# Richie Woodhall

Richie Woodhall (born 17 April 1968) is a British former professional boxer who competed from 1990 to 2000. He held the WBC super-middleweight title from 1998 to 1999, as well as the Commonwealth middleweight title from 1992 to 1995, and the European middleweight title from 1995 to 1996. As an amateur, Woodhall won a gold medal at the 1990 Commonwealth Games and bronze at the 1988 Summer Olympics, both in the light-middleweight division.
Following his retirement from the sport, Woodhall has developed a broadcasting career with both the BBC and BT Sport 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 the 2000 film 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 to 1995. He was then undefeated as the European Middleweight Champion from 1995 to 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.

## Personal life

Woodhall grew up in Woodside, Telford and attended the local William Reynolds Primary and Junior School and Abraham Darby School. He is also a keen supporter of West Bromwich Albion F.C. He currently resides in Lightmoor, Telford, Shropshire.
Woodhall also is a reporter for BBC Midlands' Inside Out Programme . He is married to childhood sweetheart Jayne and has 3 children, Jack, Jake and eldest daughter and aspiring actress Amey Woodhall, who has appeared in television shows such as Emmerdale and Coronation Street.

### 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

| 29 fights | 26 wins | 3 losses |
| By knockout | 16 | 2 |
| By decision | 10 | 1 |
| No. | Result | Record | Opponent | Type | Round, time | Date | Location | Notes |
| 29 | Loss | 26–3 | Joe Calzaghe | TKO | 10 (12), 0:28 | 16 Dec 2000 | Sheffield Arena, Sheffield, England | For WBO super-middleweight title |
| 28 | Win | 26–2 | Errol McDonald | TKO | 8 (10) | 6 May 2000 | Ballsporthalle, Frankfurt, Germany | |
| 27 | Loss | 25–2 | Markus Beyer | UD | 12 | 23 Oct 1999 | Ice Rink, Telford, England | Lost WBC super-middleweight title |
| 26 | Win | 25–1 | Vincenzo Nardiello | TKO | 6 (12), 1:44 | 13 Feb 1999 | Telewest Arena, Newcastle, England | Retained WBC super-middleweight title |
| 25 | Win | 24–1 | Glenn Catley | MD | 12 | 5 Sep 1998 | Ice Rink, Telford, England | Retained WBC super-middleweight title |
| 24 | Win | 23–1 | Thulani Malinga | UD | 12 | 27 Mar 1998 | Ice Rink, Telford, England | Won WBC super-middleweight title |
| 23 | Win | 22–1 | Bernice Barber | TKO | 3 (10), 2:48 | 11 Sep 1997 | Kingsway Leisure Centre, Widnes, England | |
| 22 | Loss | 21–1 | Keith Holmes | TKO | 12 (12), 2:32 | 19 Oct 1996 | The Show Place Arena, Upper Marlboro, Maryland, US | For WBC middleweight title |
| 21 | Win | 21–0 | Derek Wormald | TKO | 10 (12), 2:10 | 31 Jan 1996 | Aston Villa Leisure Centre, Birmingham, England | Retained European middleweight title |
| 20 | Win | 20–0 | Zdravko Kostic | UD | 12 | 25 Oct 1995 | Ice Rink, Telford, England | Retained European middleweight title |
| 19 | Win | 19–0 | Silvio Branco | TKO | 9 (12), 1:36 | 22 Feb 1995 | Ice Rink, Telford, England | Won vacant European middleweight title |
| 18 | Win | 18–0 | Art Serwano | TKO | 11 (12), 1:32 | 30 Nov 1994 | Civic Hall, Wolverhampton, England | Retained Commonwealth middleweight title |
| 17 | Win | 17–0 | Jacques LeBlanc | PTS | 12 | 5 Oct 1994 | Civic Hall, Wolverhampton, England | Retained Commonwealth middleweight title |
| 16 | Win | 16–0 | Greg Lonon | TKO | 6 (10) | 16 Mar 1994 | National Exhibition Centre, Birmingham, England | |
| 15 | Win | 15–0 | Heath Todd | TKO | 7 (10), 2:45 | 1 Mar 1994 | Town Hall, Dudley, England | |
| 14 | Win | 14–0 | Gerry Meekison | PTS | 12 | 27 Oct 1993 | West Bromwich, England | Retained Commonwealth middleweight title |
| 13 | Win | 13–0 | Royan Hammond | PTS | 10 | 24 Apr 1993 | National Exhibition Centre, Birmingham, England | |
| 12 | Win | 12–0 | Carlo Colarusso | PTS | 8 | 16 Mar 1993 | Civic Hall, Wolverhampton, England | |
| 11 | Win | 11–0 | Horace Fleary | PTS | 8 | 4 Dec 1992 | Telford, England | |
| 10 | Win | 10–0 | John Ashton | PTS | 12 | 1 Oct 1992 | Ice Rink, Telford, England | Retained Commonwealth middleweight title |
| 9 | Win | 9–0 | Vito Gaudiosi | KO | 1 (12), 1:01 | 26 Mar 1992 | Ice Rink, Telford, England | Won vacant Commonwealth middleweight title |
| 8 | Win | 8–0 | Graham Burton | TKO | 2 (8) | 4 Feb 1992 | Leisure Centre, Alfreton, England | |
| 7 | Win | 7–0 | Colin Pitters | PTS | 8 | 31 Oct 1991 | Town Hall, Oakengates, England | |
| 6 | Win | 6–0 | Nigel Moore | TKO | 1 (8), 2:44 | 29 Aug 1991 | Town Hall, Oakengates, England | |
| 5 | Win | 5–0 | Marty Duke | TKO | 4 (6) | 30 May 1991 | Methodist Central Hall, Birmingham, England | |
| 4 | Win | 4–0 | Seamus Casey | TKO | 3 (6), 2:47 | 21 Feb 1991 | Town Hall, Walsall, England | |
| 3 | Win | 3–0 | Chris Haydon | TKO | 3 (6), 1:42 | 16 Jan 1991 | Royal Albert Hall, London, England | |
| 2 | Win | 2–0 | Robert Harron | TKO | 2 (4) | 30 Nov 1990 | Town Hall, Birmingham, England | |
| 1 | Win | 1–0 | Kevin Hayde | TKO | 3 (4) | 18 Oct 1990 | Town Hall, Birmingham, England | Professional debut |