Brad Pauls wants to create history against Nathan Heaney in the second match of the British title

BRAD PAULS hails his defeat to Tyler Denny last year as the best thing that could have happened in his career.

Their 10-round fight at Wembley Arena for the English middleweight title was competitive, but Denny did not look in any real danger of losing the second defense of his belt. Scorecards of 98-93, 97-93 (twice) were a fair reflection of the night and since then Denny has gone from strength to strength. Four weeks ago, he got his biggest win when he stopped Felix Cash to win the European title at 160lbs.

A rejuvenated Pauls will look to regain 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 fight – at the same venue – which ended in splits. .

“You have to give it to him [Denny] honor, you did it hard,” said Pauls Debate News a few days ago.

“He fought hard in a small hall [circuit] and worked his way up. Look what happened to him, European champion and defeating big names. I think that was the best thing that ever happened to me fighting Denny and taking that loss. If I hadn't done that, I wouldn't have changed everything in the camp. I wouldn't get a nutritionist, a mindset coach and really look into things. It was hard to see at the time, but a great blessing in disguise. You can see the improvement without a doubt. Everything has a reason. “

Most of today's fights are surrounded by a team of people tasked with developing the athlete and getting them to a level of competition, which is increasingly difficult to achieve on your own.

Pauls cites coach Terry Stewart as one example of his team, who has made a difference in his preparations. They hope this will see Pauls walk out of the Resorts World Arena as the new British middleweight champion.

Explaining the benefits of having Stewart on board, Pauls said: “You can always say you're confident as a warrior, but you can always be more confident.

“There are ways to get the most out of your training camp, make it work. Adding what is useful, removing what is not. How your mind is used at work and how best to do it.

“I've been working with a mental health coach since 2019, but I've doubled down on whatever percentage I can take. Meditation, ice baths, laying down are the best ways to get the most out of my sleep. Every cent I take you help me with. That's what it is at the top, it's a nice line and it has nice edges at the top so any percentage is needed.”

Pauls was 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 champion 115-114, Victor Loughlin's card favored Pauls 116-113 and Kevin Parker saw it 114-114.

Just before talking to BN, Pauls hit the mark in his final fast race before settling in for fight week, where he and Heaney will go head-to-head again.

“I just entered my youth now,” said the 31-year-old woman.

“I feel that the knowledge I gained from this last fight will help me a lot in the next fight. My first 12 rounder, I'm still out of the small hall [shows] getting used to big plans, I'm even more used to it now. I am very experienced and I know what to do. I will go into this fight knowing things that I didn't know last time, which adds a few percent and more confidence.”

Pauls admits he is “his own worst critic” when he reflects on the first fight with Heaney and his performance.

“I think I started slow. I think I gave a lot of easy, easy shots in the first four or five rounds that I shouldn't have hit. But I think I showed strength later in the fight and I came strong, I showed that I can go deep.

“So in order to win on Saturday, I think I have to do the same but a little bit. Everything is the same, just a few percent better in each aspect.”

Pauls has not forgotten his time fighting in a small hall where he was selling tickets and losing money… “You wonder why you do that.”

But he kept his hopes of entering the position he now finds himself in. Quitting wasn't an option when he left it would leave regrets and a lot of that-if on his mind.

The Newquay fighter, however, considers winning the British title to be much bigger than a career best and having the coveted Lonsdale belt on his shoulder. Victory also represents history.

“Since then there has never been a British Cornish champion [Len Harvey in] 1939 and I think it would be wonderful for my county to have a British champion from the little old seaside town of Newquay. It was everything I wanted, the trifecta in boxing, Local, English, British. That's my goal and that's my world title. I will give everything I have and do whatever it takes to win.”