by James Slater – Last night, in his native Manchester, 35-year-old Michael Brodie, a former four-time world title challenger, made a successful and highly entertaining return to the ring after an absence of more than four years. The former British, Commonwealth and European super-bantamweight champion who also fought for the WBC super-bantamweight title, the WBC featherweight title (twice) and the WBO featherweight crown, had to twice get up off the floor to stop London’s 33-year-old Mark Alexander in a super-feathrweight bout..
Decked in the opening round by a flurry of shots by the slightly younger man, Brodie was downed again in the 3rd round by a hard body shot. Also cut above the left eye in the 2nd round, Brodie really had to dig deep so as to win. But guts and courage have never been attributes Brodie has lacked, and he came roaring back to stop his man at 1 minute and 25-seconds of the 4th round. A right hand to the head sent Alexander down, and referee Phil Edwards stopped the fight even though the Londoner beat the count.
Brodie is now 36-3-1(24). Alexander is now 8-4(0).
Always an exciting fighter – who, for example, can forget the two great fights Brodie gave us against South Korea’s In-Jin Chi? – the 35-year-old Manchester warrior provided more thrills last night. However, due to the way he was hurt and had to struggle to win against a non-puncher like Alexander, it’s tough to see how “Mikie’s” comeback will last all that long. And although he has only lost three times in a pro career that began back in 1994, Brodie has been involved in a number of quite punishing wars. The first fight with Chi, controversially changed to a draw after the win was initially (for about a half an hour) given to the South Korean, was as brutal as it was good to watch. And Brodie’s subsequent hammerings, at the hands of Chi in their rematch (KO’d by 7) and by Scott Harrison (KO by 4) a year later in 2005, have done the 35-year-old no good at all.
Expected by some good judges to have had a tricky night last night against the clever boxing skills of Alexander, Brodie was not expected to be put on the floor twice. Has the former champion’s ability to take a punch faded alarmingly? Promoted now by Ricky Hatton’s new promotional outfit, Brodie will almost certainly fight again. And when he does so, as he did last night at The Velodrome, the veteran will give the paying fans some serious value for money.
But a what cost to his health? In the meantime, though, congratulations must be give to Brodie for the way in which he battled back to win in last night’s great little action fight.