Bid to get Woodall a fight for British title

Woodall and Counihan celebrate win over Boris Crighton in Poland

GOVERNING body the Board of Control has been asked to make Birmingham powerhouse Steed Woodall mandatory challenger for the British super-middleweight title.

He has, manager Jon Pegg stressed, earned the right after sensationally stopping former Commonwealth, British, European and IBO champ Lerrone Richards. One short right hand made a mockery of the 33-1 odds for a Woodall victory.

It was an outstanding result for the Eastside gym contender who collected the WBO inter-continental belt. Richards had won all 18 contests before being separated from his senses by “Stallion” Steed.

Now Pegg has urged the Board to officially make Woodall the man Barnsley’s British champ Callum Simpson must face.

As a move, it makes perfect sense, says Pegg.

“The only other person in the mix who you could put forward is Mark Jeffers and he’s with the same management company as Simpson so that isn’t going to happen.

“There are others above Steed but they’re higher than British title level, they’re beyond that. There’s no problem with Steed, he’s not tied to anyone.

“And remember he’s just stopped an undefeated fighter who was British, European and Commonwealth champ.”

I feel for 30-year-old Woodall, a brilliant, world class amateur whose pro career has been dogged by inactivity through injury and simply being too good for his own good.

He’s found meaningful fights hard to get: understandably, contenders aren’t going to fight him unless they have to fight him.

Therefore, I can see the rationale in Pegg’s lobbying.

Woodall began his career in America a decade ago and served his apprenticeship at such obscure venues as New York’s BB King Blues Club and Grill and Hilton Bayfront, Saint Petersburg. He even boxed five times in the Dominican Republic.

With only one loss in 17, big things were expected of Woodall when he returned to Birmingham. A major promotional deal withered and died, he had only four fights in just under three years and before facing Richards was outpointed by Irish puncher Padraig McCrory in Belfast. That’s only his second setback in 22 contests.

Last year, I feared a career that offered so much was in danger of fizzling out. Eastside’s Paul “Soggy” Counihan told me: “I’ve had Steed since he was 12. Since he’s been back here, he’s hardly been active at all. He was with Frank Warren and that didn’t play out well, then he broke his leg…”

Woodall deserves a slice of good fortune. Hopefully, the Board of Control can provide it.