Don Broadhurst

Broadhurst was a standout amateur who won the Flyweight ABA championship in 2003[2] and Gold for England in the 2006 Commonwealth Games. He defeated South Africa's Jackson Van Chauke in the final of the games and was the first of five boxers to win gold for England that day. The fight lasted into the 3rd round when it was stopped on the 'outscored' rule.[3][4]

Don decided to turn pro in June 2006 and signed for Sports Network saying “I feel the time is right to turn professional. I have represented England and the UK as an amateur, and they were the greatest times of my life, part of me wants to go to the Olympics still, but I'm positive now is the time, and I can go on to better my amateur achievements as a pro”.[5] His first fight was 3 months later when he defeated journeyman Delroy Spencer at the Reebok Stadium in Bolton. In June 2008 he fought in his home city of Birmingham for the first time beating Frenchman Alain Bonnel on points over six rounds. it was also the first time he had fought in the whole of 2008 following a string of cancelled bouts.[6]

Despite not fighting regularly in 2008, Don still managed to win his first professional title in October. Fighting in his home town of Birmingham once more he headlined a bill that saw him win the vacant Commonwealth super flyweight crown. The opponent in the other corner was Isaac Quaye of Ghana with Broadhurst winning a unanimous decision over 12 rounds. The win meant that he had now won the Commonwealth title as an amateur and as a professional. Despite this fact the bill itself at the Aston Villa Leisure Centre will no doubt be more remembered for Peter Buckley, the journeyman, winning in his 300th and last bout.[7] Broadhurst made the first defence of his title in March 2009 at the National Indoor Arena in Birmingham defeating another boxer from Ghana, Isaac Owusu in the 11th round.[8] On 24 April Broadhurst fought his third Ghanain boxer in a row with a 6th round stoppage of Asamoah Wilson for his second title defence.[9]