Richie Woodhall (born 17 April 1968) is a British former professional boxer who competed from 1990 to 2000. He held the WBC super-middleweight title from 1998 to 1999, as well as the Commonwealth middleweight title from 1992 to 1995, and the European middleweight title from 1995 to 1996. As an amateur, Woodhall won a gold medal at the 1990 Commonwealth Games and bronze at the 1988 Summer Olympics, both in the light-middleweight division.
Following his retirement from the sport, Woodhall has developed a broadcasting career with both the BBC and BT Sport as a sports pundit, on both television and radio. He currently co-commentates with Mike Costello on radio for some shows, while co-commentating with John Rawling on Setanta Sports at other times. Woodhall has commentated on numerous Olympic Games for the BBC, starting with Athens 2004 alongside Jim Neilly. This partnership continued into Beijing 2008 and London 2012. For the Rio 2016, Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024 Olympics, Woodhall has been ringside alongside Ronald McIntosh.
He appeared as a body double for Brad Pitt in the 2000 film Snatch.
He was awarded an honorary MSc by the University of Chichester in 2008.
Amateur career Olympic Games Bronze Medalist, Seoul South Korea 1988, losing to Roy Jones, Jr.. Commonwealth Games Gold Medallist, Auckland New Zealand 1990 England International Contests – 43
Olympic results 1st round bye Defeated Desmond Williams (Sierra Leone) 5-0 Defeated Apolinario Silveira (Angola) 5-0 Defeated Rey Rivera (Puerto Rico) 5-0 Lost to Roy Jones Jr. (United States) 5-0
Professional career Woodhall turned pro in 1990 and was undefeated as the Commonwealth Middleweight Champion from 1992 to 1995. He was then undefeated as the European Middleweight Champion from 1995 to 1996.
Woodhall defeated a number of useful fighters during this period, including; Future World Super Middle and World Light Heavyweight Champion Silvio Branco, Art Serwarno, Heath Todd, Jacques LeBlanc, Zdravko Kostic, Derek Wormald, Vito Gaudiosi and Royan Hammond.
In late 1996 he fought WBC middleweight title holder Keith Holmes. Woodhall went into this fight carrying an injury, but took the fight anyway. Woodhall did not perform as well has he might otherwise have, losing by 12th-round TKO.
In 1998 he moved up to Super Middleweight and after a tune up against Bernice Barber captured the WBC super middleweight title with a unanimous decision win over Thulani Malinga. He successfully defended the title twice, defeating fellow Briton and future World Champion Glenn Catley and former World Champ Vincenzo Nardiello before losing it to Markus Beyer by decision in 1999, a fight in which Woodhall was down in the 1st and twice in the 3rd. Woodhall rallied late in the fight and came close to stopping Beyer, however his revival came too late.
Woodhall bounced back with a win over the experienced Errol McDonald, setting him up for his final bout against Joe Calzaghe for the WBO super middleweight title.
On 16 December 2000, Woodhall was TKO'd in 10 rounds by Joe Calzaghe, after which Woodhall retired.
Personal life Woodhall grew up in Woodside, Telford and attended the local William Reynolds Primary and Junior School and Abraham Darby School. He is also a supporter of West Bromwich Albion F.C. He currently resides in Lightmoor, Telford, Shropshire.
Woodhall also is a reporter for BBC Midlands' Inside Out Programme. He is married to childhood sweetheart Jayne and has 3 children, Jack, Jake, and Amey Woodhall, an actress who has appeared in television shows such as Emmerdale and Coronation Street.
In film Woodhall was a body double for Brad Pitt in a fight scene in the movie Snatch, directed by Guy Ritchie. He trained Matthew Marsden for his role in the movie Shiner.
Professional boxing record
ResultRecordOpponentTypeRound, timeDateLocationNotes29Loss26–3Joe CalzagheTKO10 (12), 16 Dec 200028Win26–2Errol McDonaldTKO8 (10)6 May 200027Loss25–2Markus BeyerUD1223 Oct 199926Win25–1Vincenzo NardielloTKO6 (12), 13 Feb 199925Win24–1Glenn Catley125 Sep 199824Win23–1Thulani MalingaUD1227 Mar 199823Win22–1Bernice BarberTKO3 (10), 11 Sep 199722Loss21–1Keith HolmesTKO12 (12), 19 Oct 199621Win21–0Derek WormaldTKO10 (12), 31 Jan 199620Win20–0Zdravko KosticUD1225 Oct 199519Win19–0Silvio BrancoTKO9 (12), 22 Feb 199518Win18–0Art SerwanoTKO11 (12), 30 Nov 199417Win17–0Jacques LeBlancPTS125 Oct 199416Win16–0Greg LononTKO6 (10)16 Mar 199415Win15–0Heath ToddTKO7 (10), 1 Mar 199414Win14–0Gerry MeekisonPTS1227 Oct 199313Win13–0Royan HammondPTS1024 Apr 199312Win12–0Carlo ColarussoPTS816 Mar 199311Win11–0Horace FlearyPTS84 Dec 199210Win10–0John AshtonPTS121 Oct 19929Win9–0Vito Gaudiosi1 (12), 26 Mar 19928Win8–0Graham BurtonTKO2 (8)4 Feb 19927Win7–0Colin Pitters831 Oct 19916Win6–0Nigel MooreTKO1 (8), 29 Aug 19915Win5–0Marty DukeTKO4 (6)30 May 19914Win4–0Seamus CaseyTKO3 (6), 21 Feb 19913Win3–0Chris HaydonTKO3 (6), 16 Jan 19912Win2–0Robert HarronTKO2 (4)30 Nov 19901Win1–0Kevin Hayde3 (4)18 Oct 1990
References
External links