Trent Broadhurst on Berridge rematch: “We agreed to everything”

 
TALENTED Queensland light heavyweight Trent Broadhurst at one time was labelled as one of the best young prospects in the country.

 
After a series of setbacks with injuries and a knockout loss to fearsome Kiwi, Robert Berridge, the 26-year-old Broadhurst sat down with Aus-Boxing to touch on his career going forward, his desire for a rematch with Berridge, and his relationship with trainer and friend, Chris McCullen.

 
It was back in 2011, when a young and talented then 22-year-old Trent Broadhurst was fast making his way in the Australian boxing scene. At 7-0 with four knockouts, many pundits believed Broadhurst had the talent to be Australia’s next world champion.

 
He was riding the highs of back slappers, new fans, and an undefeated record. Things were running smoothly. Then on the evening of the 28th October that year, it all came to a grinding halt.

 
Broadhurst was scheduled to face Kiwi hard man, Robert ‘The Butcher’ Berridge and appeared to be controlling things up until the fifth round when he was caught with a straight left hand on two separate occasions putting him down twice.

 
The second knockdown, he didn’t recover from.

 
Knocked out and beaten for the first time in his career. It served as a wakeup call and set the wheels in motion to knuckle down and work harder.

 
“There’s no doubt that loss to him was a pretty bitter pill to swallow, especially knowing I’m on a different level than him,” said Broadhurst in an exclusive interview with Aus-Boxing.

 
“I have matured a lot since then, I got caught up a bit in it all and probably didn’t prepare as hard as I should have. That’s all changed now and I won’t be making that mistake again,”

 
After several setbacks on the injury front including a year off from December 2013 to December 2014, Broadhurst has come back in blazing fashion at light heavyweight.

 
He defeated Yousef Kanani by shutout points decision on the undercard of Geale vs Fletcher, and then knocked out tough Irishman, Joe Rea in the opening round only a few weeks ago on the Gold Coast.

 
It then prompted Broadhurst to take to social media to start scratching an itch, redemption against Berridge.

 
Broadhurst says that his team, along with another prominent promoter, have done everything possible to try and get Berridge back in the ring but to no avail.

 
“We approached them for a rematch and they were pretty hot and cold about it all,” Broadhurst explained. “They were offered $6,000, then wanted $8,000. We accepted that and agreed to it,”

 
“Then they reneged and said they wanted $10,000. We agreed to that. Then they wanted more. We had even set a date to accommodate their needs as he had a fight coming up,”

 
“After a while we didn’t hear back from them. With that sort of money being offered and the fact he isn’t bringing a belt to the table, why would you be saying no? We agreed to everything they wanted,”

 
“So draw your own conclusions as to what’s happening. We know what’s happening and it’s simple. He sees me as too big a risk to take, he doesn’t wanna fight me, simple,” Broadhurst said.

 
Broadhurst isn’t wasting any time on the would haves and could haves, he is straight back into action on May 8th against seasoned hard nut, Joel Casey at Jupiters Hotel and Casino on the Gold Coast.

 
With all going well, he is scheduled to fight undefeated New Zealander Rhys Papuni in June for the WBA Oceania light heavyweight title in what Broadhurst hopes will see him earning a Top 15 ranking with the WBA.

 
Broadhurst says he has decided to go the regional route on climbing the ranks, as he had been the number one rated contender at light heavyweight in the country for close to eighteen months, with none of the top fifteen wanting to fight him.

 
The quietly spoken Broadhurst feels everything is back on track in his career and is injury free and hungrier than ever.

 
“I feel everything is on track now,” said Broadhurst in closing. “I just wanted to thank my trainer Chris McCullen (former Australian super lightweight champion) for sticking with me,”

 
“He took me into not only his gym, but his home when I needed a place to live. I owe so much to him. My promoter Angelo Di Carlo who has always been there and looked out for my best interests, He’s been fantastic.”

 
Can Trent Broadhurst live up to the huge potential we all know he has? The next twelve to eighteen months will answer that question.

 
 
Words: Dan Smart (Follow Dan on Twitter)
Photos: Photography by Rockfingrz/Finish Line Images