British boxer Curtis Woodhouse was the subject of some online abuse from a Twitter troll after losing a fight last Friday, and he wasn’t about to let it pass. He decided to take matters into his own hands by hunting down his main Twitter antagonist nearby the person’s home, which left the Twitter user apologetic and presumably frightened.
Woodhouse, 32, is a former professional soccer player who decided to pursue boxing professionally in 2006. He is 17-5 after losing a light welterweight fight to Shayne Singleton by split decision last Friday. Though many people sent him support on Twitter by saying he got robbed in the decision, at least one person criticized him for the loss.
A Twitter user who guys by the handle of @jimmyob88 and the nickname “the master” began attacking Woodhouse and calling him names:
@woodhousecurtis Haha u lost u silly mug fight a 10 year old next time if u want to actually win u waste of spunk
— the master (@jimmyob88) March 11, 2013
@woodhousecurtis retire immediately cant even defend a pathetic little title you are a complete disgrace #awfulboxer
— the master (@jimmyob88) March 11, 2013
Woodhouse retweeted some of the nasty messages that user sent him so that his entire following would see it. He even wrote back “lol” to “the master” in response, but his friendly tone quickly changed after the nastiness continued.
@woodhousecurtis Whats funny u put so much effort in sacrificed all that time and failed to defend your mickey mouse title #wasteofspunk
— the master (@jimmyob88) March 11, 2013
@1987holmesj great is a strong word mayweather Ali tyson Lewis were great fighters @woodhousecurtis is a laughable joke in my opinion
— the master (@jimmyob88) March 11, 2013
“The Master” also wrote to Woodhouse “just retire lets face it your not good the facts and statistics prove my point a handful of losses already” while calling him a s— boxer.
It was after those messages that Woodhouse decided he’d had enough. He offered £1000 to anyone who would provide him a picture and address for the man behind trash-talking Twitter account.
@kinkwadze @jimmyob88 ill give£1000 to anybody that provides me with address and picture of this man! knock knock!!
— curtis woodhouse (@woodhousecurtis) March 11, 2013
The Twitter troll was unfazed and continued to taunt Woodhouse.
@woodhousecurtis what u going to do knock me out like your last opponent ooops
— the master (@jimmyob88) March 11, 2013
Woodhouse wasn’t joking around. He found out the person’s real name and street and said he was coming over for a “brew.”
@kinkwadze@jimmyob88 james o brian,mount view road, you silly silly boy, see you really soon big boy @wit_xx
— curtis woodhouse (@woodhousecurtis) March 11, 2013
just on my way to sheffield to have a little chat with a old friend, get the kettle on @jimmyob88 #boxing #football #sillysillyboy
— curtis woodhouse (@woodhousecurtis) March 11, 2013
can somebody let me know what number it is?? i know its mount view road just need the number, ill send a pic when i arrive #boxing #football
— curtis woodhouse (@woodhousecurtis) March 11, 2013
when i get on @jimmyob88 road ill send a picture of the road just to let you all know that im not messing about #keyboardwarrior #boxing
— curtis woodhouse (@woodhousecurtis) March 11, 2013
After having his identity and street uncovered, the Twitter troll suddenly changed his tune and began backing down.
@woodhousecurtis chill out pal i was only doing it so you would bite back it was only abit of harmless fun
— the master (@jimmyob88) March 11, 2013
@woodhousecurtis@wit_xx i was only joking about Didnt think you would be bothered thought you would take them as a joke
— the master (@jimmyob88) March 11, 2013
@woodhousecurtis i am sorry its getting abit out of hand i am in the wrong i accept that
— the master (@jimmyob88) March 11, 2013
Since he had gone that far, Woodhouse wasn’t about to turn around even after the Twitter troll began apologizing.
@jimmyob88 @wit_xx to late for all that now jimmy, ive had enough of your mouth, ill be about 50 mins and you can have your say then
— curtis woodhouse (@woodhousecurtis) March 11, 2013
Woodhouse then kept his Twitter followers updated on his mission, saying he was 47 minutes, then 17 miles, and finally 10 minutes away from the troll’s house. When he finally reached the troll’s house, he made sure everyone knew he wasn’t messing around.
right Jimbob im here !!!!! someone tell me what number he lives at, or do I have to knock on every door#itsshowtime twitter.com/woodhousecurti…
— curtis woodhouse (@woodhousecurtis) March 11, 2013
just had a call from somebody who knows somebody who knows somebody and @jimmyob88 has asked what he can do to make me go away! #boxing
— curtis woodhouse (@woodhousecurtis) March 11, 2013
@jimmyob88 never came out to play so im going back home! maybe a bit daft what i did today but sometimes enough is enough #boxing #football
— curtis woodhouse (@woodhousecurtis) March 11, 2013
Imagine that? The same guy who was acting tough and talking trash on Twitter quickly backed down and went into hiding after Woodhouse got to his home. But Woodhouse found the whole thing amusing. He began cracking jokes.
just found out you can block people!! could of let me know earlier i could have saved 20 quid in petrol! #jimmybrownpants #boxing #football
— curtis woodhouse (@woodhousecurtis) March 11, 2013
seems like #jimmybrownpants is what we all thought he would be,a bully that gets a kick out of being nasty, well today it back fired #coward
— curtis woodhouse (@woodhousecurtis) March 11, 2013
ive had some funny days in my time but today has to be right up there! night tweeps!! #jimmybrownpants #iwillfindyou #boxing #notime4trolls
— curtis woodhouse (@woodhousecurtis) March 11, 2013
And with that, Woodhouse signed off for the night.
The anonymity of the Internet has empowered many people to write things to others they ordinarily would never say to someone’s face. Whether it’s a comment made on a blog post or newspaper article, or a posting on a social media service, people are known to act much tougher online than they would in person.
I’m glad Woodhouse did what he did and I hope many Internet trolls read the story so they learn to act differently. We get nasty emails from people all the time who don’t think there are real people operating the website and receiving the emails. As soon as we respond, their tune quickly changes and they become apologetic.
I really wish guys like DeAngelo Williams would have taken the Woodhouse approach, because that’s one way to teach them a lesson.
Glove touch to Deadspin
Image via YouTube/Ringtone Boxing
