Australia's Dana Coolwell takes on the unbeaten star Bruce "Shu Shu" Carrington on the Mike Tyson-Jake Paul undercard tomorrow.
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9.30am Australia 🇦🇺 (8.30 Queensland)
Check out the great write up by the Glasshouse Country and Maleney News :
DEADLY SET FOR LONE STAR STATUS
AFTER all the blood, sweat and tears in the most intense training camp Dana ‘Deadly’ Coolwell has ever experienced, there’s just one thing left to do.
And that’s defeat up and-coming American featherweight, Bruce ‘Shu Shu’ Carrington, on the undercard of the blockbuster Mike Tyson vs Jake Paul main event. Coolwell is expected to walk into the middle of the 80,000 seat AT&T Stadium in Arlington Texas from 8:30am-11am on Saturday, November 16.
The eight-round battle will also be broadcast on Netflix, with estimated viewers upwards of 25 million.
Coming after his last fight – in front of a sellout audience of 500 at the Caloundra RSL earlier this year- Coolwell knows what’s at stake.
“Every young kid playing sports dreams of competing on the biggest stage and I’m absolutely thrilled that this moment has arrived for me,” he said.
Win against Shu Shu and Deadly will have the world at his feet and a world title within his grasp. Lose and it’s a tough road back but if adversity was going to stop him, it would surely have done so by now.
The 25-year-old has overcome significant challenges, including witnessing domestic violence, losing his father at a young age, and experimenting with drugs and alcohol by the age of 12. But at the age of 14 Dana stepped into the Hinterland Boxing Club, where he met trainer and owner Steve Pitt, who would become his long-time coach and friend.
“I’ve been with Steve for 11 years now, and I originally went there for a bit of fitness because I was playing rugby league for the Beerwah Bulldogs,” he said. “But as I started sparring and enjoyed the sport more, I eventually had my first amateur fight after the footy season and I’ve never looked back.”
Dana quickly realised boxing was his calling. “Once I started boxing, I knew I wanted to go professional and that I wanted to win a world title,” he said. “I thought I had enough of the amateurs, so I decided to turn elite when I was 20.”
This marked a turning point in his life, helping Dana stay on the right path. Now competing internationally, his dream of winning a world title by next year is becoming more and more a reality. “Steve has helped me every step of the way,” he said.
“We’ve got a really good relationship, and he helps me not just in the ring but outside of boxing too. We make a great team.” Dana and his coach, Steve, flew to Los Angeles a month before the fight for an intense three-week training camp at Churchill Matchroom Boxing Gym.
“It’s been a really hard one to train for but it is exactly what I needed— coming to America early, getting away from family, and just getting in that fight camp mindset, taking it to another level,” Dana said.
“We did a lot of high-level sparring, which is what I needed to get used to that American style because they fight slightly differently over there. “We have also been working on sharpening up our pad work, fitness sprints, and just staying on track in training and acclimatising to the environment and time difference.”
Dana added that sparring with American boxers similar to Carrington has been invaluable, as they bring a specific style he lacked experience in boxing against. “It’s the typical Mayweather style, like with the shoulder roll, a bit more side-on, and they use their jab more and are a bit more patient, but we have had many different looks at the camp as well,” he said.
“I wouldn’t say it has been harder sparring with American boxers, because there’s a lot of good Australian boxers too, but it’s just the style I need to work on and train against.” Dana said he feels stronger and more prepared than ever, comparing his readiness to his IBO Intercontinental title fi ght at the Caloundra RSL on March 24, where he won. “I’m feeling really good, obviously all the hard work has paid off ,” he said.
“My fitness is right up there, and now I just have to do the last part, which I don’t like, which is making weight. “Once we get to Texas, I’ll be in a bit of a rest and recovery period. “There won’t be much intensive training—just focusing on the weigh-in where I’ll meet Bruce for the first time.” Dana is confident that he will win his bout against Bruce Carrington.
“What sets me apart is the will to want it and everything I’ve put into this fight camp,” he said. “I’m not underestimating him like I believe he’s underestimating me.” Dana flew out of LA on Sunday night, arriving in Arlington, Texas, just days before his life-changing bout. While training was his priority, Dana also took time to enjoy some iconic sights in Los Angeles. “We’ve gone to Venice Beach, Hollywood Boulevard, and a few restaurants around LA,” he said.
The Beerwah local expressed gratitude for the support he’s received from fans back home in Australia. “Thank you to everyone. I’m just so grateful I can do something I love and that so many people support me—it’s pretty cool,” Dana said. Dana is also a father to one, his son Iluka who was born on August 1, 2022. His coach, Steve Pitt, said he had a different look in his eye since his son was born.
“He’s really focused like I haven’t seen him in a long time… the responsibility of becoming a father has really heightened his maturity,” he said. The preliminary card featuring Shadasia Green vs. Melinda Watpool for the WBO Super Middleweight title, Lucas Bahdi vs. Armando Casamonica, and Bruce “Shu Shu” Carrington vs. Dana Coolwell, will be broadcast live from 8:30am AEST November 16 on Most Valuable Promotions’ YouTube, Netflix Sports YouTube and Tudum. kirra@gcnews.com.au
