Two out of three for Birmingham boxers at the LG

Going into their respective title fights on home territory on Saturday evening (September 18), Matthew Macklin, Frankie Gavin and Don Broadhurst were all expected to end the night as champions.

However, at the Second City's LG Arena, only two of the Brummies had a new title strapped around their waists.

That's because the third, 2006 Commonwealth Games gold medallist Don Broadhurst, was upset over ten rounds by erratic if capable ex-Olympian Najah Ali, Canning Town-based but Iraq-born, for the vacant International Masters bantamweight belt.

Richie Davies marked Ali, 30, a 97-95 victor.

Although i had the close ten-rounder all-square at 95 apiece there were no complaints from me after a closely-fought battle between two skilled if light-punching stylists.

While the belt holds no real significance or prestige on the domestic scene Broadhurst was looking to return to the win column after surrendering his Commonwealth super-flyweight title in a messy unification fight with Naz-like Lee Haskins, the British champion, last December.

The 26-year-old Erdington stylist, now 11-2 (3), hadn't boxed since then. It showed.

And though Ali's pro ledger is patchy at 3-2 (1), it belies his talents.

His defeats have come against big-punching Michael Walsh (two-round stoppage against a man who's won all of his fights quickly) and a one-point defeat (58-57) to the current British flyweight king, Oldham southpaw Shinny Bayaar.

Though Broadhurst, a die-hard Aston Villa fan, was down about the loss he's vowed to return a better fighter and live up to the promise he showed after winning his first 11 professional contests.

There was, however, better news for the other fighting Brummies on Frank Warren's ambitious and well-received 'Magnificent Seven' card.

Originally, Birmingham City-supporting Matthew Macklin, 28, was due to meet Darren Barker in a excellent-looking all-British fight for Barker's British and EBU crowns.

However, the Barnet boxer's hip injury two weeks before the 12-rounder forced him out and the Solihull-based puncher regained the European middleweight title he never lost in the ring with a six-round stoppage win over iron-jawed and tight Shalva Jomardashvili.

The hard-as-nails Georgian, who entered with an impressive-looking 27-2-1 pro tab, was retired by his corner at the end of the sixth session.

Freddie Roach-trained Macklin, who had former trainer Joe Gallagher working his corner, had been in control throughout but lacked the sharpness that has made many talk of him as a future holder of a recognised world champion.

Now 27-2 (19) the hard-hitting Brummie called out IBF champion Sebastian Sylvester afterwards and hopes that can also take place in his home city.

Most impressive fighter on show from the Second City, Hall Green's former World Amateur champion Frankie Gavin, won his first professional title , the vacant Irish 10st belt, with a five-round stoppage victory over tough Dundalk scrapper Michael Kelly, eight wins in ten (one draw) entering.

Gavin, 8-0 (7), dominated the ten-rounder, cut the Irishman, and forced referee Emile Tiedt to call a halt to proceedings with a second left of the fifth.

Though the stoppage may have come a tad prematurely, there was never any doubt that smooth-boxing Gavin, who was accused of being a non-puncher prior to turning over, was on his way to a resounding win.

The 24-year-old Birmingham City supporter now looks ready to take on the best Britain has to offer.