ENE-PURCELL AND BRACKIN FIGHT FOR HONOUR AND GLORY
PhilBoxing.com
Wed, 26 Feb 2020
SINCE 2017 THE MOST SIGNIFICANT NIGHT OF BOXING ALWAYS FALLS IN MARCH. It's the annual show in honour of Brayd Smith, it's the night every Smithy's TGW Gym fighter wants to be centre ring. It's an opportunity to honour a friend and an opportunity to cover yourself in glory.
In 2020, Mach 14 at Rumours International two men will take centre stage with the biggest opportunities of their career. Herman Ene-Purcell fights for a World Youth title and Chris Brackin for the ANBF Australasian super lightweight title.
Heavyweight Herman Ene-Purcell has a long association with Brayd Smith which began when he walked through the doors of Smithy's TGW Gym in 2013. Brayd was one of the first people to hold pads for the footy player who turned to boxing. Brayd was the referee when Ene-Purcell stepped into the ring for the first time as part of a footy tag team fight.
"Brayd was one of the first people who believed in me," Ene-Purcell said.
"He believed in me before I believed in me, I've never forgotten that.
"He was a great friend and a role model for me.
"He walked to the ring with me for my second career fight against Matt Steel and he was in my corner when I fought Paul Gallen for the first time in my third career bout in Sydney.
"He was a great human being who showed us all how life should be lived, he was a wonderful ambassador for our sport and I was lucky enough to call him a friend.
"To fight for a World Youth title on a night in honour of Brayd means so much to me.
"Brayd was a former WBC World Youth Champ and a WBF Asia Pacific Champ so if I could become a WBF World Champion on this night would be something really special to me."
Similar to Herman Ene-Purcell, Chris Brackin has a long association with Brayd Smith.
Brackin shares the same birthday as Brayd and grew up in the gym as an an amateur idolising Brayd.
Brayd Smith was always one to assist Brackin both in the gym and travelling to a number of his amateur fights.
"As an amateur growing up Brayd Smith was all I ever wanted to be," Brackin said.
"He was an amazingly talented fighter but what he taught me was work ethic, no one worked harder than Brayd.
"He was also a great example of how you should portray yourself, he was so well spoken, so well mannered, never in trouble and just the perfect role model for any young person to aspire to be like.
"The time he took to help me is something I'll always remember, nothing was ever too much for Brayd.
"Great memories and he's sorely missed by us all.
"To fight the biggest fight of my career on his night is the ultimate to me.
"There is no bigger honour.
"I understand this is the biggest challenge of my career but i'll do everything I can to have my hand raised on March 14."
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
DAZN and Top Rank announce a landmark multi-year media rights deal bringing elite events and a storied archive to DAZN users worldwide
Thu, 19 Mar 2026Sampson Boxing Signs Top Junior Lightweight Contender Charly Suarez to a Promotional Contract
Thu, 19 Mar 2026THE PAST WEEK IN ACTION 17 MARCH 2026: Collazo Stops Haro; Fundora KO Ruiz; Barboza Outpoints Sims; Cacace UD Dickens
By Eric Armit, Wed, 18 Mar 2026Tapales Near Peak Form Ahead of April 3 Tokyo Showdown with Oguni
Wed, 18 Mar 2026MILLER AND PERO CLASH IN HEAVYWEIGHT SHOWDOWN IN LAS VEGAS ON APRIL 25
Wed, 18 Mar 2026Middleweight Championship Battle Between (C) Khamzat Chimaev and (#3) Sean Strickland Headlines UFC® 328 at Prudential Center Live on Paramount+
Wed, 18 Mar 2026Sampson Lewkowicz & TM Boxing Sign Undefeated Mexican Prospect José Ángel Guerrero to Co-Promotional Deal
Wed, 18 Mar 202612-Time World Champion & Hall of Famer James Toney Confirmed for Ninth Annual Box Fan Expo, During Cinco De Mayo Weekend, Saturday May 2, in Las Vegas
Wed, 18 Mar 2026Five stitches for Donaire’s cut
By Joaquin Henson, Tue, 17 Mar 2026Roberto Gomez Training Camp Notes
Tue, 17 Mar 2026Esneth Domingo Trains at the Wildcard Gym in Los Angeles Ahead of His US Debut
Tue, 17 Mar 2026Tatay Digong Birthday Run on March 28
By Lito delos Reyes, Tue, 17 Mar 202612-0 prospect Marco Romero to headline This Friday in Independence, Missouri
Tue, 17 Mar 2026700 athletes on March 21-22 at UM
By Lito delos Reyes, Tue, 17 Mar 2026United States Earns Four Gold Medals on Final Day of 2026 World Boxing Futures Cup
Mon, 16 Mar 2026