Pauls moved to the city as an 18 year old after receiving a high-performance athlete scholarship offer from Solent University.
Of the five universities he applied to, Solent was the only one to offer him a place, so the Cornwall-native jumped at the opportunity.
“The only reason I was here was for the boxing, to be honest. I understood that boxing was better in the cities, so I chased the dream up here,” Pauls recalled.
Brad Pauls at the opening training session at Westquay shopping centre. (Image: Queensberry/Leigh Dawney)
“The facilities at Solent were incredible, and the decision paid off almost instantly.
“Within my first two seasons, I’d had 12 straight wins, half by knockout, and won a national title and reached the semi-final of the ABAs.
“I went straight into a gym with Lewie Edmondson, and I was sparring some of the best lads in the country. It really brought that extra level out of me.
“Southampton is where things got put together for me and set me up for the next stage of my career. As a Cornish lad, I found living here so interesting.”
Pauls returns to Southampton for the first time as a professional on the same card as Edmondson, who faces Lyndon Arthur in the co-main event at St Mary’s tonight.
The 33 year old will be defending his IBF international middleweight title for the first time against Bradley Goldsmith.
Brad Pauls defends his IBF international middleweight title against Bradley Goldsmith at St Mary’s. (Image: Queensberry/Leigh Dawney)
He will be supported by many of the same friends and family who would make the 200-mile journey from Newquay when he was fighting at venues like Oceana nightclub.
Thursday’s press conference was a chance for Pauls to catch up with Edmondson, with whom he shared many an Oceana card as an amateur.
One of those was a Gold Ring ABC show against top fighters from the Royal Navy. Pauls still remembers that evening like it was yesterday.
“That Oceana show was one of the last times I fought here. Lewie was last on, and I was on just before him. I remember walking back, and he was waiting to get on,” Pauls added.
“There were over 1,000 people there in Oceana, and I’d brought about 70 of them up from Newquay. I still remember it now.
“Lewie won on points, and I picked up the stoppage win in the third round. They are really fond memories.
“I boxed a lot of times in Southampton on the gym shows, and I boxed all around this area. I always knew there was a lot of talent around here.
“You had someone like Lew, who was already a national champion. Ryan Garner, too. I was boxing every other week.
“You have to chase the opportunities, and Southampton was that place for me.”