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Clinton's in same class as Conteh
CLINTON Woods can go on a par with Britain's greatest ever light-heavyweight boxer, John Conteh, if he wins, according to veteran Sheffield trainer Brendan Ingle.
He hopes IBF champ Woods can beat Antonio Tarver in the battle of the IBF and IBO belts and reserve himself a place as level with former 1970s WBC champ Conteh, universally recognised as the best fighter ever to represent Britain at 175lbs.
Ingle said: "Clinton has got where he is today the hard way and I take my hat off to him.
"When he was beaten by Roy Jones Jr (2002) I wondered whether he could come back, but he has, and he has beaten very good American boxers on the way.
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"If he defends his title successfully - and I think he will - he will be up there with Conteh. And if he wins a couple more at that level, he may even eclipse Conteh's achievements."
Britain has produced some brave light-heavies in the past, like Freddie Mills (retired 1950) and Don Cockell, who was beaten by the great Rocky Marciano in 1955.
Woods, a student of the history of the sport, now wants to rank alongside them.
He says: "Beating Tarver will go down as my greatest victory. I will be the greatest British fighter at light-heavyweight, so its a massive event for me."
Ian McNeilly, editor of BritishBoxing.net website, believes Conteh was the better of the two Brits.
But he added: "Conteh under-achieved while Clinton has over-achieved - and you have to give Woods credit for how far he's got.
"He is the type of guy who never stops coming at you ... and you'd have to take a steel chair into the ring to really hurt him."
See Monday's Star for fight report and pictures
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Saturday 26 May 2012
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