Brad Pauls: ‘I was looking for boxing without knowing I was looking for it’

Brad Pauls

When and why you started boxing:
I started when I was 10. My grandad showed me boxing on the TV but I was already into fighting at that point. I was sort of looking for it without knowing I was looking for it, if that makes sense.

Favourite all-time fighter:
When I was growing up, so about 2003, it was the Ricky Hatton era and I absolutely love watching Ricky Hatton. I liked his aggressive style and his humble personality.

Best fight youโ€™ve seen:
Ricky Hatton-Kostya Tszyu.

Personal career highlight:
My fight against Robbie Chapman has to be up there. Stopping someone whoโ€™d never been stopped before. I donโ€™t think heโ€™d ever been knocked down and doing it in front of my home fans was quite a special moment for me.

Toughest opponent:
Good question, Iโ€™d say Robbie.

Best and worst attributes as a boxer:
My best would be my power and my worstโ€ฆ I donโ€™t know what to say. No weaknesses Iโ€™m prepared to reveal!

Training tip:
Hereโ€™s a tip, if youโ€™re going to train after work, whatever you do donโ€™t sit on the couch before you get up to train. Because you will not get up again. Itโ€™s like a black hole.

Favourite meal/restaurant:
I love Mexican food, so fajitas, nachos, burritos.

Best friends in boxing:
Linus Udofia, I see that lad every single day. Terry Steward and Ellis Steward. Thatโ€™s my team.

Other sportsperson you would like to be:
It would be the coolest thing in the world to be Ronnie Oโ€™Sullivan.

Last film/TV show you saw:
Itโ€™s so weird, I watch cooking shows while Iโ€™m making weight. I donโ€™t know why I do it. Thereโ€™s one called The Final Table on Netflix, itโ€™s about high-quality food. I caught myself watching it, I donโ€™t know why.

Who would play you in a film of your life:
I think Channing Tatum could do a good job.

Have you ever been starstruck:
When I was coming up, I sparred George Groves in 2018 and I hadnโ€™t seen too many pros at that point so I was a tiny bit starstruck even though I was sparring him.

Last time you cried:
September, my grandad died, the one who showed me the boxing.

Best advice received:
Just really simple: be kind and work hard. I find if you do those things, everything else figures itself out.

Worst rumour about yourself:
I donโ€™t know, I havenโ€™t heard any.

Something not many people know about you:
I went to university, Southampton Solent, and studied fitness and personal training and had a scholarship for boxing. I won them a gold medal at the university championships. I saw Lawrence Okolie knock someone out at those championships. It was mental, he didnโ€™t get up for about 10 minutes.

Brad Pauls fights on Wasserman’s show on Friday night. Read the preview here

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