Pauls and Thompson winner to get title shot – Warren
The winner of Brad Pauls and Shakiel Thompson's fight in January will fight for a title, says promoter Frank Warren.
The middleweights will meet on the undercard of Moses Itauma's bout against Jermaine Franklin in Manchester on 26 January.
Cornwall's Pauls is hoping to kick-start his career after losing his British title last year, with Sheffield's undefeated Thompson standing in his way.
"This is going to be a good, good fight," Warren said, in announcing the Magnificent Seven show.
"It's a well-matched fight for both of them – he's on his journey undefeated, Shakiel, Brad needs to get himself back. He said he wants to get back and fight for the title.
"The winner of this will get a big title shot, I'll guarantee it."
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Pauls, 32, has fought once since losing his British middleweight title to Denzel Bentley last December, beating Panamanian journeyman Omir Rodriguez in Torquay in May.
He will hope to recreate the form that saw him beat Nathan Heaney to win his Lonsdale belt in July 2024, having drawn with the Stoke fighter four months earlier.
"I have my own ambition, I'd love to get my British title back and winning a fight like this opens all sorts of doors," Pauls said.
"I don't think loads of people are rushing to fight Shakiel, but it doesn't bother me.
"I'd fight absolutely anyone, especially with so much to gain.
"I think the styles will gel well. I haven't seen too much of Shakiel, but I know obviously he's a decent fighter, and for me, you'll just get the same as always, 100% everything I've got."
Thompson, 28, has won all 15 of his professional fights, 11 by knockout.
He has held the IBF European and WBO Global middleweight titles and has his sights set on becoming the first man to stop Pauls.
"I've been putting a lot of hard work in behind the scenes and now it's time to let everyone see what it is I can do on the big stage," Thompson said.
"It's an honour to be fighting Brad Pauls, a former British champion, but on January 24th you're going to see something spectacular.
"I'm just better than him in every single department. I'm a better boxer. I'm better on the inside, outside. I just believe everything I do is better than what Brad Pauls does.
"He's got experience, but that isn't going to matter on the night."
