Richie Woodhall inspired by Chris Eubank

The two former world champions met up in the Premier Suite at Scott Murray's Bar Sport in Cannock this week,

Eubank took centre stage for 'An Evening With' show for 300 guests, Woodhall asking the pertinent questions as his on-stage interviewer.

He decided to turn pro in 1990 right after winning a gold medal at the Commonwealth games, following on from bronze at the previous Olympics.

He first punched for pay in the October, his debut coming with a third round TKO of Kevin Hayde at Birmingham Town Hall.

A month later, he was among the spectators as Eubank got to the promised land by seizing Nigel Benn's WBO middleweight belt in the Midlands by ninth round stoppage.

The two would later box in the same division after Eubank travelled up to super middleweight, where Woodhall would win the WBC crown.

He said: "Chris was one of my heroes, to be honest, The year I turned pro, 1990, was the same year he won the world title in the first fight against Nigel Benn.

"I was there ringside for that at the Birmingham NEC and it was an inspiration after I turned pro. Once I came into my peak on the world title trail, he was finishing.

"I don't think he ever looked at me as an opponent and I never looked at him. He was coming to the end of the road, so we just missed each other."

Woodhall had to be content with watching from afar the achievements of the two-weight WBO champion, who hung up his gloves after boxing at cruiser against Carl Thompson in 1998.

Eubank was regarded as flamboyant and arrogant in equal measure outside of the ring but, inside the ropes, was strong and fit and possessed 'the chin of steel.'

Only Thompson - who would later go on to become the only man to stop David Haye - could get the job done inside the distance.

Thompson, Joe Calzaghe and Steve Collins (twice) also beat him on points, leaving Eubank to settle on a 45-5-2 pro record, with 23 knockouts from those 45 wins.

Woodhall said: "You had to be prepared to box 12 rounds, as you were never going to stop him, at a good pace and he was a tough test for anyone in the world.

"His biggest asset was how he could take a punch but he was a under-rated boxer, too. He was strong and always in immaculate condition.

"He could hit himself, too, he was a pretty big counter puncher and brought his opponents onto his shots. When a boxer is doing that, he's doubling up in power.

"The ones that did well against him boxed and moved, that's the style that seemed to have an effect. Not many could do that against him for 12 rounds, though.

"Boxing is about sports and entertainment and he was the latter through and through. At one time, everyone wanted to see him get beat.

"When he was losing contests, towards the end, he won fans through his courage. He had the heart of a lion."