Getting to know...Don Broadhurst by James Howard Jan 14th 2008

With a Commonwealth gold medal in the bag and a seven fight unbeaten start to his paid career, the future is looking prosperous for Birmingham's gifted flyweight Don Broadhurst. Currently "ticking over and getting my weight down after Christmas", the Tamworth-based fighter from Aston took some time out to speak to James Howard about his past and future in boxing, chasing his girlfriend's bottom, and exclusively reveals to BBN that he has recently left the stewardship of Tommy and Paddy Lynch to join Richie Woodhall's ever-expanding stable. Don became interested in boxing at an early age and benefited from the caretaker at his local school launching a boxing gym. "I first went to the gym at ten and I boxed when I was eleven. I started when my primary school caretaker, an ex-amateur boxer, opened up Erdington ABC and he knew I could handle myself and was a little rowdy." Broadhurst didn't take the sport seriously until his mid-teens so "didn't really follow it" but he did take notice of two former world champions who stood out. "Tyson in the 80's was a machine until his self-destruction, and Naz (Hamed)." The Sports Network fighter identifies his first boxing memory explaining, "My first bout, my opponent came up speaking to me at the weigh in, he didn't know he was boxing me but I knew." And 'the Don's' best memory to date? "Winning gold at the Commonwealth Games in Melbourne 2006 and being the only boxer to win by stoppage in the final." Recounting the victorious experience Broadhurst said, "It was brilliant. It made my family proud and made a little history so I'm happy." The ambitious young prospect added confidently, "but it's only a stepping stone towards what I'm going to achieve." It was that ambition which provided the motivation for Broadhurst to turn over to the professional code, rejecting a sizeable contract offer with the ABA to sign on with Frank Warren's stable, "I'd achieved all my goals as an amateur, my style is more suited to the pros and I didn't want to wait another two years for the Olympics and all the politics that went with it." Naming Joe Calzaghe and Floyd Mayweather as the best British and world fighters respectively, the former Aston ABC and Birmingham Irish amateur isn't specific about his own dream fights, citing "Anyone!", reasoning, "I take one fight at a time as if I don't beat my next opponent there is less chance of getting them dream world title fights." Describing his training, Broadhurst revealed he has left Tommy and Paddy Lynch for Richie Woodhall, "I have recently moved to Richie's gym in Aston and I am currently training twice a day." Best part of training for the Midlands man? "Best is sparring as it's the nearest thing to a fight and I love pads." And the worst? "It's all hard if you push yourself." Describing previous sparring, Don said "I have sparred many people home and abroad, when I was on England camps the sparring was class... the Langleys, Nicky Macdonald, Kevin Mitchell many more. The Durham Boxing Academy was class too, I had not won a national title then and a lot of the lads had and were England internationals. Martin Stead, Zhavdul Zaman and more.” Broadhurst rates his assets as "natural strength, punching power, boxing brain, speed and defence". And the thing he likes best about his profession? "I just love fighting and getting paid for it! And getting in the ring, the buzz, the atmosphere, testing people's will and jaw." Jerome Thomas is the man Don would name as his toughest opponent in the unpaid ranks, "On paper it was Jerome Thomas, he was the current world champion and I boxed him in France. I was stopped on the mercy rule even though there was not a lot in it, even he shook his head at the decision and gestured to me and simulated the judges tapping the buttons non stop. As a pro it was my third bout against experienced Russian, Ravil Mukhamadiarov." An Aston Villa fanatic who would love one day to box at Villa Park, Broadhurst relaxes by having a game of pool and a laugh with his mates. He also has a "lot of nieces and nephews - eight so far and two on the way, I love being with them all. Last but not least is being with my girlfriend Stacie, she is so supportive and understanding, she helps with my diet and rides a bike when I run - its so much easier chasing her bottom! [laughing] She's brilliant. Having had problems finding opponents as domestic boxers registered at flyweight are few and far between, what are Don's thoughts of the fighters that are around? "There are not many flys, I am ranked as super-fly but can still do flyweight. At super-fly, fair play to Chris Edwards winning the title after being a journeyman. It shows what hard work and perseverance can do and should inspire others never to give up at anything in life." And to his own ambitions, what does Broadhurst feel the sport holds for him? "British title and maybe Commonwealth this year, and 100% world title - I think three more years." If that involves travel, that's no problem for the personable boxer who views it as just another goal to achieve, "Yes, I want to be the best and beat the best. I have travelled abroad as an amateur all over the world so that won't faze me." As the man himself says and I would be inclined to agree, "2008 is going to be a big year for 'the Don'!"

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