Woodhall tips Thomas for the Top by Tom Podmore Jan 31st 2008

Chelmsley Wood teenager Thomas ‘The Natural' Costello is a world champion in waiting – so says a man who would know of such things, Telford's former WBC world super-middleweight champion Richie Woodhall. Unbeaten Costello makes his promotional debut for Frank Warren, Britain's premier promoter, on Saturday night (February 2) and Woodhall expects the Brummie to steal the show in a bill topped by the undefeated Commonwealth lightweight boss, Bolton's Amir Khan, at the Excel Arena in London. Costello meets 54-bout Northampton-based welterweight David Kehoe in a four-rounder, by the way. Whilst Thomas is now trained by father John, the former 1998 Olympic bronze and 1990 Commonwealth Games gold medallist still works closely with his former charge (they are based in the same gym) and expects him to make some noise on the domestic, European and world scenes in the years to come. The 19-year-old has only made three professional appearances (Mansfield-based Latvian Deniss Sirjatovs, Birmingham's Jason Nesbitt and Chingford's Duncan Cottier) but the hype and excitement surrounding the former Junior ABA and Four Nations champion in the Second City is enormous. His last appearance, at Birmingham's Custard Factory in November, saw him take every session against bigger, heavier, more experienced Cottier. And the three-fight (all wins, one inside) welterweight showed a cool head on young shoulders to take his time, wait for openings and then pounce with alarming accuracy, power and speed. And he has joined fellow-Brummie Don Broadhurst, the 2006 Commonwealth Games flyweight gold medallist and undefeated professional (7-0) who now trains at the same Aston gym, in Warren's stable. Costello has, in fact, been touted in many quarters as Birmingham's answer to Amir Khan. Woodhall also feels the young fighter has what it takes to reach the upper echelons of the paid ranks, not just being confined to fights on these shores: “As a professional I would expect him to be competing in world class level as he is really talented. “He can bang a bit, has very good boxing ability and his dad has certainly done his homework throughout his amateur and pro career,” continued the Birmingham-born, Shropshire-based trainer on a boxer who won 37 of 44 amateur bouts and fought at the World Cadets in 2005. “He is in safe hands with John. He has great knowledge but he will still seek my advice occasionally over durability and other things like that. I'm more than happy to do that. “The four-fight deal with Warren is great news as he will really be in the limelight and no doubt appear on all the Amir Khan shows around the UK. He will gain invaluable experience boxing on those shows. "It is a fantastic stage for him and whilst it is almost like a trial, I have no doubt that Frank Warren will sign him up once again when this deal has finished. He is that good. “I know Dean Powell really well," added the former Commonwealth and European champion, who doesn't make bold statements unless he truly believes them. "He asked me about Thomas and I told him what a good kid he was and I think that reassured him a bit. "Dean respects my opinion a lot and I know Thomas will benefit tremendously from this move. It's better to learn your trade on the big bills if you are going places. “I've seen plenty of talented fighters over these years and Thomas is up there with them. There is little doubt in my mind that the kid will be a recognised world champion in the future.”

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