Counihan: Steed has tools to stop Lerrone
Poster for Woodall (right) and Richards
THE stakes are very high for Steed Woodall on Friday night when he steps through the ropes to face Lerrone Richards.
On the line at the Bolton Whites Hotel, Bolton, is the vacant WBO inter-continental super-middleweight belt.
But that title is eclipsed by the rewards that await the winner. If he comes through victorious, Steed collects a top 15 world ranking and is closer to the major fights he craves.
That is a position the skilled and dangerous Birmingham fighter should be in. He can box, he can punch and was a world class amateur.
Understandably, fellow contenders are in no rush to face Woodall.
A loss against Richards, who will be the bookies favourite, and Steed, at 30, faces a long climb to the top.
The Wasserman promoted show, televised by Channel5, is of immense interest to Birmingham fans. Chelmsley Wood middle Ryan Kelly defends his Commonwealth silver belt against Gerome Warburton on the same bill.
Woodall, after 21 fights (two losses) is at a stage in his career where risks have to be taken and 31-year-old Richards represents a big risk.
For Steed, the professional dream has yet to become a reality. He began his career in America and served his apprenticeship at such obscure venues as New York’s BB King Blues Club and Grill and Hilton Bayfront, Saint Petersburg. He even boxed five times in the Dominican Republic.
With only one loss in 17, big things were expected of Woodall when he returned to Birmingham’s Eastside gym. A major promotional deal withered and died, his career was blighted by inactivity. He has had only four fights in just under three years and, in his most recent outing 10 months ago, was outpointed by Irish puncher Padraig McCrory in Belfast.
Friday’s opponent Richards is far from an all action, guns blazing boxer who guarantees raw excitement. He is a skilful, well-schooled, well conditioned southpaw unbeaten in 18 and he’s beaten very good men.
Local fans will remember Richards for his 2019 split decision defence of his Commonwealth title against Lennox Clarke. The Halesowen boxer, who would go on to be British champ, cried robbery, but I agreed with the verdict.
In the same year, Richards outpointed Birmingham’s Tommy Langford for the vacant title.
Since then, he’s lifted the European title and lesser, IBO version of the world belt.
But he has not fought since last November when outpointing Mickey Ellison over eight rounds.
Eastside’s Paul “Soggy” Counihan said: “Richards is a good kid. He’s undefeated, a former good amateur, he’s been an IBO world champ. But Steed is up for it and done all the work he should do.
“Steed’s had a stop-start career. When he came back from America he was expecting big things to happen straight away and it didn’t happen that way – it was delay after delay.
“He has not been active enough for us at all – he’s 30 and this is his second title fight. The good thing is Lerrone Richards has been less active than Steed. Mickey Ellison took two or three rounds off him and Steed is better than Ellison.
“We know Steed is the underdog, we know everything is geared up for Richards to win, we know we are not going to get many favours, but Steed knows what he has got to do. He knows if he wins he gets a world top 15 ranking and then you can get any shot. He asked me for this fight a year-and-a-half ago, now he’s got it.
“He assures me he will do everything in his power to win. It’s very, very important – if you lose, where are you going to go, really?
“Steed is going to give it his all and if he does what he says he will do, I think Steed stops him.”
We asked former English champ Adam Harper – an expert on the domestic fight scene – for his analysis.
He said: “Woodall is an exceptional fighter, but, against someone who doesn’t want to engage at all, it will be near impossible to solve the problem in 10 or 12 rounds.
“I don’t think Woodall will be hurt, I just fear he will be fiddled out of the fight. Woodall is explosive and exciting, while you can only enjoy Richards’ boxing if you’re a purist.”