Former World and European gold medallist Amy Broadhurst is making her major tournament comeback for Great Britain at the European Elite Boxing Championships in Sofia, Bulgaria, starting on Thursday.
The competition marks Broadhurst's first major international championship since returning to boxing following the birth of her baby boy.
Broadhurst, who previously represented Ireland, switched allegiance to Great Britain ahead of the Paris 2024 Games in a bid to qualify for the Olympics. She forms part of a strong British squad in Sofia that features several Commonwealth Games gold medallists.
Great Britain's amateur boxing team is based at the English Institute of Sport in Sheffield, preparing elite fighters for major international competition. Sofia, the capital of Bulgaria, is hosting Europe's flagship amateur tournament as boxers begin their multi-year preparation cycle toward the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games.
Balancing Boxing and Motherhood
Broadhurst revealed the logistical demands of managing elite sport alongside early motherhood while preparing for the championships.
"It's tough but we're making it work and I'm very lucky to have the support around me," Broadhurst told Sky Sports. "He's at the right age now where this is possible."
Her young son is accompanying her to Bulgaria and regularly joins her during training camps at the GB Boxing base in Yorkshire. "He'll come to Bulgaria with me and he comes to Sheffield every second week with me," she said. "Those weeks are tough because you're doing two jobs then."
Looking ahead to the long-term journey toward LA 2028, Broadhurst made clear that her current Olympic push will be her final campaign in amateur boxing. "This is my last shot at the Olympics. So they know after this it's all said and done," she added.
Before her switch to Great Britain, Broadhurst enjoyed a stellar career for Ireland, winning gold medals at both the World Championships and European Championships. She also served as a key sparring partner for Irish boxing icon Katie Taylor ahead of Taylor's historic victory against Amanda Serrano.
Tense Return Against Former Team
Broadhurst's comeback following a two-year hiatus from the ring has already brought emotional challenges, including an early fight against her former Irish teammates.
"My first fight back after two years was against Ireland. So that was a mad situation," Broadhurst said. "I was trying to control my feelings because obviously a lot of [stuff] went on with that whole situation."
She explained how she focused strictly on performance rather than external friction during the bout. "I knew going in that I was going to do okay. But there was just a lot of ill feelings on both behalfs. I think I handled it very well. I shook hands with the coach and I showed respect," she said. "That was probably the main thing, not to get sucked into the emotional part of it. It was get in, box and move on. It was like closing the chapter on something. We shook hands and then that's it."
Potential Clashes in Sofia
Although Broadhurst avoided Ireland's top lightweight in her initial return fight, a high-profile showdown could materialize in Bulgaria. Ireland's two-time Olympic champion Kellie Harrington has entered the European Championships in the same division.
Harrington won back-to-back Olympic gold medals for Ireland, securing lightweight titles at Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024. Broadhurst shares extensive history with Harrington, having served as her primary sparring partner in the build-up to the Tokyo Games.
"I was her sparring partner for the 2021 Games," Broadhurst said. "I was brought over to Tokyo. We've shared the ring many times and it would be a spicy fight."
While fans and observers anticipate a potential bout between the former teammates in Sofia, Broadhurst is maintaining a disciplined focus as the tournament gets underway. "You could meet each other," Broadhurst noted. "You just don't know what's going to happen. I'll take it one fight at a time."
