Brad Pauls

In the car park before kick-off, a young girl spotted Brad Pauls, knew exactly who he was, and wanted a closer look at the IBF International middleweight belt. He did not just stop — he got stuck in, genuinely delighted that she was excited, and had her holding the belt for photos.

That set the tone for the day.

Brad grew up in Newquay, started boxing at Treloggan on an industrial estate with one punching bag and barely a set of pads, and has spent the last 22 years working his way to the top of the sport. Last Saturday night in Manchester he stopped Shakiel Thompson in the ninth round as an underdog who had been down on the scorecards to win the IBF International middleweight belt. His fourth professional title.

In his post-fight interview on Saturday night, he said he was going to celebrate with his family, have some pasties, and bring the belt back to Newquay to share with the community. On Monday, that is exactly what he did. He came to Mount Wise and stayed all day.

He was in the crowd with the belt. He talked to people about his experience, about boxing tactics, about what it takes. He took photos with anyone who asked. He was generous with his time in a way that felt completely natural, because this is his town and these are his people.

"If you don't know someone in Newquay, they're only one mutual friend away."

He talked about what drives him. About losing the British title and coming back. About going into Manchester on Saturday as the underdog, not for the first time in his career and winning.

"I am used to being the underdog, used to having things not going my way. I had adversity before, in the amateurs and the pros, and it is about how you respond to it. I took the loss, but I knew I could do more, and I was still improving. It was just a matter of time before I got back in the position I belong."

Where That Belief Comes From

"I have been boxing for 22 years. I am not good at anything else. I am just doubling down on my strengths because this is all I have got."

He noticed the changes at the club too. The refurbished clubhouse, the pitch, the way the whole operation has grown. "The clubhouse, the pitch, the actual team, the socials — every aspect is super, super fresh," he said. "Everyone should just support their local team." Coming from someone who has spent 22 years building something of his own, it meant something.

He is clear about what makes it possible.

"If it was not for the support I get from Newquay, from Cornwall, from my sponsors who are all Cornish, I would not be able to box. It would not add up mathematically. So I have got to pay respect where it is due."

The young people watching meant something to him. Growing up here, he did not know anyone who had gone and done what he has done. He hopes that has changed now.

"It is nice for them to have something — not someone to look up to, but proof that it can be done. So hopefully I leave some positive impact."

He led the teams out. Newquay won 3-1 in front of 667 people, the highest attendance of the season, on a sunny Easter Monday. Every one of them stayed because they were having too good a time to leave, and Brad was in the middle of it with them the whole day.

Brad left exhausted. He was smiling the whole way out.