Former International footballer turned boxer Curtis Woodhouse faces Stefy Bull in a much anticipated Yorkshire derby in Doncaster on the undercard of Sky Sports Friday Fight Night from 10pm.
A onetime £1 million player, Woodhouse enjoyed a glittering footballing career which saw him turn out for teams like Birmingham City, Sheffield United, Hull City and England U21’s. In 2006 however 30 year old Curtis was quoted as saying that he had fallen out of love with the beautiful game and successfully applied for a professional boxing license despite having no previous amateur experience.
Since swapping what looked to be the easy life for a career of blood, sweat and tears, Woodhouse has carved out an impressive 14 fight career which saw him shed over two stone from his playing days to claim an International masters light-welterweight title. Woodhouse’s record stands at 13 wins, 8 inside the distance, against 1 points defeat with that surprise reverse coming against journeyman Jay Morris in Ulster. Since that 2009 upset, the 5ft 8inch orthodox has bounced back to record three KO wins on the spin and enters this latest test as an 8/13 favourite with Bet365.
Despite being in the fight game for 11 years more than his opponent, and having 22 fights more experience, Conisbrough’s Stefy Bull will duck between the ropes a relative unknown in comparison to the novice in front of him.
Bull is no cardboard cut out opponent however and during a 15 year career, has contested some major fights including a 2007 meeting with Amir Khan. Bull has collected central area featherweight and lightweight titles as well as a WBF International gong but with 6 defeats, 5 by KO, already on his record, odds compilers remain dismissive of his chances, trading at as much as 6/5 (Bet365).
Bull has won each of his last four outings, Curtis all of his last three, but their opponents have been nothing to write home about and Friday’s clash could be a real turning point in both boxers’ careers. Bull will obviously be well schooled and this derby clash will bring the best out of him but he is a onetime featherweight facing a very strong light-welter and I think ‘Supersonic’ has been picked to give Woodhouse a name of note on his record.
I don’t see Curtis having it all his own way throughout and this should make or break him but one thing is for sure, this supposed support bout won’t take place in front of an empty house and if Woodhouse does bag the desired result, you can expect to see a lot more of him next season.
Woodhouse's outright price is good enough for me to get involved with.
In the main attraction, bantamweight Jamie McDonnell should have far too much for Italian opponent Rodrigo Bracco but there is no fun to be had in his price so I suggest investing in the over 9.5 rounds at 8/15 with Skybet.
