By Terence Dooley
Driffield’s Curtis Woodhouse (24-7, 13 KOs) came close to a second, and permanent, retirement earlier this year after his February 24 fight against John Wayne Hibbert for the Commonwealth welterweight title was cancelled minutes before they were due to enter the ring after Scott Westgarth collapsed following his 10-round decision win over Dec Spelman at the Doncaster Dome.
Hibbert was supposed to be Woodhouse’s second step on the comeback trail following a November win over Lewis van Poetsch, but when news came through that Westgarth had died in hospital from injuries sustained in the ring it prompted the former footballer to think long and hard about his own future in a brutal sport.
The fact that the former British light-welterweight champion had spent time in the dressing room with Westgarth prior to his fight against Spelman made it really hit home and led to a few days in which he questioned his chosen profession.
“Obviously I’m devastated for Scott and his family, it is hard to put into words what happened yet boxing will continue and has continued on,” said Woodhouse when speaking to BoxingScene. “I sat down on the Sunday morning and thought I was done, but three or four days is a long time in boxing and I’ve put in too much hard work to get back to where I am now to stop.”
In the aftermath of the fight, Westgarth’s father wrote an emotional Facebook post defending the sport and his son’s involvement in it. It had echoes of the family of James Murray defending boxing in the face of a verbal onslaught from politicians and pundits when the BBC aired a debate about the legality of boxing in the 1990s. His words touched all who read them, particularly Woodhouse and his fellow fighters.
“What Scott’s dad wrote was really touching,” he said. “I spoke to my mum on the Sunday, she told me she didn’t want me to box again. I understand it from a parent’s view, but I wouldn’t be as happy if I didn’t box. I love being in the gym, I love being around the lads, going to shows and having that camaraderie with other fighters—take that away from me and I won’t be happy. It is a massive part of my life and was a massive part of the Scott’s life too.”
Funds have been raised for the family of Westgarth as, sadly, very few fighters make a decent living from the sport. The inequalities of health and wealth that exist in the wider world are recreated in the microcosm of boxing. Fans often think that the fighters they see on TV are earning a lot of money yet for boxers like Westgarth and many, many others it is a true, and dangerous, labour of love that they enter into with both eyes open.
“People are losing their lives and for what, no one really cares,” said Woodhouse. “But time is a good healer. I’ve got no reason to do it: I lose money, I’m out of the house training, and I have to make sacrifices. I don’t think people fully understand the wage structure that exists in boxing. Other income avenues subsidise boxing, so you question why you do it as the negatives far outweigh the positives. I’ve boxed for what I consider good money once, but have probably earned more than most have—it is bonkers. People are fighting for peanuts. The drive to box is hard to explain when you think about it: it is two athletes punching each other in the head.
For Woodhouse, his November win over Poetsch at the Dome could be considered a dual victory, a return to action that looked a long way off when he ballooned in weight following his sabbatical from punching for pay. Woodhouse, though, believes that he still has a big performance or two in him and is determined to make it through his rearranged meeting with Hibbert at the same venue on June 16.
“I lost six stone, got into great shape, and don’t really need boxing,” he admitted. “I want to do it and so I will carry on. I believe I still have a major title left in me. I’m very ambitious and still believe in myself. I’ll stop when I’m either over the hill or have come up short for a title, otherwise I’m not being true to myself.”
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