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Clinton ready to see off young pretender
ON paper, it looks like one of Clinton Woods' most daunting challenges.
Woods, aged 37, with four losses on his 47-fight record, against unbeaten Tavoris Cloud, 10 years his junior.
Cloud has an astonishing 94.74 knockout percentage and will be looking to deliver a similar statement when he takes part in his 20th professional fight, against Sheffield's former IBF world champion.
Woods, who has a 51.06 per cent KO percentage, may seem disadvantaged when it comes to statistics and figures.
But numbers don't win fights.
And Woods has one weapon that his trainer feels will help him defeat Cloud and bring him back the world title he lost in April 2008.
"Clinton has got an incredible amount of experience behind him and that is one quality that you need if you are going to get to the top of the game," said Glyn Rhodes.
"Cloud has fought one decent opponent in Julio Gonzalez, who Clinton has beaten twice, so what he has achieved so far doesn't worry me in the slightest.
"He might be one of those boxers who is protected and gets through the rankings without having to earn it."
But will the age disparity have any bearing in the fight planned for an as yet to be confirmed date in September?
"Clinton has never been the fastest guy in the ring. He'll get hit and will never be Sugar Ray Leonard or even elusive like Junior Witter," said Rhodes.
"But he has a big heart and an aggressive style which is going to be something that Cloud will find hard to deal with.
"Maybe Clinton didn't box brilliantly in his last fight (points win over Elvir Muriqi). He had a lot of demons to get rid of that night in Jersey and won the fight just using his left hand; he hardly threw a right all evening.
"But Clinton is training fine. He is doing his sprints and weights well.
"There are no problems with his weight and he's dying to find out an exact date and location for his next battle."
What do you think? Post your comments below.
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