From football to boxing...and vice-versa! by Daniel Mole Nov 13th 2007

Curtis Woodhouse returns to the town where his previous sporting life began next month looking to secure the fourth win of his fledgling boxing career.    The 27-year-old welterweight will appear on Koncrete Promotions show on Wednesday, 5th December at the Don Valley Stadium in Sheffield - the home of his first professional football club.    After turning out for the likes of Sheffield United, Birmingham and Peterborough United, Woodhouse famously turned his back on football last year to concentrate his efforts on boxing.    It is a tale that will, most likely, be recalled every time he steps into the ring.    Michael Corcoran, albeit not so famously, went the other way.    Boxing out of the Mark Heagney Gym in County Tyrone, the Irishman boasted an excellent amateur record of 52-5. However, at the age of 16, he had to make a decision. Boxing or football. He chose football.    "I come from a bit of a boxing family and took it up when I was 12 years old," Corcoran told BBN. "I enjoyed it and, in the four years I was an amateur, I had 57 fights. I won 52 of them and lost five, so I'd like to think I had something.    "When I was 16 though, I had to make a decision on where I saw my future. It was tough because I really enjoyed boxing and football.“    The chance to join Sunderland helped Corcoran make up his mind. He left Northern Ireland to pursue a football career and, in the four years that have passed, has not returned to the ring.    The 20-year-old defender left Sunderland to join Cardiff City before linking up with his current side, Oxford United last season. It is a decision he does not regret but, despite taking the opposite route, he empathises with Woodhouse.    "I had to think long and hard about what I wanted to do. Curtis' decision was different to mine because, not only did he choose boxing, he had already tasted life as a professional footballer.    “When I made my decision it was to try and pursue a professional career in one sport or the other.    “That was hard enough. It takes a lot to give up one thing for the other and to start all over again.”    Corcoran has followed Woodhouse's story for a reason other than their vice-versa career paths. His cousin, Eddie Corcoran, is a professional light-welterweight who has in fact sparred with Woodhouse.    Like Woodhouse, Eddie Corcoran has had an unbeaten start to his professional young boxing career and Michael admits that, should his football career come to a premature end, he would seriously think about stepping back in to the ring.    "I'm really enjoying my football at the moment. I'm playing regularly and am settled at Oxford.    “That said though, if things didn't work out, I would definitely consider going back to boxing.    “It's a sport I still follow and I have been tempted to get back in the ring for a bit of sparring now and again. Although, if I got a few bumps and bruises, how would I explain that to my football manager?!”

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