Richie Woodall V Glenn Catley........a miscarriage of jusitce?

[FLINT ISLAND]

I was just thinking back to 1998.

One of the fights I remebered was Woodall V Catley

Woodall was clear favorite - the WBC World SUper Middleweight Champion.

I was there watching the fight - eating Jumbo Sausauge - Curry - Chip Butty and a can of Dr Pepper.

I remeber the fight - but it was so long ago - and that is the only time I ever seen the fight - when I watched it live - nearly 10 years ago.

However I remeber the fight going the distance.

And disblief as Woodall was given the decsion.

Apparantley Catley was cheated out of the WBC Super Middleweight title.

It was one of the very rare occassions the winning fighter holding his world title - admitted he had really lost - and that Catley deserved the win and the WBC title.

Credit to Woodall for his honesty.

But I would just like to know other peoples opinons - was the decsion really that bad??????

[brown bomber]

Yes Catley completely upset the applecart.... Woodhall had bordered on sensational ripping the title from Sugar Boy Malinga and scoring a knockdown on route to an inspired and exciting points victory. It seemed that a new star had emerged- Woodhall had gone into the bout a fairly substantial underdog having been stopped months earlier by Keith Holmes in a middleweight title fight.

Catley had long been considered a decent if vulnerable middleweight and embarrassing stoppage losses to Carlos Calarusso (?? I think) and Andreas Galfi plus life and death struggles with Paul Wesley and Georges Bocco made him a big underdog in his British title fight Vs Neville Brown (a long time Woodhall amateur rival).

Catley showed newfound durability against decent punching Brown and I think got his title shot based on that solid performance. The fight itself was a ******* with Woodhalls jab not landing with the same authority as it had done in most of his previous fights. He was rocked to his boots early on and at the conclusion I had him down something like 117-113... Catley was devestated to be adjudged the loser but Woodhall who had really impressed me in the Malinga fight won an incredible amount of respect as he admitted he had been lucky, going as far to say the judges got it wrong.

That type of honesty and integrity is so rare and I'm a massive fan based not just on that but on his gutsy showings against Beyer and Calzaghe.

Catley of course would go on to prove his world class credentials impressively stopping Marcus Beyer and Eric Lucas. Catley was a good fighter and perhaps a tad under-rated throughout his pretty superb career.

[GazOC]

I can't remember much of the fight but the post fight interviewer having a real "WTF??" moment when Woodhall just came out and said he'd lost was quite funny.

[Dibbs]

I remember that fight, although it was a good bout, remembering Ritchie Woodhall saying that 'he thought he lost', was unusual to hear from a boxer, his body language was very off. He didn't want that win, certainly a rare trait these days, a boxer that would be that honest, when they have no need to be says alot about them, Ritchie Woodhall had alot of class as a boxer, and certainly as much as a person.

[SeasideSlugger]

The worst thing I can say about Woodhall is he's a Baggie and that doesn't even bother me that much. Class bloke, Class fighter.

[achillesthegreat]

Woodhall is a geezer. Plain and simple.

[DavidPayne]

Yep, classy guy that Woodhall is. He admitted he lost. Catley, of course, went onto to snatch the crown from Beyer with a thundering knockout.

[JonOli]

The worst thing I can say about Woodhall is he's a Baggie and that doesn't even bother me that much. Class bloke, Class fighter.

Is he a baggie, I didn't realise that - dingle.:D

Up the baggies!

[GazOC]

Is he a baggie, I didn't realise that - dingle.:D

Up the baggies!

He's West Brom mad.

[JonOli]

He's West Brom mad.

I thought he was great before - knowing this just sends his status though the roof. :D

I haven't heard him mention them... like say Adrian Chiles does... I do tend to mentally switch off from commentators at times though. Thinking about it perhaps I have... not sure....

anyway...

boing boing... :D

[GazOC]

I THINK he's a season ticket holder, he def. used to be. He was introduced to the crowd on match day after he won one of his titles (I forget which).