricky Hatton was in a relaxed mood today when he arrived for a Fight Academy press conference at the home of his beloved football team, the City of Manchester Stadium. Due to fly out to Boston this weekend, Ricky was happy to talk to the media about his jump up to welterweight to take on the WBA Champion Luis Collazo of Brooklyn.
At the press conference table, facing the media were (from left to right) Hatton's trainer Billy Graham, Ray Hatton, Ricky Hatton, Fight Academy promoter Robert Waterman, IBF Light Heavyweight Champion Clinton Woods, Fight Academy promoter Dennis Hobson, Woods' trainer Richard Poxon and Gareth Williams. More...
