Dave Oakes previews Friday night's super-flyweight showdown between Commonwealth champion Don Broadhurst and British title holder Lee Haskins.

Sky’s British boxing coverage for the year ends in a bang this Friday when Don Broadhurst faces arch rival Lee Haskins in a fight for the British and Commonwealth super-flyweight belts at the Newport Leisure Centre,Wales.

Commonwealth champion and rising star Broadhurst has been calling out Haskins for the past eighteen months, whilst British champion Haskins hasn’t been shy in letting everyone know that he believes he’s the better of the two. Friday night provides them both with the opportunity to back up their words.

The unbeaten Broadhurst, 11-0 (3KO’s), is seen as one of the best up-and-coming fighters in Britain and is the favourite to win. Haskins, on the other hand, has been inconsistent at championship level and is viewed as a fighter who’s struggled to fulfil his potential.

Broadhurst is a classy operator who boxes in the orthodox stance, he looks to pick his punches and attacks the body to slow his opponents down; Haskins is a switch-hitting southpaw who loads up for the big one-punch knockout. It’s a real clash of styles, one which may make for a messy fight.

 

Haskins, 19-2 (10KO’s) is the more experienced at title level but has come undone twice before, first against Tshifhiwa Munyai, who was far too big and physically strong for Haskins, the second time was against the silky skilled Ian Napa, where he was thoroughly outclassed before retiring through injury. He’s bounced back well since the Napa defeat, going three unbeaten against decent calibre foes Jamie McDonnell, Andy Bell and Ross Burkinshaw.

Broadhurst has yet to face a stiff test in his career but has a wealth of amateur experience to draw on. He won gold at the 2006 Commonwealth Games and was an ABA champion at the tender age of nineteen. His best performance as a pro came two fights ago; he showed great determination in grinding down and stopping the tough Isaac Owusu in the eleventh round.

Haskins has height and reach advantages, as do most of Broadhurst’s opponents, but I don’t believe his unorthodox style will allow him to take advantage of them. I can see Broadhurst fighting at a slightly faster pace than normal due to Haskins’ tendency to load up on shots; I think Broadhurst will look to get in and out before Haskins has chance to retaliate.

This is undoubtedly the hardest test of Broadhurst’s career but I believe he’ll come through with flying colours. I fancy a wide points decision but I wouldn’t rule out a late stoppage, Broadhurst isn’t a big puncher but he hits accurately enough for the shots to have an accumulative effect.

On the under-card...

A busy undercard sees Matthew Edmonds and Martin Power battle it out. Former British champion Power has been on a shocking run of late, winning just one of his last six fights, another defeat here would surely prove to be the end of his career.

Edmonds has lost three times in his career but looks to be the fresher fighter of the two, and whilst not being a big puncher, Power’s lack of punch resistance leads me to believe Edmonds will score a stoppage victory.

Olympians Tony Jeffries and David Price continue their educations against limited opponents and Sam Webb keeps busy in a six rounder ahead of his proposed British title fight with Anthony Small.

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