£1 million pound midfielder turned boxer wins first fight

goldenHuddlestone · 09-09-2006, 07:46 PM

Curtis Woodhouse, the £1million midfielder who quit football to be a professional boxer, won his debut fight in style on Friday night. Twenty-six-year-old welterweight Woodhouse floored Elthams Dean Marcantonio, who was having his third fight, twice on his way to a convincing 40-35-points victory on promoter Frank Warrens charity show at Londons Grosvenor House Hotel.

Woodhouse, who commanded a six-figure fee when he moved from Sheffield United to Birmingham City in 2001, turned down the offer of a new contract and quit Grimsby at the end of last season to pursue his new career. His confidence paid off and he proved an instant crowd-pleaser on his debut. Despite never having boxed as an amateur, Woodhouse fought confidently and put the issue beyond any doubt in the final round.

A perfectly-timed left hook sent Marcantonio crashing on his back and he did well to beat the count. Southpaw Woodhouse followed up with another left straight through the middle of his opponents guard to floor him again. Marcantonio made it to the bell but it was an extremely promising start for Woodhouse. After a tentative opening round, he stepped up the pace, darting in and out to land with both hands.

Although he had never fought in public before, the former footballer has shown his dedication by training in Peterborough with former British featherweight champion Gary de Roux five days a week for the last 12 weeks, only returning home to his family in Hull at weekends. But he had been preparing for the switch from soccer to boxing for the last four years by secretly training at boxing gyms in the midlands and Yorkshire without the knowledge of his football managers.

He has shed two stones from his 12.5-stone frame to fight as a welterweight since quitting football and looked in superb condition. After the fight Woodhouse said: "I feel brilliant. It felt great to get my first win out of the way. The worst thing was all those people here watching me. I burnt a lot of nervous energy in the dressing room but as I go on Ill learn and improve. I caught him with a beautiful left hook and he did well to get up." He now wants to fight again as soon as possible to gain the experience he needs to take him up the boxing ladder. "Im ready to go again right now," added Woodhouse.

squid · 09-09-2006, 11:00 PM

thought this thread was going to be about ben thatcher.

Jedi Knight · 09-10-2006, 12:36 AM

Joe · 09-10-2006, 11:03 AM

I was thinking Duncan Ferguson

aisuru · 09-10-2006, 01:19 PM

i like a good Welterweight fight, i'll need to watch out for this boy.

theo kawala · 09-10-2006, 01:40 PM

im thinking johnson

goldenHuddlestone · 09-10-2006, 05:40 PM

Johnsons only aggresive in the good way

theo kawala · 09-10-2006, 08:24 PM

erm lennon

theo kawala · 09-10-2006, 08:24 PM

from celtic

goldenHuddlestone · 09-10-2006, 09:17 PM

What would be the ultimate fight between two players. What bought big Dunc versus Rooney

adamlfc · 01-31-2007, 12:18 PM

roy keane and duncan ferguson

Bennett77 · 01-31-2007, 07:35 PM

I'll take Keane.

1NVDABO · 07-20-2007, 03:44 PM

Rooney and Vieira? or maybe Baptista and Gattuso?

