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April 7, 2006
Marian W. Muhammad, President
IBF/USBA
516 Main Street , 2 nd Floor
East Orange , NJ 07018


RE: Objections to Exception requested by Clinton Woods


Dear Marian:

By his letter and on behalf of Glencoffe Johnson we strenuously object to an exception being granted for Clinton Woods to fight a voluntary defense against a ranked IBF ranked Light Heavyweight contender on May 13, 2006.

We object to this exception based on the following grounds:

1. The exception lacks merit in that there is as yet no opponent, it would not be a compelling fight, there is no reason for it as the fight would have no significance, and it us not an elimination bout. If granted it would invite fighters and promoters to ask for exceptions all the time, just to do an interim fight.

•  The most likely opponent mentioned in the media for the fight is

Jason Delisle the IBF #15 ranked contender who soundly lost his last fight. It was an IBF eliminator for the #2 ranking against Julio Gonzalez. His reward for that loss would be a title fight with Clinton Woods, while Glencoffe Johnson and Julio Gonzalez have to wait. In addition, Clinton Woods already knocked out Delisle in 2004 and English Television has turned him down as an opponent on several occasions. They may only approve Delisle as an opponent because of Ricky Hatton.

•  Glencoffe Johnson is 37 years old and therefore he has a relatively short window left in his career. Each month he has to wait shortens his career and his opportunities.

Exceptions should not be granted automatically. In fact the IBF rules provide for a poll of the Board of Directors to see if the exception should be granted. The IBF rules also have an appeals process.

What is implied by the Rules are that exceptions are granted for compelling reasons, such as historic fights, (ie: Chavez vs. Barrera) unification bouts, or compelling big money bouts that the public wants to see.

This exception requested on behalf of Clinton Woods is to fight an opponent as a “tune up” fight because it would allegedly “help build the profile of the third Johnson Bout”. All fights help build a fighter's profile; and you would hope all voluntary defenses would help build the Champion's profile. But if you were going to grant all exceptions, why have a polling of the Board, and why have an appeal process? If the IBF were to grant this exception, then what exception would you deny?

If the IBF were to grant this exception in a meaningless rematch, (Jason Delisle got knocked out by Clinton Woods in 2004) you will invite all fighters to request exceptions with no reasonable criteria for them being granted.

For all of the reasons described in this letter, Glencoffe Johnson respectfully requests that Clinton Wood's request for an exception be denied.

Very truly yours,

Leon R. Margules, Executive Director
cc. Darryl Peoples
Lindsey Tucker
Glencoffe Johnson
Henry Foster