Steed Woodall gets British title chance

Woodall and trainer Paul Counihan celebrate another victory

STEED Woodall has his British title fight.

The big punching Birmingham super-middle will face champ Callum Simpson at Sheffield’s Park Community Arena on January 11. The Barnsley titleholder’s Commonwealth belt will also be on the line.

That’s the festivities out of the window for Steed.

For the 30-year-old, who began his pro career in America, the shot is reward for sensational, against-the-odds victory over former British, European and IBO champ Lerrone Richards in June.

One big right hand poleaxed Richards in the sixth. He was unbeaten in 18 before that blast-out.

The chance also comes following lobbying by manager Jon Pegg who urged the British Boxing Board of Control to make Steed top Lonsdale Belt contender.

“The only other person in the top 10 who was viable was Mark Jeffers and he is Simpson’s managerial stablemate,” Pegg said.

“It’s a winnable fight for Steed. If Simpson was matched with Lerrone Richards that would be seen as a 50-50 fight, you’d maybe favour Richards.”

It’s certainly a tricky first defence for Simpson – unbeaten in 15 – after taking the title by outpointing Zak Chelli in August.

Woodall, a former world class amateur, began his career in the States 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’s Eastside gym. 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.

Steed’s first came in Houston in his 11th contest against fine Canadian Steve Rollls who would go on to face middleweight great Gennadiy Golovkin.

*In other big championship news for Eastside gym, cruiserweight Shakan Pitters’ European title fight with Daniel Dos Santos now looks set to take place in early February – possibly in the West Midlands – after promoters GBM won the purse bid.