BRAD PAULS will be backed by an army of nearly 200 Torquay fans as he bids to change his life in one fight.
Pauls faces Shakiel Thompson in an IBF middleweight world title eliminator – live on DAZN.
Brad Pauls will be backed by an army of nearly 200 Torquay fans when he bids to change his lifeCredit: Queensberry/Leigh Dawney
The bout was initially set for January 24 but was rescheduled after Moses Itauma
But Pauls does not mind the three month delay – as he can change his life forever with victory over Thompson.
He told SunSport: “I’m just happy to have the fight happen.
“Two training camps for one fight and massive opportunity, can change my life in one night and this is that sort of fight, so I’m ready to go.”
The Newquay Bomb has the Torquay faithful travelling nearly 400 miles to be in his corner for the fight of his life.
He said: “I was just doing my tickets yesterday and I’ve done, it’s gotta be 180, 190!
“That’s a long way to come from Newquay to come support me, so it’s gonna be noisy, very well supported.
“They’ll get their money’s worth, everything they’ve got man, tear up.”
The Home of Boxing in 2026
There's a massive year of boxing ahead!
It’s shaping up to be a blockbuster year of action inside the boxing ring.
will make his return in April against Arslanbek Makhmudov while Oleksandr Usyk takes on the king of kickboxing Rico Verhoeven.
features for the first time since making the switch to Zuffa Boxing and Fabio Wardley will defend his newly won heavyweight crown.
Canelo Alvarez will be hoping to return after his defeat to Terence Crawford and heavyweight king Oleksandr Usyk will also defend his straps.
Derek Chisora will fight for the 50th and (perhaps) final time against Deontay Wilder while Daniel Dubois is also on the comeback trail.
A whole bunch of British stars could also take a leap into superstardom, with the likes of , Hamzah Sheeraz and Adam Azim ready to join the very top of the sport.
March
- Sat 28 – Moses Itauma vs Jermaine Franklin – DAZN
- Sat 28 – Sebastian Fundora vs Keith Thurman – Amazon Prime PPV
April
- Sat 4 – Deontay Wilder vs Derek Chisora – DAZN PPV
- Sun 5 – Caroline Dubois vs Terri Harper – Sky Sports
- Sat 11 – Tyson Fury vs Arslanbek Makhmudov – Netflix
- Sat 11 – Conor Benn vs Regis Prograis – Netflix
- Sat 18 – Callum Smith vs David Morrell – DAZN
- Sat 18 – Manny Pacquiao vs Ruslan Provodnikov
- Sat 25 – Lawrence Okolie vs Tony Yoka – DAZN
May
- Sat 2 – Naoya Inoue vs Junto Nakatani – Undisputed super-bantamweight title – TBC
- Sat 2 – Zurdo Ramirez vs David Benavidez – WBA & WBO Cruiserweight titles – Prime Video
- Sat 9 – Fabio Wardley vs Daniel Dubois – WBO title – DAZN
- Sat 23 – Oleksandr Usyk vs Rico Verhoeven – WBC title – DAZN
June
- Sat 6 – Dalton Smith vs Alberto Puello – WBC super lightweight title – DAZN
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Moses Itauma vs Jermaine Franklin - all the info
A rising star returns to the ring!
Moses Itauma and Jermaine Franklin will finally get their hands on each other at the top of a blockbuster bill in Manchester THIS SATURDAY!
The fight was initially planned for January 24 before Itauma was forced to withdraw due to an injury
But the rising star is now back and will be hoping to take a step closer to a world title shot against a man who has won his last three consecutive fights.
Here’s everything you need to know about the upcoming mouthwatering fight…
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The winner at the Co-op Live looks set to land themselves a shot at the vacant IBF world title –
for testing positive for Meldonium – known to boost oxygen intake – last year.
So the IBF’s top two ranked contenders will be called to contest for the gold.
Pauls said: “You gotta be realistic and you understand what’s at stake.
“And if I win, I’ll be third in the world and I’ll fight No2 for the vacant world title, which is pretty much guaranteed.
“And I couldn’t be more motivated, so it’s an extra bit of, something to gain at the end.
“Shakiel’s got the IBF which has given him the No3 in the world. And when I take that belt and the other belt, it puts me right in that position and changes my life.”
Pauls began boxing aged 10 – with his dream of fighting for a world title now within touching distance.
He said: “As time’s gone on and the work I’ve put in, it makes sense.
“For all the sacrifices and everything that I’ve done for it, it’s starting to add up bit by bit.
“I’ve worked my way up, area champion, English champion, British champion, and the next set of belts is the world titles.
“And that’s what I want to get.”
Shakiel Thompson facing off with PaulsCredit: Queensberry/Leigh Dawney
Eze Chidiebere Paul
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