Clinton Woods (born 1 May 1972) is a British former professional boxer who competed from 1994 to 2009, and held the IBF light-heavyweight title from 2005 to 2008. At regional level he held the Commonwealth super-middleweight title from 1997 to 1998, the British light-heavyweight title from 1999 to 2000, and the European and Commonwealth light-heavyweight titles from 1999 to 2001.

Early life Woods was born in Sheffield, England.

Career Woods started his professional career with a points win over Dave Proctor in his home town of Sheffield. After compiling a record of 13–0 he stepped in with Craig Joseph and beat him over 10 rounds to win the Central Area super middleweight title. After a series of victories, Woods, with a record of 18–0, fought for the vacant Commonwealth belt against Mark Baker, who had a record of 20–1. Woods won the fight and claimed the belt with a 12-round points decision.Boxrec Clinton Woods professional record

In his next fight the unbeaten Woods found himself opposite former British champion David Starie. The fight ended in a first defeat for Woods.

Woods bounced back from the Starie defeat by moving up a weight division to light heavyweight and winning his next two fights before landing a shot at fellow Yorkshireman and current holder of the British, Commonwealth and European light-heavyweight titles Crawford Ashley. Woods knocked out Ashley in the eighth round to capture the three belts.

He ended up defending his Commonwealth and European titles twice each and adding the WBC International light-heavyweight title to his résumé. The latter victory being for a WBC strap, when Woods set himself up for an eliminator for the full WBC light heavyweight title. The fight took place in Sheffield, in September 2001. Woods beat the experienced Italian–Ugandan Yawe Davis in a unanimous decision that would allow him to attempt a world title.

World title fights

Clinton travelled to the United States for his big chance in September 2002. He stepped into the ring at the Rose Garden in Oregon to oppose Roy Jones, with the WBC, WBA, and IBF titles on the line. Woods lost after being stopped in the sixth round and later said that he wasn't really ready for a fight of that magnitude.BBC Sport Q&A with Clinton Woods

Woods rebuilt from the defeat by Jones with three straight wins and then found himself in the ring with Glen Johnson. His second world title attempt was for the IBF belt and took place in November 2003 at Sheffield's Hillsborough Leisure Centre and the fight ended in a draw. Three months later in February 2004 the two met once again in Sheffield this time at the Ponds Forge Centre, the result this time going Johnson's way after 12 rounds.

IBF champion In his next fight Woods found himself in an IBF title eliminator. Eight months after his defeat to Johnson, Woods took on the Australian Jason DeLisle at the Octagon Centre in Sheffield. He won the fight despite being put down in the first round and set himself up for world title fight number 4. The title was vacant again and this time Woods found himself in the ring with undefeated American Rico Hoye. The fight took place in Rotherham and ended with Woods winning on a technical knockout (T.K.O.) when the referee stopped the fight in the fifth round.

In September 2005 at the Hallam FM Arena, Sheffield, Yorkshire, Woods defeated mandatory challenger and former WBO and Lineal champion Julio César González via a clear unanimous decision. A successful voluntary defence against DeLisle followed, before Woods fought Jamaican Glen Johnson for a third time. In the ninth round Woods sustained heavy punishment to the head at the hands of Johnson, but fought back to win the subsequent rounds. The American judge, Richard Bays scored the fight 115–112 in favour of Woods, Mickey Vann scored the contest 115–113 in favour of Johnson and Roberto Ramírez 116–112 scored in favour of Woods. It was a split decision but Woods had defeated the man who beat him in 2004.BBC Sport Woods hits back to stun Johnson

In September 2007, Woods again successfully defended his IBF title against Julio César González with a unanimous decision.

