English title chance for stylish Broughton

Mykey Lee Broughton…move up to super-light. Picture: Inga Zulyte

BIRMINGHAM’S stylish Mykey Lee Broughton has the major title fight he has craved.

But it is not at lightweight, where the fighter has chased honours during his 13 bout career (one loss).

Governing body the British Boxing Board of Control has called for English super-lightweight champ Yaser Al Ghena to make his first defence against 23-year-old Broughton.

The bout has gone out to purse bids. Mykey’s manager Anthony Manning said he’ll try to bring the fight to Birmingham, but won’t loose sleep if those backing Al Ghena seal the contest. “Gumshields can travel,”he laughed.

It’s an intriguing contest. Al Ghena, born in Syria, fighting out of Finchley, has won all 13 pro bouts, two by stoppage.

But Broughton and Manning will take plenty of encouragement from the 30-year-old champ’s title winning performance against Worcester’s James Scarrott in December.

Scarrott, a big underdog at York Hall, Bethnal Green, posed Al Ghena plenty of problems and pushed him to a split decision.

Al Ghena looked far from invincible that night.

Broughton will stay sharp before the big one with a slot on manager Manning’s show at the Eastside Rooms, Birmingham, on May 31. Manchester’s tough Dan Booth will be in the opposite corner.

Mykey, blessed with fast hands and razor-sharp reflexes, has earned his title shot. The only blemish on his CV is a 2023 Midlands lightweight title loss to Scott Melvin. In a true small hall classic, Broughton was ahead on points before being stopped by body shots in the 10th and final round.

“At present the two lads with the most momentum in the gym are Mykey and Amir (Midlands light-middleweight champ Amir Abubaker),” Manning said.

“With Mykey, we were going to go for a Commonwealth youth title. He didn’t want to make lightweight any more. Only he knows what he has to do to make lightweight, only he knows how he feels and he says he feels discomfort at lightweight. I think it may have been part of the issue in the Scott Melvin fight.”

Broughton has what it takes to reach the top, Manning stressed.

He added: “He’s had 13 fights, his 14th is coming up. We know he can do 10 rounds, he’s sparred the top 10 in Britain – he’s been in with them all.

“Skill-wise, he is there. Now it’s about navigating him in the right direction.”

The Board of Control circular calling for the Broughton-Al Ghena fight states purse bids need to be lodged by May 14 and fight must take place before the end of September.