goldenHuddlestone · 07-20-2007, 04:20 PM

viera and keane

toonmagic9 · 07-20-2007, 05:29 PM

bellamy and keane

09-09-2006, 07:46 PM	#1 (permalink)
goldenHuddlestone Admin Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 5,656 vCash: 480	£1 million pound midfielder turned boxer wins first fight Curtis Woodhouse, the £1million midfielder who quit football to be a professional boxer, won his debut fight in style on Friday night. Twenty-six-year-old welterweight Woodhouse floored Elthams Dean Marcantonio, who was having his third fight, twice on his way to a convincing 40-35-points victory on promoter Frank Warrens charity show at Londons Grosvenor House Hotel. Woodhouse, who commanded a six-figure fee when he moved from Sheffield United to Birmingham City in 2001, turned down the offer of a new contract and quit Grimsby at the end of last season to pursue his new career. His confidence paid off and he proved an instant crowd-pleaser on his debut. Despite never having boxed as an amateur, Woodhouse fought confidently and put the issue beyond any doubt in the final round. A perfectly-timed left hook sent Marcantonio crashing on his back and he did well to beat the count. Southpaw Woodhouse followed up with another left straight through the middle of his opponents guard to floor him again. Marcantonio made it to the bell but it was an extremely promising start for Woodhouse. After a tentative opening round, he stepped up the pace, darting in and out to land with both hands. Although he had never fought in public before, the former footballer has shown his dedication by training in Peterborough with former British featherweight champion Gary de Roux five days a week for the last 12 weeks, only returning home to his family in Hull at weekends. But he had been preparing for the switch from soccer to boxing for the last four years by secretly training at boxing gyms in the midlands and Yorkshire without the knowledge of his football managers. He has shed two stones from his 12.5-stone frame to fight as a welterweight since quitting football and looked in superb condition. After the fight Woodhouse said: "I feel brilliant. It felt great to get my first win out of the way. The worst thing was all those people here watching me. I burnt a lot of nervous energy in the dressing room but as I go on Ill learn and improve. I caught him with a beautiful left hook and he did well to get up." He now wants to fight again as soon as possible to gain the experience he needs to take him up the boxing ladder. "Im ready to go again right now," added Woodhouse.

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09-10-2006, 12:36 AM	#3 (permalink)
Jedi Knight Admin Join Date: May 2006 Location: ma hoose Posts: 1,437 vCash: 500	The FORCE will always triumph over the dark side!!!

09-10-2006, 11:03 AM	#4 (permalink)
Joe Football Talk Admin Join Date: May 2006 Location: Glasgow Posts: 13,533 vCash: 500	I was thinking Duncan Ferguson Thanks for visiting FootballTalk.org. You could register now and have your say.

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09-09-2006, 11:00 PM	#2 (permalink)
squid Veteran Join Date: May 2006 Location: Glasgow Posts: 768 vCash: 500	thought this thread was going to be about ben thatcher.

09-10-2006, 01:19 PM	#5 (permalink)
aisuru Admin Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: the Village Posts: 3,827 vCash: 726	i like a good Welterweight fight, i'll need to watch out for this boy.

09-10-2006, 01:40 PM	#6 (permalink)
theo kawala Veteran Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: england peterborough Posts: 3,152 vCash: 500	im thinking johnson

09-10-2006, 05:40 PM	#7 (permalink)
goldenHuddlestone Admin Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 5,656 vCash: 480	Johnsons only aggresive in the good way

09-10-2006, 08:24 PM	#8 (permalink)
theo kawala Veteran Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: england peterborough Posts: 3,152 vCash: 500	erm lennon

09-10-2006, 08:24 PM	#9 (permalink)
theo kawala Veteran Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: england peterborough Posts: 3,152 vCash: 500	from celtic

09-10-2006, 09:17 PM	#10 (permalink)
goldenHuddlestone Admin Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 5,656 vCash: 480	What would be the ultimate fight between two players. What bought big Dunc versus Rooney

01-31-2007, 12:18 PM	#11 (permalink)
adamlfc liverpool fc Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 79 vCash: 400	roy keane and duncan ferguson

01-31-2007, 07:35 PM	#12 (permalink)
Bennett77 New Signing Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 19 vCash: 500	I'll take Keane.

07-20-2007, 03:44 PM	#13 (permalink)
1NVDABO First Team Regular Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 47 vCash: 500	Rooney and Vieira? or maybe Baptista and Gattuso?

07-20-2007, 04:20 PM	#14 (permalink)
goldenHuddlestone Admin Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 5,656 vCash: 480	viera and keane

07-20-2007, 05:29 PM	#15 (permalink)
toonmagic9 Veteran Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 1,627 vCash: 465	bellamy and keane