There was a certain satisfaction Brad Pauls felt upsetting the applecart when he defeated Shakiel Thompson.

Many felt the previously unbeaten Thompson would have too much for the more experienced 33-year-old Pauls, but Thompson was overwhelmed in nine rounds and experience proved the difference.

While his March 28 triumph didn’t top winning the British title in 2024, it was a great night for Pauls.

“It was how satisfied I was more from the Shakiel fight,” Pauls told BoxingScene. “Because he was a bit arrogant and saying he’s going to do this and do that. And so I was the underdog and it made it a bit sweeter. Someone said to me before, ‘Oh, when Shakiel Thompson wins,’ saying I was going to lose to my face. It just made it a little bit more satisfying when I beat him. [Winning the] British title was the best one, but it was really satisfying, that fight.”

Thompson fell to 15-1 (11 KOs), having lost for the first time, and Pauls said his experience made the difference.

“I think so,” he agreed. “I sort of get better as the fight goes on. And yeah, it just took me a little bit longer [to get to him]. He’s a really good fighter, really difficult to look good against. He’s hard to catch clean, but I suppose I’m not the young one anymore. I’m like a veteran, so I’ve got the experience on him and sort of played it to my advantage.”

Pauls has twice gone 12 rounds – a draw and a 12th-round TKO win – with Nathan Heaney. He’s also gone 12 rounds in defeat with Denzel Bentley and 10 with former European champion Tyler Denny.

“That’s it, experience was important,” said Pauls of his fight with Thompson in the Co-op Live Arena. “Even walking out for that fight, even though it was a massive, massive crowd and venue and stuff like that, I just felt so much more comfortable than I have done in previous fights. It just feels a little bit more familiar. So I feel you get the best performances out of someone when they’re not that much under pressure and they’re a bit more comfortable with it.”

Pauls improved to 21-2-1 (12 KOs), and the Cornishman now hopes to land a date on the Queensberry stadium show at St Mary’s, home of Southampton Football Club, on the June 20 bill topped by 19-0 junior lightweight Ryan Garner against Italy’s Michael Magnesi for the WBC’s interim title. Magnesi is 26-2.

A few of Pauls’ friends had money on him pulling off the upset at 4:1 last month, and the victory led to him formalising his arrangement with Queensberry – which gives him another three fights with the promotional powerhouse.

“Definitely not back to the small halls,” he said, “and then straight away we’ve got stuff lined up already. Options are good. They’re good options.”

It seems unlikely that Pauls will face Matchroom’s British middleweight champion George Liddard given the world rankings Pauls now has. He’s No. 7 with the WBO and No. 12 with the IBF. 

“It’s looking like I’ll defend my belt and go for like another similar belt,” said Pauls. “But it’s pretty much locked in, I think.”

Queensberry has plenty of talent at the weight, including Sam Gilley, who defeated Aston Brown last weekend, and Heaney, whom Pauls would no doubt fancy a trilogy fight with and who is coming off a loss.
And while Liddard might not be in his plans, Pauls is not running from the Essex man.

“Liddard’s a great talent,” Pauls admitted. “The middleweight division is stacked. It’s absolutely stacked. I think for me, there’s probably a different sort of route. I’d happily fight anyone. Obviously, seeing I win my next fight, the fight after should be for the IBF [which is vacant]. So I’m guessing it’ll be the winner of the Italian [Etinosa Oliha] versus the Irish lad, [Aaron] McKenna. So it doesn’t really fall into their plans. But if it did and he was their opponent to the world title, then 100 per cent.”

Oliha is the IBF’s No. 2, McKenna is No. 3, and Liddard is No. 8. The No. 1 spot is vacant.