That victory propelled him to a shot at British champion Nathan Heaney, and after a close split decision draw, the two men met again six months later, where Paul pulled out a dramatic 12th-round stoppage win, claiming the coveted Lord Lonsdale belt.
“I'm buzzing to be back out," said Pauls. "Everyone knows how much I have been wanting to get a fight in after being out of the ring for six months, and with a TV fight not being available right now, boxing back in the southwest on this show was the next best option.”
His last outing in December saw Pauls lose his British title to Denzel Bentley at Wembley Arena in a closely fought unanimous decision. Despite the defeat, Pauls views it as a learning experience and a performance that has fuelled his motivation.
He said: “What I took from my defeat was it's all about learning from each fight, and I was boxing someone in Denzel, who I think is above British level, and I took that step up, and I have taken a lot of confidence from it. I want to get my British title back; I love that belt, and that's definitely in my sights. I want to get the win Saturday, then I would one hundred per cent take the Kieron Conway fight. Nothing against him, but he has the belt that I want back.”
Finding a suitable opponent for a fighter of Pauls' calibre can be challenging, but he has been matched with Panamanian Omir Rodriguez, a veteran with 42 fights under his belt. Rodriguez is a more dangerous option than many expected, boasting recent wins over Ashlee Eales and having gone the distance with world title challenger Austin Trout.
“With it not being for a title, getting an opponent was going to be tricky; a lot of journeymen wouldn't want to fight me, and I wanted a proper fight, and that's what we have got," Pauls explained. "Rodriguez isn't your typical away fighter; he always has a go, and under the circumstances, getting him over eight rounds, I'm happy with it.”
While a return to the small-hall circuit may be a one-off for Pauls, it offers his dedicated fanbase a chance to see their "Newquay Bomber" up close and closer to home.
“It's a big reason why I chose this show. It was either here or the York Hall, and I've boxed on Errol Johnson's shows before, and it was perfect, and it's a bit of a thank you, really, to my supporters. Getting to Torquay is a much shorter journey, and we will have a good number making the trip. It has been different this time. I've been training all year, making sure I was ready, and I'm fit as a fiddle. I'm ready to get the win and then see what comes next.”
Final remaining tickets are available now, priced at £45 for general admission and £80 for VIP. They can be purchased directly from the
boxers or by emailing
info@bcb-promotions.com.
