‘Judged on one night’ – the cost of defeat in boxing

Bradley Rea is the most well-known boxer to understand the harsh reality of a career a loss can have.

The Lancashire fighter lost to Tyler Denny for the English middleweight title in a close fight in November 2022.

Rea hasn’t competed on a televised card in two and a half years, despite Denny winning the European championship and facing Hamzah Sheeraz at Wembley Stadium.

Rea, 27, will headline in Hull on June 28th as Shakan Pitters fights for the vacant European light-heavyweight title, which will be broadcast live on DAZN.

Rea did not believe he would have to wait this long for another chance because it took 31 months for the broadcast audience to watch the small-hall events.

Rea, however, claims that he regrets taking the chance that ultimately caused him to leave the sport of boxing.

He tells BBC Sport, “Not for a second did I think about not participating in the Denny fight.”

Since I turned professional, I’ve been playing against the best of my potential foes in the biggest fights.

“I was aware that this fight was dangerous, and I was aware that it would turn the tables if I didn’t play my game.”

“People have bad days all the time, and I didn’t show up for one night.” The average person would not want to have their keys stolen or to step in a puddle.

Rea had won the previous 14 by stoppage, but the Denny fight was her 15th in the professional game.

Rea had his first belt opportunity when he was 24 years old, and he was promised a comeback fight, but he believes promoters forced him to step down.

Six months quickly turned into two and a half years, which is how it was done. Rea says, “To stay engaged, I had to fight on smaller circuits,” “Rea says.

I’d want to fight on my shows if I were a promoter, right? I feel like I deliver in my most recent fight against Jez Smith.

“I couldn’t quite understand why it was difficult at the time.

People would always ask when I would next be in a big fight, but I had to explain that it was beyond my control.

Rea claims that his example is perfect for illustrating why some fighters don’t take on more dangerous foes.

He claims that the sport would be a better place if there were many more participants who shared my mentality.

Rea’s bad luck continues to appear in 2025.

In fight week, a fight that had been scheduled for Artur Beterbiev vs. Dmitry Bivol 2 was postponed.

He intervened in April with three days’ notice to face Daniel Blenda Dos Santos only to have the European light-heavyweight champion withdraw.

Rea was given the order to fight Pitters instead of Dos Santos for the title after losing his 175-pound belt.

Rea claims to be “where I’m supposed to be” despite all this drama.

I’ve probably been the happiest I’ve been in general life, he says, despite how difficult my career has been this year.

Although it’s been a long, bumpy road, I believe I’ll eventually get there.

Rea claims that if he can win the “prestigious “European title,” it will serve as his ” bargaining chip” for a return to big fights.

Rea said, “It’s more about being back on that big stage and proving myself to the people who have forgotten and written me off.”