Richie Woodhall

Richie Woodhall

Medal record
Men's boxing
Representing  United Kingdom /  England
Olympic Games
	1988 Seoul	Light middleweight
Commonwealth Games
	1990 Auckland	Light middleweight

Richie Woodhall (born 17 April 1968) is a British former professional boxer who held the WBC super middleweight title and defended it twice. He lost his last fight to his friend Joe Calzaghe in 2000 and subsequently retired in 2002. As an amateur fighting in the light middleweight division, Woodhall won a bronze medal at the 1988 Olympics and gold at the 1990 Commonwealth Games.^[1]

Following his retirement from the sport, Woodhall has developed a broadcasting career with both the BBC and Sky Sports as a sports pundit, on both television and radio. He currently co-commentates with Mike Costello on radio for some shows, while co-commentating with John Rawling on Setanta Sports at other times. He was also involved with the 2012 Olympics held in London, commentating on the fights alongside Jim Neilly and coaching the Olympic boxing squad. After appearing as a body double for Brad Pitt in Snatch, he has dedicated himself to developing as a performer.

Amateur career

• Olympic Games Bronze Medalist, Seoul South Korea 1988, losing to Roy Jones, Jr..
• Commonwealth Games Gold Medallist, Auckland New Zealand 1990
• England International Contests – 43

Olympic results

• • 1st round bye
  • Defeated Desmond Williams (Sierra Leone) 5-0
  • Defeated Apolinario Silveira (Angola) 5-0
  • Defeated Rey Rivera (Puerto Rico) 5-0
  • Lost to Roy Jones, Jr. (United States) 5-0

Professional career

Woodhall turned pro in 1990 and was undefeated as the Commonwealth Middleweight Champion from 1992–1995. He was then undefeated as the European Middleweight Champion from 1995–1996.

Woodhall defeated a number of useful fighters during this period, including; Future World Super Middle and World Light Heavyweight Champion Silvio Branco, Art Serwarno, Heath Todd, Jacques LeBlanc, Zdravko Kostic, Derek Wormald, Vito Gaudiosi and Royan Hammond.

In late 1996 he fought WBC middleweight title holder Keith Holmes. Woodhall went into this fight carrying an injury, but took the fight anyway. Woodhall did not perform as well has he might otherwise have, losing by 12th-round TKO.

In 1998 he moved up to Super Middleweight and after a tune up against Bernice Barber captured the WBC super middleweight title with a unanimous decision win over Thulani Malinga. He successfully defended the title twice, defeating fellow Briton and future World Champion Glenn Catley and former World Champ Vincenzo Nardiello before losing it to Markus Beyer by decision in 1999, a fight in which Woodhall was down in the 1st and twice in the 3rd. Woodhall rallied late in the fight and came close to stopping Beyer, however his revival came too late.

Woodhall bounced back with a win over the experienced Errol McDonald, setting him up for his final bout against Joe Calzaghe for the WBO super middleweight title.

Woodhall was TKO'd in 10 rounds by Joe Calzaghe in an exciting fight in which Calzaghe always had the edge.

Woodhall retired after this bout which took place on 16 December 2000.

In film

Woodhall was a body double for Brad Pitt in a fight scene in the movie Snatch, directed by Guy Ritchie. He trained Matthew Marsden for his role in the movie Shiner.

