Woodhouse still plays football for Harrogate Town in the sixth tier

Former Sheffield United footballer Curtis Woodhouse is planning to fight for the British light-welterweight crown within a year.

Woodhouse, 30, is in the third year of his boxing career after turning his back on professional football despite once costing Birmingham City £1m.

"I'm really starting to establish myself in the British rankings," the boxer told BBC Look North.

"This time next year I'm expecting to challenging for the British title."

Woodhouse, who still plays as a midfielder for Blue Square North side Harrogate Town, will drop down a weight to light-welter when he faces Dean Hickman at the Gemtec Arena part of Hull City's KC Stadium on 27 November.

It is a venue he knows well after spending time at the city's football club following stints at the Blades, Birmingham and Peterborough.

"To go back to the KC Stadium, where I have a lot of support locally, is going to be a great atmosphere," the former England Under-21 football added.

"The fight will be a cracker because both of us like to throw hard punches and I think we'll be standing in the middle of the ring and going for it."

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