On Saturday night, David will make his way to the ring in the SECC Glasgow, on the undercard of Ricky Burns’ WBO Lightweight Title defence against Ray Beltran. He is an unbeaten professional middleweight after 8 fights in the paid ranks.
Born and raised in the small semi-rural village of Caldercruix in North Lanarkshire, Scotland. Young David Brophy has a couple of tough acts to follow in the form of his father and grandfather. His father John was well known around the area because he played football for Airdrie, he was also well known for being a hard man. David naturally took to football as a youngster following in his dad’s footsteps by signing a 3 year professional contract with Dundee United at the age of 17. He played for both the youth and reserve teams and liked to dress the part as a footballer, haircut to match. After a freak accident with a mirror whilst grooming his hair - the mirror fell off the wall and went through his leg. Blood from the wound was pumping out everywhere, his mother got to the top of the stairs and fainted as the blood sprayed around the room and David began towelling up his leg. He wasn’t long in hospital before they let him out. A few weeks later David was rushed back into hospital with a blood clot, “I got told there was a strong possibility my leg could be amputated, it destroyed me mentally”, he said. A serendipitous turn of events pulled David to a full recovery, however, tragedy struck again when he broke the same leg, “The doctor told me I might not walk again and if so, I would walk with a limp “, mentally scarred and falling into a deep depression, “I couldn’t see any way out of the situation, my dad helped me through it, he was my rock”. His leg was in cast for a year and a half, his good mate Stevie McGill is a physiotherapist and also helped David overcome this disaster, physically and mentally. The cast was removed, but David had a limp. During a kick about with the boys, Stevie McGill launched himself into a tackle on David from behind and swiped his legs away, “Whit ye dain?” David roared! The next minute the limp went away, Stevie had suspected all along that David’s limp was mentally manufactured in his head. Stevie continues to help his friend whenever physiotherapy is required.
At the age of 11 years old David went to boxing for a laugh, his parents felt that he needed a bit of discipline, but he excelled himself as a boxer. It was some 5 miles away at the Four Isles Amateur Boxing Club in Airdrie that he forged a unique bond with his amateur trainer Jim Robertson “I took to it like a duck to water” David declared. He self confesses he was pretty quiet at school until he started boxing, “At high School, I was quite mischievous, we were just young laddies and spent most of the time taking the piss out the teachers”.
As a junior and a youth David racked up 2 Western District Titles, 3 Scottish Titles, 2 Silver medals from the British Championships and made the Quarter Finals of the European Championships in Albania, that was some achievement to date for a man who only walked through the doors of the Four Isles Amateur Boxing Club for a laugh.
David idolized his Papa who sadly passed away 8 years ago aged 82, “He was a real hard man, and a hard man to please”, Jake Brophy 41st Royal Marine Commandoes, “We shall fight them on the beaches” Winston Churchill famously said, and by no mean feat David’s grandfather did, and he survived. The admiration for a genuine war hero in the family inspired David’s interest in joining the British Army where he could continue his boxing, but, a 3 year contract playing football and representing Scotland all over the world for Dundee United was too much to turn down.
David made a full recovery from his leg injuries, playing for Dundee United was no longer an option so he had one fight as a senior amateur boxer then turned professional.
Scotland is such a small nation but has produced some fine boxers over the years. Billy Nelson is like Scotland’s answer to Freddie Roach, “I was 14st and out of shape, a lot of people would have turned me away but Billy took me onboard and is moulding me as a boxer, I put a lot down to Billy”. This 12 week training camp is almost over, he trains twice a day, runs 50 mile a week with Ricky Burns, that’s exactly the equivalent of running from Lands End to John O Groats in a straight line, Just a wee bit further and they would be in Paris. David’s manager Alex Morrison, his trainer Billy Nelson, Sparring partners such as Ricky Burns, Stevie Simmons, John Thain to name but a few, Stevie McGill, amateur coach Jim Robertson, everyone in the camp is like family to him. David’s dad John Brophy, idolises his son, and I’m sure his papa would feel the same way.
David likes to chill out with mates at home, go to the pictures; his mates are very understanding about what he wants to do with his life. His favourite film is Old School, starring Will Ferrell, “It’s a comedy, and it’s hilarious”. He loves the Rocky Films, his favourite is the crème de la crème Rocky IV, “Rocky fights Ivan Drago, and trains in the snow”.
Challenging for the British Title in 2-3 years time is a realistic ambition David has set himself, taking baby steps thereafter is the plan. Ricky Burns has worked in David’s corner for his last 4 fights, last one to date being at the Emirates Arena in Glasgow, Ricky was top of the bill that night against Jose Gonzalez. This certainly raised my eyebrows, but it’s a true testament to how strong a friendship they have.
Sponsorship means the world to professional boxers; it dramatically helps them with expenses incurred and allows them to focus all their attention on making their dreams come true. Hartys Restaurants in Airdrie and Coatbridge, DMG Roofing and PFS Building sponsor David and he thanks them from the bottom of his heart, “I couldn’t do it without them”.
David’s last opponent Gary Boulden – who once took unbeaten British and Commonwealth Champion Billie Joe Saunders the distance over 10 rounds – was his hardest fight to date. His next opponent on Saturday night is Jason Ball, who has notably went the distance with unbeaten boxers such as Chris Eubank Jr and Chingford’s rising star Tom Baker.
His mum and dad split up 2 years ago, his dad took it real bad “My dad has always been there for me, and I’ll always been there for him, we are inseparable”. David’s dad goes to all his fights and they spend lots of time together.
Lest we forget David’s papa Jake Brophy, who nurtured his grandson on the brilliance of the Great Joe Louis, while young David was admiring the work of Iron Mike Tyson. His papa got to see his first amateur fight, that’s something David will never forget, for on every pair of boxing shorts he wears his papa’s name embroidered onto his shorts, he doesn’t care if anyone sees it; he takes his grandfather into battle again every time he steps into the boxing ring.
David says he can still feel the screws and plates that run from his ankle to his knee, he’s only 23. What a remarkable, inspirational and selfless individual he is. He had sold 350 tickets for the show on Saturday night, if you would like to see this man in action you can contact him personally or by way of Facebook.
He would like to pay gratitude to his fans and everyone who supports Team Brophy. Buchanan Boxing would like to extend their best wishes to him on Saturday night.
David Brophy has defied the odds; he truly is a Miracle Man.
By Raymond Fraser Buchanan
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