In the bustling world of Liverpool’s boxing scene, Brad Strand, a super bantamweight with a heart of steel, is all set to step into the limelight. This Friday at York Hall, a place buzzing with history, Strand is gunning for his first pro title – a headline act on TNT Sports!
Strand, 26, a product of the no-nonsense Everton Red Triangle Gym, trains under the eagle eye of Paul Stevenson. Stevenson, a seasoned coach, runs the gym like a tight ship. It’s here, in a gym that’s more grit than glam, that Strand hones his skills alongside some of the best in the business. Nick Ball, the WBC’s top contender, Andrew Cain, a former WBC International Silver champ, heavyweight Boma Brown, and the McGrail brothers, Peter and Joe, all Olympians, are his training mates. This elite crew has shaped Strand into a fighter ready for the big time.
With a flawless record of 10-0, Strand is not just another fighter. He’s a warrior poised for his biggest test yet—the WBO European title. His opponent? The undefeated Welshman Joshua John. Strand’s journey to this moment hasn’t been a sprint; it’s been a marathon of patience and perseverance. He’s convinced that come Friday, he’ll be adding a shiny new belt to his collection.
Strand, a die-hard Liverpool FC supporter, has been itching for a fight that would test his skills. “I’ve been waiting for this moment,” he says. “I’ve been in the gym, day in and day out, improving, refining my skills. Now, it’s time to step out of the shadows.”
His opponent, Joshua John, hails from Port Talbot and sports an impressive 8-1 record. But Strand, true to his gym’s ethos, isn’t one to dwell on his opponent’s past. “I don’t know much about him,” Strand admits. “But I’ve seen enough to know that he’s in for a tough night. He’s going down, and I’m taking that belt back to our trophy-laden gym.”
Strand isn’t looking to mimic the explosive style of his gym-mates like Ball and Cain. He’s got his own brand of boxing—smooth, calculated, and effective. “I’m bringing everything I’ve been working on to the ring,” he declares. “Our trophy cabinet’s about to get a whole lot fuller.”
So, as Friday night rolls around, keep an eye on Strand. He’s not just fighting for a title; he’s fighting to make a statement, to carve out his own legacy in a gym already brimming with champions.