DRIFFIELD’S Curtis Woodhouse sent out a message to his rivals with a classy fourth-round stoppage victory over Gary McArthur.
Curtis, 31, was scheduled to box Jason Cook, but he pulled out less than 48 hours before the fight at Rotherham’s Magna Centre on Saturday night.
Instead he fought southpaw Gary McArthur, 29, who weighed in three pounds heavier than 10st 2 Curtis. The Driffield destroyer was disappointed Cook pulled out and knew he still faced a tough fight against McArthur.
But Curtis showed no mercy and was on top from the first bell until the fourth round when McArthur retired with a hand injury, frustrating Curtis, who said: “I just felt I was getting him more and more every round and I think he knew that, and the bottom line was he bailed out, he didn’t hurt his hand.
“He knew he was going to get knocked out and bailed out before that happened, which was a bit disappointing as I wanted to finish the fight off.
“I don’t know how he hurt his hand because he didn’t do it by hitting me.
“I was just too strong for him.”
Fighting in front of 2,000 people, Curtis was pleased to get his 17th win from 20 bouts, but disappointed he missed out on Jason Cook. Curtis said: “It was disappointing. I had got myself up for that fight and it was just going to be an out and out fight, and then I got the late change and ended up with a southpaw boxer, which is a different style to what I had been preparing for, so it was disappointing.
“But the most important thing is your health, and if Jason Cook has had problems is health comes first and foremost and I just wish him a speedy recovery.”
Speaking to the Times & Post yesterday morning, Curtis was set for a meeting an hour later with his promoter Dave Coldwell. Curtis added: “I have a few options, the phone has been going mad with different fights being offered to me, so it’s just a case of me sitting down and picking what is the best route to go down.
“Dave seems confident he can make a fight for the British or Commonwealth title early in the new year, so I will be back in the gym on Monday and training away and waiting for the phone to go.”
Curtis is still keeping involved with football, and is assistant manager to friend David Holdsworth at Lincoln City, who lost 2-0 at York on Tuesday night.
More pictures on page 74.