Ex-footballer wins belt

Woodhouse scored a majority decision victory over Dave Ryan in Rotherham on Friday to win the vacant English light-welterweight title and improve his record to 17-4 since turning pro in 2006.

Even more impressive is the fact that Woodhouse, now 32, continued to play football at non-league level until becoming manager of Sheffield FC, the oldest remaining football club, in May of this year.

Woodhouse made 104 league appearances for Sheffield United after joining the Blades from the York City youth ranks before playing top flight football with Birmingham City who he joined in 2001.

Stints at Rotherham, Peterborough, Hull and Grimsby followed, before he declared he was “falling out of love” with football and began training to box.

After outpointing Dean Marcantonio over four rounds in his September 2006 in-ring debut, before deciding to juggle both sports by signing for Rushden and Diamonds.

He soon had his boxing license suspended after being convicted for assaulting a police officer while drunk in an incident from April 2006.

After re-gaining permission to box, Woodhouse built his record to 10-0 until a first pro defeat came in a six-rounder against Jay Morris in Belfast.

He would later gain revenge on Morris and lost his highest profile fight until the Ryan title win, outscored in a 12-round fight to undefeated prospect Frankie Gavin in July 2011.

"Boxing has always been my first love, even as a kid,” Woodhouse said when joining the pugilistic ranks.

"I love fighting... Rather than get locked up for it, I might as well get paid for it.”