BRAD PAULS credits his defeat to Tyler Denny last year as the best thing that could have happened to his career.
Their 10-round fight at Wembley Arena for the English middleweight title was a competitive one, but Denny never looked in any real danger of losing in the second defence of his belt. The 98-93, 97-93 (twice) scorecards were a fair reflection on the night and since then Denny has gone from strength to strength. And four weeks ago, he scored his biggest triumph yet when he stopped Felix Cash to win the European title at 160lbs.
A rejuvenated Pauls will once again look to win the British middleweight title on Saturday night (July 20) at the Resorts World Arena in Birmingham against Nathan Heaney, four months on from their first battle – at the same venue – which ended in a split draw.
“You’ve got to give him [Denny] credit, he’s done it the hard way,” Pauls told Boxing News a few days ago.
“He took hard fights on the small hall [circuit] and worked his way up. Look what’s happened with him, European champion and beating massive names. I think that’s the best thing that ever happened to me fighting Denny and taking that loss. If I wouldn’t have done that I wouldn’t have changed everything in the camp. I wouldn’t have got a nutritionist, the mindset coach and really looked at things. It was hard to see it at the time, but a massive blessing in disguise. You can see the improvements without a doubt. Everything for a reason.”
Many modern-day fighters are surrounded by a squad of people tasked with improving the athlete and getting them to a level of competition, which is becoming increasingly difficult to achieve by yourself.
Pauls credits mindset coach Terry Stewart as just one example of his team, who have made a difference to his preparations. They hope this will see Pauls walk out of the Resorts World Arena as the new British middleweight champion.
“I’m more experienced and I know what I need to do,” Pauls says
Explaining the benefits of having Stewart on board, Pauls said: “You can always say you’re confident as a fighter, but you can always be more confident.
“There’s finding ways to squeeze more percentages out of your training camp, make it more efficient. Adding what’s useful, taking away what’s not. How your mind is applied to the task and the best way to do it.
“I’ve worked with a mindset coach since 2019, but I’ve really doubled down with any percentage I can take. Meditation, ice baths, grounding, best ways to get the maximum out of my sleep. Every percentage I can take he helps me with. That’s what it is at the top, it’s a fine line and it’s fine margins at the top so any percentage is necessary.”
Pauls was just one point away from taking the British title from Heaney in March. After a 12 round fight of two halves, judge John Latham scored the bout 115-114 for the champion, Victor Loughlin’s card favoured Pauls 116-113 while Kevin Parker saw it 114-114.
Just prior to chatting to BN, Pauls had hit a personal best in his last fast run before settling down for fight week, where he and Heaney will go face to face once again.
“I’m just coming into my prime now,” the 31-year-old said.
“I feel the experience I’ve gained from that last fight is going to help me massively in the next fight. My first 12 rounder, I’m still coming from small hall [shows] getting used to the big shows, I’m even more used to it now. I’m more experienced and I know what I need to do. I’m going into this fight knowing stuff I didn’t know last time, which adds a few percent and a bit more confidence.”
Pauls admits to being his “own worst critic” when he reflected on the first fight against Heaney and his own performance.
“I think I started slow. I think I gave a lot of easy, simple shots in the first four or five rounds that I shouldn’t have got hit with. But I think I showed my strength later on in the fight and I came on strong, I showed I could dig deep.
“So for me to win on Saturday, I think I need to do the same but a little bit better. Everything the same, just a few percent better on each aspect.”
Pauls hasn’t forgotten his time fighting on the small hall circuit where he was selling tickets and losing money… “You ask yourself why are you doing it.”
But he retained his hopes of getting into the position he finds himself in now. Quitting wasn’t an option when walking away would have left regret and countless what-ifs on his mind.
The Newquay fighter, however, views winning the British title as far bigger than a career-best achievement and having the coveted Lonsdale belt on his shoulder. Victory also represents history.
“There hasn’t been a Cornish British champion since [Len Harvey in] 1939 and I think it would be amazing for my county to have a British champion from a little old seaside town in Newquay. It’s all I’ve ever wanted, the trifecta in boxing, Area, English, British. That’s my goal and that’s my world title. I’ll give everything I’ve got and do whatever it takes to win.”