Career
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 United States 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.
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 was unable to get back into serious shape for the remainder of his career, and his results suffered. 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.
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.
