Brad Pauls attributes his loss to Tyler Denny last year as the most advantageous event that could have occurred in his professional journey.
Denny’s 10-round battle at Wembley Arena, contending for the English middleweight title, proved to be a competitive affair. However, throughout the fight, it was evident that Denny was never truly at risk of losing his belt during his second defence. The scorecards of 98-93, 97-93 (twice) accurately portrayed the night’s events, and since then, Denny has only improved his skills. Just four weeks ago, he achieved his greatest victory to date by defeating Felix Cash and claiming the European title in the 160lbs category.
Pauls, who has regained his strength, is determined to claim the British middleweight championship once more this Saturday (July 20) at the Resorts World Arena in Birmingham. His opponent, Nathan Heaney, will face him again after their initial clash four months ago at the same location resulted in a tied decision.
“You’ve got to give him [Denny] credit, he’s done it the hard way,” Pauls told Boxing News a few days ago.
“He faced tough challenges in the small hall circuit and persevered. Now, look at what he has achieved – becoming the European champion and defeating renowned opponents. I believe that my fight against Denny and the subsequent loss was the best thing that ever happened to me. If I hadn’t experienced that, I wouldn’t have transformed my training camp. I wouldn’t have sought the help of a nutritionist and a mindset coach, and I wouldn’t have reevaluated my approach. Although it was difficult to accept initially, it turned out to be a tremendous hidden blessing. Undoubtedly, you can witness the remarkable improvements. Everything happens for a reason.”
In today’s era, numerous contemporary fighters are accompanied by a team of individuals assigned with the objective of enhancing the athlete’s skills and enabling them to reach a level of competition that is progressively challenging to attain independently.
One of the members who have greatly contributed to Paul’s preparations is Terry Stewart, his mindset coach. With the support of his team, Paul aims to walk out of the Resorts World Arena as the newly crowned British middleweight champion.
Pauls confidently states, “I possess greater expertise and am well aware of the actions I must take.”
Pauls highlighted the advantages of having Stewart on board, stating, “While you may already possess confidence as a fighter, having Stewart with us can enhance that confidence even further.”
The focus lies in optimizing your training camp to extract higher percentages, improving its efficiency. This involves incorporating beneficial elements and eliminating unnecessary ones. It also entails applying your mindset effectively to the task and determining the most effective approach.
Since 2019, I have been collaborating with a mindset coach. However, I have recently intensified my efforts to improve in every possible aspect. I have incorporated practices like meditation, ice baths, grounding, and optimizing my sleep to attain the highest possible gains. My coach supports me in seizing every opportunity to enhance my performance because at the top level, success is determined by minuscule margins. Hence, every percentage improvement is crucial.
In March, Pauls came agonizingly close to securing the British title from Heaney, falling just one point short. The 12-round fight was divided into two halves, with judge John Latham awarding the champion a score of 115-114. On the other hand, Victor Loughlin’s card showed a preference for Pauls with a score of 116-113, while Kevin Parker saw the match as a draw with a score of 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.
The 31-year-old expressed, “I am currently reaching the peak of my abilities.”
I believe that the knowledge and skills I acquired from my previous fight will greatly benefit me in the upcoming one. Although I have primarily fought in smaller venues, I am gradually adjusting to the larger stage. I am now even more accustomed to it. My experience has grown, and I have a clear understanding of what needs to be done. With this fight, I am equipped with information that I was previously unaware of, which boosts my confidence by a few percentage points.
When Pauls reflected on the first fight against Heaney and his own performance, he openly acknowledged that he is his own harshest critic.
In my opinion, I began the match at a slower pace. I believe I allowed my opponent to land a lot of straightforward shots in the initial four or five rounds, which I should have been able to avoid. However, as the fight progressed, I demonstrated my resilience and displayed my ability to push through difficult moments.
In order to secure a victory on Saturday, I believe I must replicate my previous performance but with a slight enhancement. Maintaining consistency in all aspects, I aim to improve by a few percentage points in each area.
Pauls still vividly remembers his days in the small hall circuit, tirelessly selling tickets and constantly losing money. The question of “why am I doing this?” lingers in his mind.
However, he never let go of his aspirations to achieve the current position he is in. He couldn’t consider giving up, as leaving would have filled his mind with regret and endless thoughts of missed opportunities.
The Newquay fighter sees winning the British title as a much greater accomplishment than any other in his career, including proudly wearing the prestigious Lonsdale belt on his shoulder. This victory holds significant importance as it also signifies making history.
“I find it incredible that my county, Newquay, a small seaside town in Cornwall, hasn’t produced a British boxing champion since 1939, when Len Harvey held the title. It would be truly remarkable for my county to have a British champion once again. My ultimate aspiration has always been to achieve the trifecta in boxing – winning the Area, English, and British titles. That is my goal, and obtaining a world title is my ultimate dream. I am willing to dedicate everything I have and do whatever it takes to emerge victorious.”
