BBN Exclusive - Michael Brodie is on his way back by Terry Dooley Oct 1st 2007

Michael Brodie is training with Bobby Rimmer ahead of a comeback according to a plethora of sources close to BBN. Manchester's worst kept secret over the past two months seems destined to come to light as Brodie nears his former fighting weight. Both Brodie and Bobby Rimmer have been tight-lipped over this return yet a number of voices are now talking about Brodie returning, with the belief being that he is soon going to return to full sparring. A return to competitive action, surely, will then follow. Brodie won a number of titles in the super-bantamweight and featherweight divisions. A British, Commonwealth and European (titles he never lost in the ring) Champion at super-bantamweight Michael was determined to win a legitimate version of the world title. This opportunity came arrived when Erik Morales vacated his title in 2000 leaving Brodie free to fight Willie Jorrin for the vacant super-bantamweight crown. Despite the fight taking place here in Manchester Brodie was on the wrong-end of a poor decision as Jorrin won by majority decision. Brodie had been floored in the tenth yet his overall work should have won him the fight. With his face swollen and bruised a tremendously disappointed Brodie congratulated his opponent in a move that helped divert any crowd fury. This writer, for one, will never forget the look on Michael's face as the realisation that the scorecards were against him came in. He looked like a man who wanted to be sick but still managed to shake the hand of his opponent in a public show of respect. A second stage of Brodie's career saw him take to the featherweight division. This robbed Brodie of a few physical advantages, although he managed to annex the WBF and IBO titles in his time there. A run of tough fights against Pastor Humberto Maurin (despite the Pastor title he definitely was not a saint in the ring), Luis Fuente and Juan Gerardo Cabrera saw Brodie presented with another legitimate title shot, again for a vacant belt, against the murderously stoic In-Jin Chi. For many fight fans there is no need for an explanation of that fight. For the unlucky ones in need of explanation Brodie and Chi fought a war to a draw at the MEN in 2004. Chi was a proven quantity in terms of his toughness – he had pushed Erik Morales hard in a losing effort – and Brodie's body shots pushed this issue further as Chi absorbed some rib crunching shots then gritted out what at first appeared to be a close win. A scoring controversy meant that the result was later changed to a draw after WBC president Jose Suliman turned Lieutenant Columbo and discovered that Brodie had wrongly had an erroneous point deducted from his scorecard. In a way it was good news, it a way it was bad news. There was just one more thing: it meant that Brodie had to face Chi again. This time, however, there was to be no heroics as Brodie found the Korean too strong and was overwhelmed after seven rounds. It seemed that the title dream was over only for Brodie to be given a surprise chance against WBO title holder Scott Harrison the following year (2005). At first it seemed folly with Harrison looking strong yet Brodie did dig-in during a memorable second round in which he hurt the title holder with a number of body shots. However in keeping himself in the fight Brodie had asked a lot of his own body. A fairly innocuous looking body shot, both Andy Morris and John Murray had hurt him there in sparring, creased him up at the end of round two. He was finished in the third by the rampaging Harrison. An emotional retirement speech followed in which Brodie bristled at claims, crass claims it must be said, that he had never quite succeeded in his title dreams. Brodie won plenty of titles, although the one he really wanted, the WBC belt, eluded him despite his best efforts. During all of my many conversations with Manchester's finest fighters the question “Name one of your boxing heroes” always throws up the name of Brodie. In particular Jamie Moore and Ricky Hatton, two of our highest profile fighters right now, have talked about Brodie. Hatton was given a taste of the pressures of a title fight when his trainer Billy Graham took him to the Neil Swain-Michael Brodie British title war – a fight Brodie won after ten tough rounds. Moore has also talked about the influence Brodie had on the younger fighters coming through. For his part former trainer Graham claims Brodie had all the natural talent in the world. He once wistfully talked about how he regretted not working with Brodie throughout Michael's entire career. Now Brodie stands on the verge of a comeback. His aims, motivations and fitness may be a mystery right now but it is hard not to hope that he comes back with a little bit of the magic left in his body. Time, as it always does, will decide in this one.

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