Curtis Woodhouse’s story is well told, especially by Woodhouse himself if you give him half a chance. But it is an amazing story nonetheless that bears repeating.
One of a young boy from East Yorkshire whose childhood heroes of John Barnes and Lennox Lewis, helped inspire and nurture a love for both the beautiful game of football and a passion for the sweet science of boxing.
Now, 12 years on from the crowning glory of his unique achievement as a professional athlete, the Premier League footballer who became British light-welterweight boxing champion in 2014, has his sights set on shaking up the fight game all over again as a promoter.
They have only just repaired many of the doors Woodhouse kicked in during his 10-year boxing career as the England Under-21 international and youngest-ever Sheffield United captain fought the naysayers as well as his 31 opponents in a career of proving people wrong.
He’s back to upset the establishment again. And just as he made clear first time around when lacing up the gloves and not his football boots, he’s not here to play games.
“I’ll be honest,” says Woodhouse with a trademark grin emerging to accompany that glint in his eye, “I hope I don’t have it any other way than fighting to get us established. I’m always at my best when I’m up against it.
“You tell me I can’t do something, you try and close a few doors for me, I’ll just boot them straight in all over again.
“So yeah, I’m up for the fight of what lies ahead. I’m up for the challenge of achieving what we want to achieve.”
From left to right; Harry Powell, Lewis Sylvester, Curtis Woodhouse and Ted Jackson(Image: Liam Ford, 3156 Boxing )
To that end, it’s not personal boxing glory Woodhouse is chasing. The ex-Hull City player from the town of Driffield, just up the road from his adopted home, is proud of a record that shows him as the only boxer from East Yorkshire to ever get their hands on the prized Lonsdale Belt for winning the British title.
This century Tommy Coyle and Samir Mouneimne from Hull competed for the crown but both narrowly lost out, while Hull’s leading boxer Luke Campbell went straight to the world title route after emerging from his London 2012 Olympic success with some early fights in Hull.
It’s a statistic that annoys Woodhouse, who no longer wants to be alone in the British title club. If he’s starting his promotion career with one early aim it is to create Hull’s first British champion. Dominance of the north will follow as a close second.
“I think it’s something that the city of Hull and the area has needed forever, a proper avenue for its boxers,” adds Woodhouse.
As he sits inside an empty arena in Hull that tonight will hold around 3,000 fight fans coming to witness his first show as a promoter, the now 45-year-old sets out his vision.
“I don’t like to go on about it too much, but I’m still the only British champion from this area ever, which is a crying indictment. There’s never been a boxing scene in this city and surrounding areas, we’ll change that and then spread our wings.”
Curtis Woodhouse became British light-welterweight champion in 2014 after beating Darren Hamilton in Hull(Image: Peter Harbour)
Having retired from boxing not long after his British title win over Darren Hamilton in Hull, Woodhouse returned to football as a manager. A host of jobs followed at non-league level, but he never settled anywhere.
“I got to a point where I thought that the amount of time and effort I’m putting into this, I don’t really feel like I’m I’m getting anywhere with it,” says Woodhouse of his second exit from football.
“I don’t think my personality suited football management that well. I had my future in other people’s hands, and I don’t like doing that. I like to be in charge and not held to ransom by chairmen, things like that.
“I found I bumped heads with a lot of people. I bet you can’t believe that, can you!?”
A second retirement of sorts from football prompted opening his own gym in Driffield. Then the arrival of a teenager with promise started him on the path he now treads.
And so it was Woodhouse took Adrian King under his guidance with the then 18-year-old heavyweight with no real boxing background deciding to take the professional boxing route rather than learn his trade in the amateurs.
“Adrian one day will be heavyweight champion of the world. I’ve never been more certain about anything in my life,” says Woodhouse in a manner that leaves no doubt about his sincerity regarding the now 21-year-old’s ability. King will have his ninth bout this evening as he takes a purposefully slow and deliberate climb through the domestic rankings.
“He’s a special talent. The only thing he hasn’t got is experience, he’s still a baby. Adrian’s career starts at 25, that’s when we’ll find out how good he is. This is just a bit of experience for him as he grows.”
Curtis Woodhouse during his time with Hull City, back in 2005.
Having started the second stage of his boxing career nurturing King, Woohouse now manages 15 boxers as part of his 3156 Management stable, which is now into the promotion business as of this evening.
“I think our stable is already as good as any out there save for the big guys at the very top like Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom,” adds Woodhouse.
“We’ll have three, four, maybe five British champions in the next 5 or 6 years. If we don’t produce a British champion from Hull in the next few years I will have failed.
“I truly believe we can do that. But without us putting that fork in the ground on day one, which is Saturday, we’re never going to do it.
“If I say I’m going to do something, I’m going to give it my all and try and get it done, and that’s what I’m here to do. It starts Saturday night.”