Trainer tips Brad to be a boxing legend

Brad Coley and James Thomas...in action next Friday

TRAINER James Thomas’ belief in his boxer Brad Coley is both admirable and, in interview, near astonishing.

He is sure those who watch the flyweight in action at the Holiday Inn, Birmingham Airport, next Friday, September 13, will witness a future world champion. And not just a world champ in waiting – Brad will become the first British boxer to attain true pound-for-pound greatness.

That is one very bold prediction.

But Thomas has put his money where his mouth is. He gave up a well-paid bricklayer’s job to work with Brad, a partnership that stretches back 10 years.

“I believe this kid can go all the way,” Thomas said. “I want him to be a unified champion, I want a ‘pound-for-pound best’ out of him and I think he has the skill to become that. No British fighter has achieved that, Joe Calzaghe came close.

A young Coley with Thomas at Second City gym

“The more rounds he does, the better he gets. We have a clear plan and have travelled all over the country to spar the best in the country to gain experience of the different styles needed.”

To date, Brad, from Erdington, has done everything asked of him – and looked very good doing it.

The 23-year-old hasn’t lost a round of his four contests to date, despite facing much heavier opposition. The lack of UK flyweights has meant he’s had to tussle with men as big as super-bantam.

And in an age when many boxers go through agonies to squeeze into an unnatural weight class, Coley walks around at close to the 8st limit.

Next week he’ll take part in his first six rounder, with Lithuanian bantam Marius Vysniauskas in the opposite corner.

There’s a strong bond between Thomas and his boxer. “Nothing means more to me than this kid here,” he said. “Talk is cheap, time will tell. We want the opportunities, we want to fight the best, he wants to show what he’s made of.

“I’m not a foolish man, I wouldn’t have given up a good job if I didn’t think Brad was capable of achieving something special. My boxing dream didn’t take off, but I have studied boxing for 20 years and used that knowledge to develop Brad so he can adapt to any style.

“We are working on all aspects, on creating the situations, becoming the matador not the bull. Turning one round into 12 rounds.”

Despite the predictions of world domination, Brad, who boxed for the Second City club, wasn’t an all-conquering amateur. He reached two national finals at junior level and collected a Hull Box Cup gold medal. He took a five year break from the sport.

Back then, he lacked application, said Thomas. Since beginning his pro journey in a converted garage, Brad has realised the graft needed to reach the top and knuckled down.

He shares his trainer’s confidence.

“I’d fight for a title tomorrow, this weekend,” Brad said. “And not just Midlands, I’d fight for the English. I have been sparring the best lads around the country, I’ve been boxing lads three weights heavier than me.

“On fight night I’m not anxious, there aren’t nerves. On fight night, the best of me comes out, it gives me that sharpness.

“Vysniauskas is short and stocky. The power is there and, with the longer distance, I think you’ll see it on Friday night.”