By Kirra Livingstone
IT is the stuff dreams are made of. Beerwah boxer Dana Coolwell’s last fight was a sellout in front of 500 people at Caloundra RSL.
His next fight will also be a sellout, but this time, it will be on the undercard of the Mike Tyson vs Jake Paul blockbuster in an 80,000- seat stadium.
Then there’s the television audience, which is forecast to break combat sports records, thanks
to a Netflix deal that will broadcast the fight live to its 260 million subscribers. News of ‘Deadly’s’ undercard fight leaked last week, sparking excitement ahead of one of the year’s most anticipated boxing bouts.
On November 15, Tyson will go toe-to-toe with Paul at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. Coolwell, the 16th- ranked featherweight in the world with a 13-2 record, will face a career-defining challenge: genuine world title contender Bruce Carrington, 27, who holds an undefeated 13-0 record. Carrington is ranked 10th in the world, making this match-up a critical moment for both fighters.
Hinterland Boxing Club owner and Dana’s coach, Stephen Pitt summed it up:
“This is massive.”
“I don’t think anyone can put into words just how big this is. Once people see Dana box, they are going to say, ‘Where did this kid come from?’”
Dana said he had long set his sights on a Carrington match-up. “I’ve trained very hard, but my team, including my manager and coach, have also been doing a lot of the heavy lifting to get this fight,” Dana said.
“It’s a life- changing fight and opportunity.
“When I perform well on this world stage, it will open up so many doors for big fights.”
With the stakes so high, Dana knows this is a pivotal moment in his career.
“A lot of hard work has been put into my career, and it’s all starting to pay off now,” he said. Dana is quietly confident he can defeat Carrington, fully aware of the magnitude of the challenge.
“I feel very confident in my abilities against him,” he said. “I’m not underestimating him—he will bemy toughest test to date—but I believe in myself, my team, and the work I’ve done to get my hand raised.” In preparation, Coolwell’s
team will leave for a three- week training camp in Santa Monica this
week, focusing on perfecting their strategy for what is likely the biggest fight of his career. A win in November could catapult Coolwell into the spotlight, putting him on track for a world title fight in 2025. As for the main event, while Dana’s heart is with Tyson, his head says Paul. kirra@gcnews.com.au