05.02.04 – By Elliot Worsell: The IBF light heavyweight title is once again put on the line this coming Friday in Sheffield (February 6), as top rated contenders Clinton Woods 35-2-1 (21 KO’s) and Glencoffe Johnson 39-9-2 (27 KO’s) duke it out one last time for the coveted prize. Sheffield born Woods, and Miami based Jamaican Johnson, fought to a hotly disputed draw last time the pair met (November 7 2003), and the prestigious world title that former champion Antonio Tarver relinquished, remained vacant, much to the displeasure of both combatants.
Now however, on Friday at the Ponds Forge Centre in Woods’ hometown of Sheffield, the pair get set to put it all on the line again, with both men knowing this could be their last crack at world title triumph.
Johnson, at 35 years of age, has the chance to strike a red cross through all the misfortunes he’s suffered in the past, should his arm be lifted on Friday night. Universally recognised as one of the unluckiest pugilists around, Johnson, throughout his distinguished 10 year career that kicked off back in February 1993, it is fair to say has been robbed more times than an out-of-towner on the London underground. His IBF super middleweight title shot against Sven Ottke and fights with Vanderpool, Branco, Sheika, Gonzalez and Daniel Judah have all ended with a similar everlasting image. The scornful scowl of Glencoffe Johnson following the announced decisions. In many people’s eyes, his last fight, the rumble with Woods, was merely a continuation of his misfortune, and was another addition to his blotted scrapbook.
In truth though, the first fight was close. Johnson, rugged, pumped up, and his shaven cranium resembling a dirt bike circuit, took the fight to Woods from the off, in an attempt to ruffle the feathers of the stand up, well schooled Sheffield man. He did just that, and bullied his way to a comprehensive lead in the first half of the fight. Woods, the hometown fighter, was forced to lean on the ropes for support and shoot out arm shots whenever Johnson gave him room to. The further the fight went the more room Clinton began to find, and the more room he began to successfully work with. In the second half of the fight, especially the last couple of rounds, Woods managed to get Johnson where he wanted, in centre ring, and he began dictating with his longer, snappier shots from range as the charged up Jamaican ticked on empty. Was it enough to keep the IBF title away from the hungry clutches of his battle hardened opponent? I’d be inclined to say no, but nonetheless, ask Glencoffe Johnson to flick through his scrapbook of defeats and I’m sure you’ll find worse decisions. He’d be the first to admit it.
So following all the ‘hoo-hah’ of the last contest, and the small matter of bringing the respected road warrior back to England, Clinton Woods embarks on his 3rd stab at a world title on Friday night, and knows fully well, the pressure’s on.
‘Well there’s a lot of people saying it’s my last stab, and I personally look at it that way. But to be honest I’m a young 31, and although I’m very confident going into the fight, there’s always likely to be other chances round the corner should it all go wrong. My main target at the moment though is to win this IBF title and make some defences of it.’ Woods stated in the week leading up to this vital title fight.
The rematch with Johnson marks the third time Woods will have challenged for a portion of the world light heavyweight title. He famously tried to steal the jewels from recognised light heavyweight king Roy Jones Jr. in September 2002, and of course the first battle with Johnson had the pretty IBF strap separating the two competitors. In truth, not many British fighters get the world title chances the amicable Woods has received, and the opportunities owe a lot not only to the skills and discipline of the 31 former British, commonwealth and European champion, but also the endeavour of promoter Dennis Hobson.
‘I’ve been a pro now for about 9 years and I’ve been with Dennis from the beginning, and we’ve slowly climbed the ladder. We’ve won all the domestic titles British, commonwealth and European, and then he got me the big one with Roy Jones, and I don’t care what anyone says, your Frank Warren’s and your Frank Maloney’s and all the so called big promoters in Britain, they couldn’t deliver Roy Jones. They kept saying they would get him for Calzaghe, but they couldn’t deliver it. Dennis is supposed to be a so-called small promoter but he was able to go out and deliver the biggest fight Britain has had for a long time. And also, he’s got me another world title shot against Glencoffe, which is fantastic.’ Stated the obviously grateful Woods.
Clinton Woods knows fully well that with the dealings outside the ring done with full professionalism, the 31-year-old Sheffield man must do his bit inside the ring in similar fashion. With his injured left hand healed, and trainer Neil Port back in the helm, Woods is understandably in a very upbeat mood going into this defining title clash.
‘Neil’s been with me from the beginning but he’s always away from the spotlight. He brings a lot of aggression and passion to the camp, and trains me hard. He knows how I like to fight, how I like to move, fight inside, then move again, he knows exactly how I prefer fighting. Tim (Witherspoon) was just trying to get me fighting like a heavyweight, just getting me there to stand and slug it out. Neil’s pulling all the shots now, he’s the gaffer.’
‘I will make sure I stick to the plan Neil and I have set and that’s to box him a bit, and eventually get him going backwards. I believe that if I push him back in the fight I will catch him and take over. I need to be busier early in the fight, try and tire him a little earlier, and if I can do that, I definitely feel I can stop him. This is my last chance at a major title, and I’m going to make sure I put everything I have into his fight.’
He will need to. Johnson, riled by the many unfortunate setbacks he has suffered in his career, will leave nothing to rest in the eyes of the three ringside judges. In all likelihood, the old pro Johnson, will start pretty much the same as he did in the first contest. All guns blazing, lots of leather being thrown, his head being nestled uncomfortably on the chest of Woods. That mode of attack was how ‘Gentleman’ Glen got his success in the last fight, and it was while he was doing this, that the fight seemed to be slipping away from the grasp of the Sheffield man. It was when Johnson began to fatigue, and tried to hang with his long armed opponent from distance, that things got edgy.
With his injured left hand given a new lease of life, and knowing fully well just how Glencoffe fights and how he is likely to again, Woods must start this rematch confidently. He knows that the left jab was the thing missing from the first tussle, and that if he can stick that shot in the battle scarred face of Johnson with regularity, he has the chance to go home a world champion. Fighting a guy like Johnson without a jab, is like trying to fend off a shark with knife and fork, it’s not ideal.
The key to this fight I believe is how Woods copes with the pressure that Johnson applies early on in the fight. Even with his restored left hand, will the sheer brute strength of Johnson be too much for Woods? Will Johnson outwork and out hustle him early in the fight, as he appeared to do in the last contest?
What we do know is that Woods must stay off the ropes as Johnson comes forward, and constantly give him something to think about as the Jamaican wades in. Namely the left lead. If Woods can stay within punching distance and ride the early storm Johnson will brew up, he has a great chance of outlasting the teak tough veteran down the stretch, and pulling away with the sharper, more accurate shots for a contentious points win. I’d be very surprised, if similarly to the first fight, this rematch is easy to call for the judges. The styles of the two fighters are so contrasting, it merely depends on who you feel is doing the cleaner, crisper and more rewarding work. On February 6, I believe that man will be Clinton Woods, and at the third attempt, the likeable Sheffield fighter will be crowned world light heavyweight champion. Unsurprisingly Woods agrees …
‘Johnson thinks he got a raw deal last time, and he’ll probably try and end the fight early on. If he tries that, I’ll wear him down late. If he tries to box me a bit more, I’ll just outbox him like I was doing late in the last fight. However he fights it doesn’t matter to me, I’ll be ready for him!’ Let’s hope so. Woods-Johnson 2 promises to be a cracker.