James Broad
James Broad | |
---|---|
Statistics | |
Real name | James W. Broad |
Nickname(s) | Broad Axe |
Rated at | Heavyweight |
Height | 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) |
Nationality | American |
Born | January 27, 1958 |
Died | November 20, 2001 43) | (aged
Stance | Orthodox |
Boxing record | |
Total fights | 33 |
Wins | 23 |
Wins by KO | 15 |
Losses | 10 |
Draws | 0 |
James Broad (January 27, 1958 – November 20, 2001) was an American heavyweight boxer who was an amateur star and, prior to the boycott, set to represent America in the 1980 Moscow Olympics. As a pro he won the NABF heavyweight title and was a regular sparring partner of a peak Mike Tyson.
Amateur
Broad took up boxing when he joined the army in 1976. He beat Chris McDonald in the 1980 Olympic Trials finals, where he qualified for the 1980 US Olympic Boxing team which ultimately did not compete due to political reasons. He also beat top amateur Chris McDonald and lost a decision to Tony Tubbs.
Professional
Nicknamed "Broad-Axe", Broad turned pro in 1981 and put together 12 wins, including a 4th round knockout of future Heavyweight Champ James "Bonecrusher" Smith. His weight was already a problem at this early stage of his career, but Broad worked down to 228 for his first big fight, against fellow undefeated prospect Marvis Frazier. Broad rocked Frazier with his signature uppercuts but was unable to replicate his knockout victory in the amateurs, and he was outworked over 10 rounds.
Broad bounced back to outpoint Larry Alexander over 12 rounds in 1983 then knockout contender Eddie Gregg in 8 rounds to win the NABF title in 1984. For his first title defense Broad scaled a whopping 260 lbs and was knocked out in 2 rounds by once and future world champion Tim Witherspoon in 1985.
Downward Spiral
Broad was unable to get back into serious shape for the remainder of his career, and his results suffered. He lost a 12 round decision to top contender and future world champion Tony Tucker for the USBA title in 1986, and in 1987 was twice outpointed over 10 rounds, by Francesco Damiani in Italy and then by ex-world champ Greg Page, in a fight where both men were down.
Broad outpointed future cruiserweight world title-challenger Patrick Lumumba but went to South Africa and was poleaxed in 4 rounds by Johnny DuPlooy. In his next fight he was stopped on his feet, in questionable circumstances, by rising contender Donovan "Razor" Ruddock. During all this time Broad was a sparring partner for a peak Mike Tyson and took many punches in the gym.
Death
In 1992 Boxing Illustrated reported that Broad intended to make a comeback and wanted to be world champion, despite the fact he was banned in Nevada and California both for failing a neurological exam and testing positive for Hepatitis. He somehow managed to get 4 more fights, losing 3 of them. By 2000 Broad was said to be homeless in Las Vegas and badly brain damaged, but when he died in 2001, aged only 43, he was back in his hometown of Greensboro, North Carolina.
Professional boxing record
23 Wins (15 knockouts, 8 decisions), 10 Losses (3 knockouts, 7 decisions) | |||||||
Result | Record | Opponent | Type | Round | Date | Location | Notes |
Loss | 13-8 | Calvin "Concrete" Jones | MD | 10 | 20/08/1993 | Melrose Park, Illinois, United States | |
Win | 30-10-2 | Philipp Brown | PTS | 8 | 26/06/1993 | Saint George, Utah, United States | |
Loss | 3-0 | Daniel Dăncuţă | UD | 4 | 14/02/1993 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
Loss | 11-1 | Billy "Bronco" Wright | UD | 6 | 06/10/1992 | Miami Beach, Florida, United States | 54-60, 55-59, 56-58. |
Win | -- | Maurice Smith | TKO | 4 | 05/10/1991 | Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada | Referee stopped the bout at 1:26 of the fourth round. |
Loss | 20-1-1 | Donovan "Razor" Ruddock | TKO | 1 | 06/12/1988 | Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada | Referee stopped the bout at 2:58 of the first round. |
Loss | 17-1 | Johnny du Plooy | KO | 4 | 27/02/1988 | Johannesburg, South Africa | |
Win | 6-1 | Patrick Lumumba | PTS | 10 | 01/08/1987 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
Loss | 26-6 | Greg Page | MD | 10 | 30/05/1987 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | 94-95, 93-96, 94-94. |
Loss | 16-0 | Francesco Damiani | UD | 10 | 11/04/1987 | Bologna, Emilia-Romagna, Italy | 95-99, 95-99, 95-99. |
Loss | 32-0 | Tony "TNT" Tucker | UD | 12 | 26/09/1986 | Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States | USBA Heavyweight Title. 111-118, 109-117, 110-117. |
Win | 3-11-1 | Wesley Smith | KO | 2 | 28/06/1986 | Troy, New York, United States | |
Win | 23-8-1 | Bobby Crabtree | KO | 5 | 03/05/1986 | Glens Falls, New York, United States | Crabtree knocked out at 1:27 of the fifth round. |
Win | 13-1 | Rodney Frazier | TKO | 1 | 25/01/1986 | Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States | Referee stopped the bout at 0:55 of the first round. |
Loss | 19-2 | "Terrible" Tim Witherspoon | KO | 2 | 29/04/1985 | Buffalo, New York, United States | NABF Heavyweight Title. Broad knocked out at 2:35 of the second round. |
Win | 5-2-1 | Sterling Benjamin | TKO | 2 | 14/12/1984 | New York City, United States | Referee stopped the bout at 2:59 of the second round. |
Win | 20-0-1 | Eddie Gregg | TKO | 8 | 23/08/1984 | New York City, United States | NABF Heavyweight Title. Referee stopped the bout at 0:48 of the eighth round. |
Win | 32-4 | Tommy Franco Thomas | TKO | 3 | 03/05/1984 | Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States | |
Win | 22-9-2 | Larry Alexander | SD | 12 | 17/11/1983 | Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States | |
Win | 12-7-4 | Leroy Diggs | TKO | 8 | 18/08/1983 | Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States | Referee stopped the bout at 2:43 of the eighth round. |
Loss | 8-0 | Marvis Frazier | UD | 10 | 10/04/1983 | Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States | 3-6, 4-5, 4-5. |
Win | 19-11-1 | Tony Pulu | KO | 3 | 10/03/1983 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
Win | 19-10 | Walter Santemore | UD | 12 | 06/01/1983 | Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States | ESPN Heavyweight Title. |
Win | 12-0 | Donnie "Master of Disaster" Long | MD | 10 | 17/10/1982 | Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States | 6-3, 5-4, 5-5. |
Win | 16-5-2 | Randy Mack | TKO | 8 | 16/09/1982 | Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States | |
Win | 5-9 | Art Robinson | DQ | 4 | 04/08/1982 | Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States | |
Win | 2-2 | Lonnie Chapman | KO | 2 | 18/07/1982 | Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States | |
Win | 5-3-1 | Harold Rice | PTS | 8 | 02/04/1982 | Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States | |
Win | 13-3-2 | Lou Benson, Jr. | PTS | 8 | 11/02/1982 | Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States | |
Win | 4-4-3 | Robert Evans | TKO | 6 | 17/12/1981 | Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States | |
Win | -- | James "Bonecrusher" Smith | TKO | 4 | 05/11/1981 | Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States | Referee stopped the bout at 1:07 of the fourth round. |
Win | -- | Greg Stephany | KO | 3 | 16/09/1981 | New York City, United States | Referee stopped the bout at 1:21 of the third round. |
Win | 0-4 | Albert Collins | KO | 1 | 11/08/1981 | Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States | Collins knocked out at 0:59 of the first round. |