Shropshire Star

Boxing heroes Richie Woodhall and Roy Jones Junior reunite to knock out cancer

There is less than a week to go until Richie Woodhall's next charity auction, which marks the 30th anniversary of his bronze medal at the Seoul Olympics.

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Richie Woodhall reunited with Roy Jones Junior 30 years after the famous fight

Richie, from Telford, is raising funds for the Teenage Cancer Trust by auctioning two signed items at the sale in Shrewsbury on Wednesday, relating to his fight with Roy Jones Junior in September 1988. He is selling a large canvas print of the fight, signed by both Richie and Jones, as well as a boxing glove signed by Jones.

Richie said he was delighted to support the charity, which provides specialist support and care for young people with cancer.

The charity sprang to prominence through 19-year-old Stephen Sutton from Burntwood, near Cannock, raised £3 million for the charity as he battled terminal cancer. A host of celebrities, including comics Jason Manford and Jimmy Carr, pledged their support to Stephen's fundraising effort.

The fight set both boxers on the road to stardom. Within seven years, Richie was crowned world super-middleweight champion, while Jones went on to become one of the most decorated fighters in modern boxing history.

Jeremy Lamond of Halls auctioneers and Richie Woodhall with the signed photograph and boxing glove which goes under the hammer next week

Jones, who competed against Richie in the super-middleweight division, turned professional the following year and became a multiple world champion in four weight classes. He is the only boxer in history to start his professional career at light middleweight and go on to win a heavyweight title.

Jones beat Richie in a 5-0 points win to make the final, but was defeated 3-2 by South Korea's Park Si-Hun in a controversial points decision, despite landing 86 punches to Park's 32. The American finally hung up his gloves earlier this year at the age of 49.

Jones and Richie were reunited 20 years later in an event to mark the anniversary, and that was when they signed the picture which will go under the hammer.

"I gave him a big hug, and he said 'the hardest fight I had in the Olympics was against Richie Woodhall, the English guy', and that was really wonderful to listen to," he says.

Over the past three years, Richie has raised thousands of pounds for cancer charities from regular auctions of sporting memorabilia.

He holds the auctions in memory of his father, Len, who died from prostate cancer in July 2015, at the age of 75.

The items will be available for viewing at Halls auction house in Bowmen Way, Battlefield, the day before the sale, or on the day itself. The sale starts at 10am, although those unable to make it in person can bid through the website the-saleroom.com/halls although you will need to register in advance.

Alternatively, your maximum bids can be phoned through to the auctioneer before the sale on 01743 450700.