Woodall’s chance to make title statement

Woodall (right) before his bout with Irish hope McCrory

SUPREMELY skilled Steed Woodall, a fighter whose career has been blighted by inactivity, has been given the chance to break through.

The former world class amateur, who served his pro apprenticeship in American before returning home to the Eastside gym, Birmingham, faces Lerrone Richards on April 12.

The York Hall, Bethnal Green, 10 rounder, for the WBO inter-continental super-middle title, is a meeting of the “who needs them?” club. Both have been shunned by leading contenders.

Woodhall, at 29, now has to take risks, trainer Paul “Soggy” Counihan told me. Londoner Richards, 31, represents a risk.

He’s not an all action, guns blazing boxer, but is a skilful, well-schooled, well conditioned southpaw unbeaten in 18. 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.

He looks a handful. But Woodall, with just two losses in 21 contests, is a man who only wants to face the best.

In August he travelled to Belfast to face big punching Irish prospect Padraig McCrory and lost on points over 12 rounds.

Four months before that, Steed fought in Poland and widely outpointed dangerous Boris Crighton.

Woodhall has the tools to beat Richards. It’s a question of whether those tools have been rusted by injury and a frustrating, often fruitless, search for meaningful fights.

He now has a very meaningful fight. If Woodall wins, he’s shoulder to shoulder with Britain’s best 12st fighters.

“They’re all tough fights at this level,” said Eastside’s Jon Pegg. “But the guy doesn’t really punch and, if he’s on his game, Steed’s skills are on a par with the guy. If they’d met as amateurs, Steed would be the one considered to have the better skills.”

“I think it’s a tough ask for Richards,” Pegg said. “Steed is a ‘high risk, low reward’ fighter and Richards is the same. That’s why they’ve taken in.

“It’s been hard getting fights for Steed because people are aware of his background. He fought really well in Ireland, but the inactivity told.

“He just wants to fight and get a win.”

Woodall’s paid career has been a study in frustration. A promotional deal with Frank Warren didn’t work out and a broken foot further slowed progress.

Woodall actually “turned over” in America back in 2014 and made his mark. He lost only one of 17 – and that came against world class Steve Rolls in a bid for the North American title.

Since returning to Birmingham from the States, the pickings have been slim: one bout at Villa’s Holte Suite in October, 2021, another at Planet Ice, Solihull in July, 2022. A combined five rounds and then, nine months later, the win in Poland.

Next month Woodall faces one of the country’s most avoided boxers.

If he wins, he’s close to hitting the jackpot. If he wins, he’s definitely where he belongs – at the top of the super-middleweight tree.