Broughton big fight has just got bigger

Manning and Broughton…now a European title is on the line

THE clock is ticking towards the big fight Mykey Lee Broughton has wanted for so long.

And it has just got bigger.

On November 30, the skilled Birmingham boxer will face Yaser Al Ghena at famed East End venue York Hall, Bethnal Green.

It’s been known for some time that Syrian born Al Ghena’s English super-lightweight – I still refer to the weight category as light-welter – title is on the line.

But now the vacant WBO European belt will also be up for grabs. And the intriguing contest, shown on DAZN, will also serve as a British and Commonwealth title eliminator.

There’s an awful lot at stake. Importantly, if Broughton wins, he gets a world ranking, he can also win over a national audience.

For the 24-year-old, it’s the first championship battle since Scott Melvin stopped him in the final round of a truly epic Midlands title clash down at lightweight. Broughton was winning with 97 seconds to go before being halted by body shots.

For manager Anthony Manning and his team, it’s the second attempt to grab titles on a major televised show. In July, light-middle Amir Abubaker was halted by Carl Fail on a Bournemouth bonanza staged by Frank Warren.

It will interesting to see if both Manning and Broughton, who has lost only one of 14, have learned from their setbacks, are better because of them.

For Broughton, blessed with smooth skills, this is the chance to step out of the small hall shadows.

“It’s a winnable fight on a very viable stage,” Manning said.

I agree. Al Ghena may be unbeaten in 14, but I don’t believe he’s a beast, a truly world class operator. I don’t believe he’s a lights-out puncher.

Don’t forget Worcester’s James Scarrott, a big underdog, posed Al Ghena plenty of problems in December, pushing him to a split decision.

What Scarrott can do, Broughton can do better.

“It’s a winnable fight,” Manning repeated, “I believe Mykey is at that level. I think the public have seen glimpses of what he can do, they saw it in the Scott Melvin fight and he’s shown those attributes against journeymen.

“Listen, Mykey is a boxer – he is not going in the ring looking to knock people out. Mykey has that skill-set from the amateurs, that’s his go-to. We are looking to those skills on the night, we rely on those skils.”

I think Al Ghena can be outboxed by Broughton – and he needs to be clearly outboxed: fighting in the other guy’s backyard, Mykey can’t expect any favours if rounds are close.