Len Woodhall club stages its first show

The old Telford & Wrekin Boxing Club has changed to the Len Woodhall Community Club after the coach's passing from cancer in July, writes Craig Birch.

Len, aged 75, was a boxing trainer for over 40 years after moving to Telford from Birmingham in 1970 with his family.

He moulded his youngest son, Richie, into Shropshire's greatest-ever fighter who gleaned Olympic bronze, Commonwealth gold and the WBC world super middleweight title.

He worked with another 65 champions, from schoolboy to world, and led 18 boxers to belts in the paid code, despite having a car crash that broke his leg in four places.

Len, of Warrens Way in Woodside, is survived by his second wife Anne, Richie and his older brothers Lawrence and Steven.

Richie was guest of honour at the event, where head coach Brian Robb put on 11 bouts in front of over 200 spectators at the Dawley Social Club.

Two of the other coaches, Glen Peyton and Dave Harris, were stable-mates with Richie and Robb as they were all coached by Len.

Richie and Robb even shared a ring together three times for exhibitions, with the Liverpudlian moving to the area when he was six.

Josh Henny (Len Woodhall's) took on Husan Hussain (Wodensborough) in a skills (exhibition) contest at 40kg.

Elliott Wallace (Len Woodhall's) lost unanimously on points to Jack Ross (Shepshed) at 39kg.

Raheem Mohammed (Merridale) lost unanimously on points to Callum Ryder (Leigh) at 48kg.

Chadd Woodfield (Len Woodhall's) beat Shaun Rutherford (Wodensborough) by third round TKO (66kg).

Louis Martin (Len Woodhall's) won on a split decision against Ethan Collins (Brooklands) at 64kg.

Cameron Robb (Len Woodhall's) won on a split decision against Kameron Cooper (Walsall Wood) at 63kg.

Dillon Robb (Len Woodhall's) lost unanimously on points to Alex Florence (Ledbury) at 64kg.

Nathan McFarlane (Len Woodhall's) won by second round TKO against Joe Ducker (Shepshed) at 66kg.

Luke Wall (Len Woodhall's) retired after two rounds with Ryan Butler (William Perry) at 71kg.

Ashley Walker (Len Woodhall's) lost on a split decision to Craig Watson (Willenhall) at 51kg.

Robb took up the sport at Woodside in 1976 and has maintained a close relationship with the Woodhall family ever since.

He said: "There's never been anybody like Len in this area for boxing and he got most of us started in the sport.

"It's important that we carry on his name and do him proud, we started talking about doing it on Facebook and it all sort of went on from there.

"We've always been proud to be Telford & Wrekin, but Len's name is just as familiar when you think about boxing in Shropshire.

"Richie is over the moon with it. It's another way of ensuring that Len will never be forgotten."

Richie picked the Best Home Boxer of the Night, which went to Nathan McFarlane for a stunning second round stoppage of Joe Ducker.

A huge right hand over the top dumped Ducker, from Shepshed in Leicestershire, to the canvas and he was counted out while on one knee.

McFarlane was awarded the Len Woodhall Memorial Shield while, elsewhere on the card, revenge was sweet for Chadd Woodfield and Louis Martin.

Woodfield reversed the previous week's defeat to Shaun Rutherford, from Wodensborough in the Black Country, in style with his first-ever stoppage.

Stiff right hooks led to standing counts in the second and third rounds, the latter proving the finish with Rutherford in no fit state to continue.

Martin avenged his unanimous points loss to Ethan Collins, from Brooklands in Dudley, to have his hand raised on a split decision. A bloodied Collins took a standing count in the second, too.

The last bout of the evening saw Jack Steele prevail unanimously after a cracker with Kyle Morris, from Salopian in Shrewsbury.

Hadley's Akash Tuqir, the new European Youth flyweight champion boxing out of Merridale in Wolverhampton, presented the trophies.

Robb, whose nephews Cameron and Dillon also featured, said: "Richie was impressed with Nathan and it was a great shot to finish it, but I was equally pleased with Chadd and Louis.

"Chadd came to us two-and-a-half months ago from Ludlow and he's developing all of the time. I think he's the best boxer from that town and he's coming on through more sparring here.

"Louis' attitude is first class, he'd lost his last three fights but was determined to win this one. I thought a split was harsh on him, actually.

"What a war it was at the end, Jack must have thrown 70 jabs at Kyle but he just wouldn't stop coming forward. It was Jack's first bout and he couldn't have asked for a better test."

It's exciting times for the 50-strong club and their 16 carded boxers in the New Year, as they are set to move from their temporary home at the Venue to another site.

They will remain in Madeley and on Hills Lane, with plans to renovate a room that was previously changing facilities for the Hills Lane football team. It's hoped work will be complete in February.