A quick google shows me The Independent have dragged up his obituary for some reason which I guess is what you seen.
'maybe' it was his Son, who was a Lecturer, at Leeds, I think... 'maybe' he died, and being somewhat of a familiar name, someone has hastily associated it to Bruce Snr. without realising. Maybe?
My Father in law was born in the Doncaster area & knew Bruce Woodcock as a boy. We were on a trip up there & F in law said. Lets go have a good pint & see if you know who this guy is. We went to a pub called The Tumblers. With all the Boxing pics & things I knew it was a boxers pub. When he came Out I heard someone say Hello Bruce & knew who it was. Had a nice chat with him & he liked it when I said the pints of bitter I had were the best I ever tasted. He said " These men are mostly miners in here & if we served bad beer the place would be empty". Was a nice surprise for me