GB-turned Irish world champion Amy Broadhurst has returned to the gym to resume her pursuit of Olympic glory.
Broadhurst returned to boxing just a few months after the birth of his first child.
She is determined to qualify for the 2028 Olympics and prove that even a new mom can realize her dreams at the highest level.
“When you have a baby, people automatically think your career is over,” Broadhurst told Sky Sports. “I hope when he grows up and looks back on what I’ve done, he’ll be so proud.”
“One of the people I actually reached out to was Natasha Jonas, because she was the only person I could think of who had a child and returned to boxing.
Maternity leave is usually not part of boxing’s compensation structure. “The UK government has now put in place a scheme that allows women to receive funding while pregnant,” Ms Broadhurst said.
“Every system is different. It’s good to be in a system that really supports you like that.”
Northern Ireland’s Amy Broadhurst wins gold at the 2022 Birmingham Commonwealth Games
However, it is difficult to return to training immediately. “That didn’t make the recovery any easier, especially since I also had a C-section,” she said.
“You guys are among the talented boxers who are ready to fight, but you’re also with me, who just had a baby and hasn’t been in the ring for 18 months. In my head, I was still at the level I was 18 months ago, but then you’re in for a bit of a rude awakening.
“It’s weird because your brain is telling your body to do something and it’s not working very well. But as the weeks go by, you can see your fitness coming together and your sharpness coming back.”
Being separated from your baby is a huge sacrifice. “When Wednesday comes and he’s not with me, that’s when it happens. When you go to your first game and he’s not with me, it’s going to be very difficult,” Broadhurst said.
“GB has been amazing in allowing and accepting things to help me.”
This strengthened her decision to leave the Ireland national team and join the GB team.
Broadhurst, a 2022 world gold medalist, has enjoyed much success representing Ireland. She also has deep roots in England, with her father being British-born and previously boxing for Islington Boxing Club, where she won the England National Elite Championship.
Broadhurst currently represents England
“When I changed jobs in 2024, what I needed at that time was a lot of support and people I could rely on and trust,” she said of GB. “They made me feel really welcome and made me feel really confident in myself.
“They still actually believed that I could be an Olympic medalist for them.”
Broadhurst missed out on qualifying for the 2024 Olympics in Paris, but watching the games still gave her confidence. Imane Kerif, who was at the center of the eligibility controversy, won the welterweight gold medal. When Broadhurst won the 2022 World Championship, it was Kerif who he defeated in the final.
“I beat her and became world champion, and it was a special day for me. I think she’s a great boxer. From what I remember from that fight, the first round was close, but I dominated the second and third rounds. I think I won both rounds 5-0, but I think it was 10-8 at some point. She’s obviously come a long way since then,” Broadhurst said.
“(Hitting) Kerif was no fluke,” she continued. “So, when I got back to my seat, I thought: It was tough, but the results showed that I have the ability to be on the best team. That’s probably one of the reasons why I said I’d come back so soon after getting pregnant.”
“I know what I can do when I’m 100 percent.”
A world champion, now a mother, and a dual-citizen international fighter, Broadhurst’s boxing nickname remains “Baby Canelo.”
“It took me 10 years to make this,” she laughed. “I really loved watching him and became a fan of his. As I was boxing, the girls on Team Ireland started shouting ‘Canelo’ and my dad turned around and said ‘Baby, Canelo’. From then on it stuck.”
Terry Harper will fight Caroline Dubois for the WBC and WBO lightweight world titles live on Sky Sports on Sunday 5th April.
