You're a cheat Clinton - Gonzalez

CLINTON Woods was today sensationally accused of fighting dirty.

The allegations came from tomorrow's world title opponent, Julio Gonzalez, who claims he was deliberately punched several times to the back of the head by Woods at their last contest two years ago.

Woods won the bout by a clear points margin but his Mexican foe is now suggesting the Sheffielder used illegal tactics to defend his IBF crown.

Speaking exclusively to The Star, Gonzalez said: "He hit me behind the head a few times.

"It surprised me, but I already knew he might do that and had even asked the referee in the dressing room before the fight to watch for it, but he didn't take care of it."

Gonzalez said he hoped "the referee does better work" in the re-match at Sheffield Arena tomorrow.

He added: "There is no need for it (punching the back of the head).

"I am not a dirty fighter. I come to box properly. But if he does that again I will have to do it back."

Hitting the back of the opponent's neck or head is an infringement of the rules because, in a worse-case scenario, it can cause brain and spinal injuries.

But Woods' promoter, Dennis Hobson, today said his man was innocent - and was surprised by the allegations.

"Clinton has never been warned. Some boxers do it, I remember Frank Bruno used to, but Clinton has never been cautioned for it," he said.

"It is dangerous and we (Fight Academy) would never ask anybody to do it in a fight.

"Clinton is not a dirty fighter, just tough."

Meanwhile, Sheffield's John "Buster" Keeton defends his British cruiserweight title against Huddersfield's Mark Hobson on the Woods' undercard. Boxing website secondsout.com rates it as potentially "the fight of the night".

British heavyweights Scott Gammer and John McDermott clash in an eliminator for the British title.

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