16.11.06 – THE DON: Young gun Don Broadhurst loves life as a professional and is hoping to build on the eye-catching start he made on his debut in Bolton. The Commonwealth Games Champion fights for the second time on Saturday night when he takes on Serbian Kemal Plavci at the Newport Centre in South Wales. And he has shifted around hundred tickets for the show – to go with the 300 he did on debut – as his popularity in Birmingham continues to grow..
” I’d have done even more if everyone didn’t regard Wales as a foreign country that’s miles away!” joked Broadhurst. “It’s only an hour down the motorway from Birmingham.”
With an all-action style, Broadhurst will have no difficulty in attracting support later in his professional career, and his four-round win over Delroy Spencer had TV executives sitting up in excitement.
” It was nice to get the ball rolling and get that first fight out of the way,” said the 22-year-old.
” I think the professional ranks suit me a bit better than the amateurs, and I like boxing over the longer distance.
” I’ve also got that aggressive, come-forward style, and I’m hoping that will go down well with the fans.”
Broadhurst, who is a genuine flyweight and plans to challenge for titles at the 112-pound limit, admits finding sparring partners isn’t easy because of his size.
He’s been hard preparing for his Newport fight with a couple of amateur champions, but says he is happy to give weight away.
” My preparation for this fight has been spot on,” said Broadhurst. “I’ve been in Birmingham following my usual routine, and I feel in great shape.
” I’d love to put in a really good display and then box again on December 9 at the ExCeL Centre. That would be a really good card to get on, and then I could relax over Christmas.”
ARAMIAN OUT
Roman Aramian, challenger for Gary Lockett’s WBU World Middleweight Title, has withdrawn from the fight citing a viral infection.
With Aramian’s last minute withdrawal it has proved difficult to find a suitable replacement and also to comply with the British Board of Control’s strict rules on weight checks for championship contests.
Lockett will not be defending his title and instead features in a 10-round International contest against tough Ghanaian Ayittey Powers to be televised on ITV4.
Bradley Pryce’s Commonwealth Light-Middleweight title defence against Andrew Facey is now the main event.
SMITH TARGETS BRITISH TITLE
Newly crowned Central Area Middleweight champion Paul Smith continues his march towards a British shot when he takes on Slough’s Ryan Walls over eight rounds.
Howard Eastman and Richard Williams contest for the Vacant British title next month but the unbeaten Liverpool puncher reckons he’s ready to take on the winner.
Smith said, “I sparred with Ryan Rhodes over the summer when he was preparing to fight Gary Lockett and more than held my own against him. I’ll be keeping a close eye on the Eastman-Williams fight and who comes out on top, I know I can beat either of these two and I just want my shot to prove it.”