Bradley Rea, who weighed just under 160 lbs for his English middleweight title challenge three years ago, is now preparing to make the 175 lb light-heavyweight limit. The 27-year-old is aiming to capture the vacant European light-heavyweight championship against Shakan Pitters.
This roughly 15-pound increase has been profoundly positive. Rea, holding a record of 20-1 with 10 knockouts, states, “I feel so much better.” For a fighter who previously struggled severely to make the middleweight limit, the added weight has brought a sense of calm and contentment. He is finding joy in boxing again.
“I`m just enjoying what I`m doing so much more,” he explains. “It`s like another weight has been lifted. I`m not tied to intense, lengthy camps focused solely on cutting weight.”
“I`ve been eager for an opportunity,” he adds. “I want to demonstrate how much I`ve improved, how far I`ve come, because I am not the same fighter who faced Tyler Denny two and a half years ago. I simply wanted that chance. Several opportunities have surfaced only to disappear, but this is the moment. This is my time. All the talk is done. I`ve stated my intentions, and now it falls to me to show everyone.”
Boxing often presents opportunities but also snatches them away. In April, Rea received a potential career-defining call – but with only a few days` notice. Lacking a significant title on his record, he was asked to step in for Pitters to face the then-European champion Daniel Blenda Dos Santos at York Hall. Pitters, whose record stands at 20-2 with 7 knockouts, was originally scheduled for the fight, but Dos Santos had been withdrawn from a planned February date after failing a pre-fight brain scan.
Then, adding to the frustration, Pitters pulled out with a muscular injury just before fight week. Rea agreed to the replacement slot but was left disheartened when Dos Santos declined to fight on the morning of the bout. The European Boxing Union, clearly frustrated, subsequently stripped Dos Santos of his belt.
It`s been a trying period, but Rea insists he has learned patience, even if it isn`t an inherent trait.
“I`m quite an impatient person,” he admits with a chuckle. “I`ve realised I`ve been put in a position where I`ve been forced to be quite patient.”
“It`s been challenging at times, but that`s just boxing at the end of the day,” he continues. “It`s happened to fighters before me, and it will happen to those after me. I`ve experienced pull-outs, let-downs, and schedule changes – but I`ve maintained focus on getting the job done.”
Such single-mindedness is essential in this sport. Rea has spent years navigating the unpredictable landscape of the smaller fight circuits. Very little surprises him anymore.
“There`s nothing that can stop me,” he asserts. “It`s just a matter of carrying on with what I`m doing. This time, I was quickly given assurance that I would definitely be fighting. The venue doesn`t matter, the opponent doesn`t matter – the goal is securing that blue belt.”
Sheffield, London, and Galway were all considered as potential locations for the title fight. Saturday night`s bout was initially scheduled for Pearse Stadium in Galway, with local fighter Kieran Molloy on the undercard. However, earlier this month, promoter GBM Sports announced that “due to circumstances beyond our control,” the event would relocate. Saturday`s venue is now Connexin Live in Hull. Rea`s primary concern is simply ensuring the fight goes ahead.
“I`ve boxed in Hull previously, a few years ago,” Rea recalls. “It is what it is. As long as there`s a ring and I`m competing for that title, I`m indifferent. They couldn`t put me on the moon and make me care any less! I`m not bothered. Maybe that will happen eventually – a fight on the moon for Turki [Alalshikh]! But I`ll be there, assuming there are no further pull-outs.”
Back on solid ground, the European light-heavyweight title boasts a notable history of British champions. Don Cockell claimed it four years before his challenge against Rocky Marciano in 1995. Since then, prominent figures such as Chris Finnegan, John Conteh, Clinton Woods, and others have lifted the belt. Rea or Pitters will become the tenth Briton to achieve this feat.
“It`s a very prestigious title,” Rea confirms. “Let`s be honest, many belts in boxing hold little real meaning. But this one does. It carries significant weight. Once I win that title, it`s mine forever; no one can take it away from me.”
Standing 6ft 4 inches tall, Rea has typically held a height advantage – until now. At 6ft 6 inches, Pitters represents the tallest opponent of his career.
“I simply view it as another challenge I must overcome,” he comments. “I`m looking forward to it. It`s something different to handle.”
Finding suitable sparring partners has been difficult, but Rea remains self-assured. His aim is not merely to defeat Pitters, but to stop him.
“That`s what we train and prepare for,” he states. “People might anticipate this fight going the distance, or being decided on points – but it`s up to me to demonstrate my capabilities. Since moving up in weight, I feel stronger and my punches carry more power, which might not be expected. I plan to make that evident early on.”
And after the job is complete? A well-deserved reward awaits. During training camp, Rea adheres to a strict, clean diet. However, he already has a specific post-fight meal in mind.
“I`m able to eat a bit more during camp now, so I don`t feel the need to go completely overboard afterwards,” he explains. “I really like Thai food, and I`m also a big fan of Mexican cuisine. And I`ll definitely treat myself to a large bar of Dairy Milk chocolate, too.”
Rea admits that making middleweight left him feeling exhausted and depleted. These days, he finds significantly greater enjoyment in his food – and in his boxing. With small indulgences permitted during camp and a major prize within reach, his appetite, in every sense, is clearly expanding.
