Woods back in business

By Richard Hookham

Clinton Woods makes the fourth defence of his IBF light heavyweight title on Saturday braced for 36 minutes of pain.

I love it front of my my own fans and when I get out there I just think 'there¿s no way I will lose in front of them'. It just gives you that something extra Clinton Woods

That's what the Sheffield warhorse admits he went through the last time he faced Mexican Julio Cesar Gonzalez, and the 35-year-old is expecting more of the same in this weekend's rematch at the Sheffield Hallam Arena.

Woods has been ordered into a second showdown with Gonzalez, who has fought his way back into the reckoning as the genuine mandatory challenger.

The pair last went at it in September 2005 when Woods was awarded a points decision after a brutal 12-round leather exchange at the same venue.

"Ideally, I'd love to say I'll knock him out and get out of there quickly," Woods told the BBC.

"But I know from first-hand experience Gonzalez is as tough as they come and it could well go the distance. Why I am I fighting him again? Only because I have too," he admitted.

Woods isn't fazed by the prospect, however. In fact, he believes he's in better shape now than for nearly two years.

He has undergone corrective surgery to repair a long-term tendon injury on his left arm, which severely hampered him in his last defence against three-time adversary Glencoffe Johnson last September.

"They had to rip off some muscle just below the elbow, which had been giving me a lot of pain over the last year," he said.

I'm determined to make sure I'm still in that British group of world champions for a while yet Clinton Woods

Then back in June he clashed elbows during sparring which caused more problems and forced him out of the original date to fight Gonzalez, on the undercard of Ricky Hatton's clash with Jose Luis Castillo in Las Vegas.

Four months on after more rehabilitation and Woods finally feels fully primed for action.

"I'm in great shape. When I fought Glencoffe last time, no disrespect to him, but I knew something was missing," he said.

"I know Gonzalez has had a go at me because I pulled out of the Vegas date, but there was nothing I could do about it - I couldn't even lift my arm. But it feels perfect now and I'm raring to go."

Woods is philosophical about missing out on another chance to fight in America. He made his Stateside debut in September 2002 but was stopped by former pound-for-pound legend Roy Jones Jr in Oregon.

But he insisted: "If I was told to fight in the USA of course I'd go there again. But I'm back fighting in my home town of Sheffield, and to be honest, I'd rather fight there than anywhere else.

"I love it front of my my own fans and when I get out there I just think 'there's no way I will lose in front of them'. It just gives you that something extra, I suppose."

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Woods knows he'll need that backing when Gonzalez steps into the ring gunning for revenge on Saturday.

His 31-year-old opponent has yet to be stopped in 44 contests, and has won 25 by the way of knock-out.

"Gonzalez is tough. He stands there, you hit him and your best ever punch and it just comes back off his head and you're think 'how did he take that?'," Woods said.

"He's a genuine light-heavyweight, always has been, and when he lands, you feel it.

"But I'll have a bit more in the tank this time as I've been able to go flat out in training for the first time in years. I'm punching harder than ever and I'm confident I can outwork him."

Woods admits he's recent ring inactivity may have cast him as the forgotten man among the ranks of Britain's other recognised world champions.

The likes of Joe Calzaghe, Ricky Hatton, Junior Witter, Gavin Rees and Enzo Maccarinelli have all basked in nights of glory since Woods last climbed between the ropes.

But he said: "To be honest, I don't really crave attention that much, although of course, I love being world champion - it's what I've been working for all my life.

"But I'm determined to make sure I'm still in that British group of champions for a while yet."