Defeat and comeback In April 2008 at St. Pete Times Forum, Tampa, Florida in the United States, Woods gave a lacklustre display against American Antonio Tarver and lost his IBF title. Tarver out-boxed the Sheffield man on the way to a comfortable points victory. Following the defeat, a dejected Woods hinted that he may quit the sport.BBC Sport Woods may quit after Tarver loss A change of trainer followed, with Woods replacing Richard Poxon for Glyn Rhodes.BBC Sport Rejuvenated Woods changes trainer The change seemed to have paid off when on 14 February 2009 Woods travelled to the Channel Island of Jersey to defeat Kosovar-Albanian fighter Elvir Muriqi in an eliminator match for his old IBF title.BBC Sport Woods beats Muriqi in eliminator

Retirement

In August 2009, Woods once more fought on the world stage when he again travelled to Florida, to challenge Tavoris Cloud for the then-vacant IBF title. Woods went on to lose a 12-round decision. When asked about retirement after the defeat, Woods said "To be honest, the thought of that upsets me more than losing the world title, retiring from the sport I love".BBC Sport Cloud win foils Woods title hopes However, Woods announced his retirement from boxing on 8 September 2009.Sheffield Star It's all over as Clinton quits boxing

Professional boxing record

ResultRecordOpponentTypeRound, timeDateLocationNotes48LossTavoris CloudUD1228 Aug 200947Win42–4–1Elvir MuriqiUD1214 Feb 200946Loss41–4–1Antonio TarverUD1212 Apr 200845Win41–3–1Julio César GonzálezUD1229 Sep 200744Win40–3–1Glen Johnson122 Sep 200643Win39–3–1Jason DeLisleTKO6 (12)13 May 200642Win38–3–1Julio César GonzálezUD129 Sep 200541Win37–3–1Rico HoyeTKO5 (12), 4 Mar 200540Win36–3–1Jason DeLisleTKO12 (12), 24 Oct 200439Loss35–3–1Glen JohnsonUD126 Feb 200438Draw35–2–1Glen Johnson127 Nov 200337Win35–2Demetrius JenkinsTKO7 (10), 10 Jun 200336Win34–2Arturo RiveraTKO2 (10), 18 Mar 200335Win33–2Sergio Martin BeazTKO3 (10), 24 Jan 200334Loss32–2Roy Jones Jr.TKO6 (12)7 Sep 200233Win32–1Clint JohnsonTKO316 Mar 200232Win31–1Yawe DavisUD1213 Sep 200131Win30–1Paul BonsonPTS627 Jul 200130Win29–1Ali ForbesRTD10 (12), 24 Mar 200129Win28–1Greg Scott BriggsTKO3 (10)15 Jul 200028Win27–1Ole KlemetsenTKO9 (12)29 Apr 200027Win26–1Juan Nelongo1212 Feb 200026Win25–1Terry FordTKO410 Dec 199925Win24–1John Lennox Lewis10 (12), 11 Sep 199924Win23–1Sam LeuiiTKO6 (12), 10 Jul 199923Win22–1Crawford AshleyTKO8 (12), 13 Mar 199922Win21–1Mark SmallwoodTKO7 (8), 30 Nov 199821Win20–1Peter Mason4 (6), 18 Jun 199820Loss19–1David StariePTS1228 Mar 199819Win19–0Mark BakerPTS126 Dec 199718Win18–0Jeff FinlaysonPTS826 Nov 199717Win17–0Danny JumaPTS825 Oct 199716Win16–0Darren AshtonPTS626 Jun 199715Win15–0Darren LittlewoodTKO6 (10), 10 Apr 199714Win14–0Steve ShelleyTKO2 (4), 20 Feb 199713Win13–0Craig JosephPTS1014 Nov 199612Win12–0Ernie LoveridgePTS613 Jun 199611Win11–0John DuckworthPTS816 Mar 199610Win10–0Chris WalkerTKO6 (6)5 Feb 19969Win9–0Andy EwenTKO322 Nov 19958Win8–0Phil BallTKO420 Oct 19957Win7–0Paul MurrayPTS621 Sep 19956Win6–0Kevin BurtonTKO6 (6), 16 Jun 19955Win5–0Kevin BurtonPTS616 May 19954Win4–0Japhet HansTKO3 (6), 6 Apr 19953Win3–0Paul ClarksonTKO123 Feb 19952Win2–0Earl Ling5 (6)12 Dec 19941Win1–0Dave Proctor617 Nov 1994

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