By Dominic Medcalf
The former Sheffield United and Birmingham City midfielder Curtis Woodhouse is enjoying a return to pro boxing after ballooning to 16 stone and desperately needing to get back into shape.
His first comeback fight after three years out of the ring was against Arvydas Trizno, recently beating the Lithuanian on points, winning all but two rounds.
This then set up a bout with Lewis van Poetsch, the second time they have shared the ring, the first being at Hull Ice Arena in 2013 when Woodhouse claimed a points win. The two met most recently for his second warm up fight at the Doncaster Dome on November 25. Woodhouse managed to win again on points 60-54.
He said: “I was happy with my performance against Lewis, I boxed a controlled disciplined fight and felt I won every round comfortably and came out unscathed.”
With two wins underneath his belt, he is now lining up John Wayne Hibbert in February. Hibbert was the former Commonwealth champion when he beat Dave Ryan in dramatic style in 2015. He won in the final round due to Ryan picking up a bad back injury, with Hibbert finishing the fight with a devastating right hand.
Woodhouse said: “I look forward to the fight with John Wayne Hibbert, it’s a fight where two fighters are fighting for their career so I expect fireworks. When everything is on the line between two proud fighters I expect a really really tough fight, but I’ll be ready and well prepared. No excuses.”
A win could put the Driffield Destroyer in contention to win another belt. Woodhouse has said on Twitter that if he fails to win he will retire from boxing for good.
As well as pursuing a new journey in boxing, he still manages Bridlington Town, who are in the NCEL Premier Division and currently sit 9th.
Seasiders midfielder Joel Sutton praised Woodhouse: “To be a professional footballer is hard enough, but to also make it as a boxer and be successful in both is a brilliant achievement. His hard work and dedication comes across when he manages, and this is something we all look up to.”