Professional boxing record

26 Wins (16 knockouts), 3 Losses (2 knockouts)[2]
Res.	Record	Opponent	Type	Round Time	Date	Location	Notes
Loss	26–3	Joe Calzaghe	TKO	10 (12) 0:28	2000–12–16	Sheffield Arena, Sheffield	For WBO Super middleweight title.
Win	26–2	Errol McDonald	TKO	8 (10)	2000–05–06	Ballsporthalle, Frankfurt
Loss	25–2	Markus Beyer	UD	12	1999–10–23	Telford Ice Rink, Telford, Shropshire	Lost WBC Super middleweight title.
Win	25–1	Vincenzo Nardiello	TKO	6 (12) 1:44	1999–02–13	Telewest Arena, Newcastle upon Tyne	Retained WBC Super middleweight title.
Win	24–1	Glenn Catley	MD	12	1998–09–05	Telford Ice Rink, Telford, Shropshire	Retained WBC Super middleweight title.
Win	23–1	Thulani Malinga	UD	12	1998–03–27	Telford Ice Rink, Telford, Shropshire	Won WBC Super middleweight title.
Win	22–1	Bernice Barber	TKO	3 (10) 2:48	1997–09–11	Kingsway Leisure Centre, Widnes, Cheshire
Loss	21–1	Keith Holmes	TKO	12 (12) 2:32	1996–10–19	The Show Place Arena, Upper Marlboro, Maryland	For WBC Middleweight title.
Win	21–0	Derek Wormald	TKO	10 (12) 2:10	1996–01–31	Aston Villa Leisure Centre, Birmingham	Retained EBU Middleweight title.
Win	20–0	Zdravko Kostić	UD	12	1995–10–25	Telford Ice Rink, Telford, Shropshire	Retained EBU Middleweight title.
Win	19–0	Silvio Branco	TKO	9 (12)	1995–02–22	Telford Ice Rink, Telford, Shropshire	Won vacant EBU Middleweight title.
Win	18–0	Art Serwano	TKO	11 (12)	1994–11–30	Wolverhampton	Retained Commonwealth Middleweight title.
Win	17–0	Jacques LeBlanc	PTS	12	1994–10–05	Wolverhampton	Retained Commonwealth Middleweight title.
Win	16–0	Greg Lonon	TKO	6 (10)	1994–03–16	National Exhibition Centre, Birmingham
Win	15–0	Heath Todd	TKO	7 (10) 2:45	1994–03–01	Dudley Town Hall, Dudley
Win	14–0	Gerry Meekison	PTS	12	1993–10–27	West Bromwich	Retained Commonwealth Middleweight title.
Win	13–0	Royan Hammond	PTS	10	1993–04–24	National Exhibition Centre, Birmingham
Win	12–0	Carlo Colarusso	PTS	8	1993–03–16	Wolverhampton
Win	11–0	Horace Fleary	PTS	12	1992–12–04	Telford, Shropshire
Win	10–0	John Ashton	PTS	12	1992–10–01	Telford, Shropshire	Retained Commonwealth Middleweight title.
Win	9–0	Vito Gaudiosi	KO	1 (12) 1:01	1992–03–26	Alfreton Leisure Centre, Telford, Shropshire	Won vacant Commonwealth Middleweight title.
Win	8–0	Graham Burton	TKO	2 (8)	1992–02–04	Alfreton Leisure Centre, Alfreton, Derbyshire
Win	7–0	Colin Pitters	PTS	8	1991–10–31	Oakengates Town Hall, Oakengates, Shropshire
Win	6–0	Nigel Moore	TKO	1 (8) 2:44	1991–08–29	Oakengates Town Hall, Oakengates, Shropshire
Win	5–0	Marty Duke	TKO	4 (6)	1991–05–30	Central Hall, Birmingham
Win	4–0	Seamus Casey	TKO	3 (6) 2:47	1991–02–21	Walsall Town Hall, Walsall
Win	3–0	Chris Haydon	TKO	3 (6) 1:42	1991–01–16	Royal Albert Hall, London
Win	2–0	Robert Harron	TKO	2 (4)	1990–11–30	Birmingham Town Hall, Birmingham
Win	1–0	Kevin Hayde	TKO	3 (4)	1990–10–18	Birmingham Town Hall, Birmingham

Personal life

Woodhall grew up in Woodside, Telford but also lived in Malinslee and attended the local Abraham Darby School. He is also a keen supporter of West Bromwich Albion F.C..^[1] He currently resides in Bridgnorth, Shropshire. Woodall also is a reporter for BBC Midland's Inside Out Program.

References

External links

• Official website
• Professional boxing record for Richie Woodhall from BoxRec