Brad Pauls is already thinking about bigger middleweight fights, including a possible Matchroom vs. Queensberry 5x5 slot and a rematch with Denzel Bentley, but first he has to beat Bradley Goldsmith on Saturday at St Mary’s Stadium in Southampton.
Pauls is coming off a major upset win over Shakiel Thompson, stopping the previously unbeaten fighter in nine rounds in March. That victory pushed him into a much stronger position and disrupted several plans around the division.
“Yeah, spoiled loads of plans,” Pauls said. “There was meant to be other big fights happening, but I’ve spoiled those as well.”
The win has left Pauls highly ranked and eyeing a return fight with Bentley, who defeated him on points 18 months ago and now holds the WBO interim title. The two have since become friendly and even sparred together, but Pauls believes the rematch is likely if both keep winning.
Pauls is also open to representing Queensberry if another promoter-versus-promoter event is made against Matchroom. He has already sparred George Liddard and Jimmy Sains and says a fight with Liddard, the British and Commonwealth champion, would be especially exciting.
Still, Goldsmith is the immediate threat. Pauls says he has not watched his opponent, leaving the study to his coach, but he knows this is not a simple assignment. “It’s a very difficult fight,” Pauls said. “But they’re all difficult at this level and it’s the right sort of chance to take to get me to the next stage.”
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