Commonwealth super-flyweight champion Don Broadhurst is hoping a late change of opponent next Friday won’t scupper his British title hopes. The 25-year-old was due to take on Juma Fundi at the Wolverhampton Civic Centre on April 24, but instead he will tackle tough Ghanaian Asamoah Wilson who has won 12 of his 17 bouts with six stoppages. If Broadhurst wins, he can look ahead to a showdown with southpaw Lee Haskins for the Lonsdale belt..
The Brummie has been nominated to tackle champion Haskins by the BBBofC.
Purse bids have been ordered in May for the fight, with Broadhurst desperate to get his hands on the British title.
“Haskins is pretty handy and has only lost at bantamweight,” said Broadhurst, undefeated in 10 fights.
“I’d love to be the first to beat him at super-flyweight and win the British title.
“Last September I said to myself that in the next 12 months I’d win the Commonwealth and British titles.
“I’ve already got the Commonwealth, now I just need the British to go with it.
“But it will all come to nothing if I lose to Wilson.
“I don’t know too much about him, but I’ve already fought two Africans and they have both turned out to be tough nuts to crack.
“I’m improving all the time though and punching harder than ever, so I’m confident of another good win.”
GOING BACK IS BEST FOR BOOTH
FRANK MALONEY believes Jason ‘2 Smooth’ Booth is ready to start winning British titles by going backwards!
The Nottingham throwback leaps up to the super-bantamweight division at Leigh Indoor Sports Centre on Friday to challenge Mark Moran for the vacant British 8st 10lb championship.
Booth, 31, won his first British title almost ten years ago when he held the flyweight crown and has fought in 13 major championship fights.
Jason (31-5) currently holds the Commonwealth bantamweight title and Maloney hopes he will step to back down to that division and super-flyweight later this year.
Maloney said: “I don’t see why Jason shouldn’t challenge British bantamweight champion Gary Davies in the summer and then tackle super-flyweight title holder Lee Haskins before the end of 2009.
“I’m not a boxing statistician but I doubt that any British fighter has won three Lonsdale belts at three different weights in the same year.
“It would be a massive achievement if he could do that and something that is unlikely to ever be done again.”
Ironically Booth has been due to challenge Haskins on Friday’s show before the Bristol boxer damaged a wrist.
Booth’s career had been hampered by personal problems and Maloney added: “There are so many fighters that find excuses when they get offered a hard job and don’t want to know.
“They should take a leaf out of Jason’s book. When I have a fight for him, it is when, who and then how much.
“I really would love to get him a world title fight of some kind before he finally calls it a day. He is so easy to deal with and just wants to fight.”
Liverpool southpaw Moran (11-0-1) was on the verge of quitting boxing 12 months but under Steve Wood and Frank Maloney has battled his way to the top.
Moran, 26, said: “This time last year I was thinking of giving up boxing for good. Now I plan on being the new British champion.”
Other fighters in action on the show being televised live on Sky Sports include St Helens Prizefighter winner and leading British middleweight title contender Martin Murray (13-0) and former British bantamweight champion Martin Power (19-4)..
Tickets for Friday’s show are available priced, £35 and £70 ringside from 0871 226 1508 or www.frankmaloney.com
Colman Barrett vs Vlado Sabo
Prodigal son boxer Colman Barrett will be ready to fight the best boxing has to offer in as little as 18 months and will eventually fulfill his potential after making a return to professional fighting according to manager and trainer Keith Walker.
Barrett returns to the ring in his hometown Galway this Saturday night-April 18- on a Southpaw promoted show, and Walker believes it’s the first step to something big for the undefeated puncher.
There was much hype surrounding Barrett career when he stringed six straight wins together between 2003 and 2005. Now after a three year sabbatical walker believes the heavyweight can pick up were he left off.
“He’s now ready to be unleashed back into the fight game. We intend over the next five fights to be back in the real mix. Over the next 18 moths I believe he will be in the mix and could take on anyone.” Walker explained.
“We plan to make slow but confident progress. We are just focused on Saturday and Saturdays fight but the talent is there. We will keep Colman under wraps but will move forward steadily. Colman is in great shape, I have the injuries to prove he is eager to get back in the ring and is stronger than ever. He nearly broke my fingers working the pads yesterday and I bruises all over my body from working with him. My neck and shoulders are sore. Again though it will be a slow start but everyone is looking forward to it.”
Francie Barrett
He has boxed on the biggest stage in world sport, the Olympics, fought for numerous titles in a distinguished 250 fight amateur career and entered the squared circle 17 times as a paid professional, but Francie Barrett has never worked harder for a fight night than he has for this Saturdays Pro boxing night in Leisureland Galway. Nor has he been more nervous prior to a bout.
The former Olympic hero is making a welcome return to boxing this weekend. He will not, however enter the ring but will instead don a well pressed promoter’s suit rather than the gloves and shorts he is so accustomed too.
Barrett, a former Irish champion at both junior and senior levels makes his professional promoting debut, as he co promotes the Salthill based show with Keith Walker under the Southpaw Promotions banner.
And the 33 year old retired fighter claims although he has enjoyed working outside of the gym he has found it more demanding than in ring fight preparations.
He also stressed he is more nervous coming up to this set of fights than any bout he ever fought.
“This is the first show I have ever done and I wouldn’t be able to do it with out Keith Walker. I am really excited about it and happy with how things have gone so far. I am also nervous, in fact I am more nervous than I was before any fight I ever had. I have worked harder getting this show ready than any other fight too. I knew it was going to be hard work but it has been tough. With fighting you just have to worry about getting in shape and preparing for your opponent in this game you have to organise a venue, fighters, talk with the boxing union and lots more,” an upbeat and excited Barrett explained.
We know from his fighting days though that Barrett isn’t afraid of hard work, and he seems to be dealing with the stress and grey hairs promoting prompts in the same manner he dealt with the bruises boxing brought.
And already it looks like he has helped organise a successful show.
Barrett’s involvement has ensured massive press interest both local and national and tickets for the show, which will be headlined by the undefeated Colman Barrett, have sold steadily.
“There is a lot of interest in the show. We have been contacted by media all over the country. You can’t pick up a paper or turn on a radio in the West without reading or hearing about it. Ticket sales are going well and it is going to be a great night. There is a good bit of excitement amongst boxing fans its great to have a show in Galway for local fans. We have worked hard to make it entertaining we have brilliant fights. We also have singers and some dancers but there will be some great fights.” he added.
The Southpaw promoted Leisureland hosted April 18 show will see John Waldron take on Danny Cousin, Colm Keane fight John Anthony, Carl Drake face Lee Murtagh, Gavin Prunty meet Ibrar Ryaz and Colman Barrett headline in a bout with Vlado Sabo.