THE number of tickets Bradley Goldsmith shifts is, frankly, quite staggering.
On Sunday, the unbeaten Coventry middleweight guns for his first professional title and makes his first appearance on a major stadium card.
At the BP Pulse Live arena, Resorts World, Goldsmith will bid to take Troy Coleman’s Midlands middleweight title.
The 26-year-old has flogged 500 tickets – that’s not a fan base, that’s a sky blue army. That is phenomenal.
It means he will surely generate the most noise on a show topped by Wolverhampton light-heavyweight Ben Whittaker’s mouthwatering return with Liam Cameron.
Promoters Boxxer have discovered – no doubt to their delight – that Goldsmith is box-office dynamite.
“It’s crazy,” Brad, trained in Sheffield by Dominic Ingle, said. “I’m grateful, blessed – all of the above! I’ve sold three today, it’s pretty wild.”
With an unbeaten record stretching 12 fights, eight of them by stoppage, the general consensus is that the legion of Goldsmith supporters will go home happy.
But underestimate Burntwood’s Coleman at your peril. The 29-year-old is seasoned, with 17 bouts under his belt, tough and driven.
He famously uprooted to Thailand to further his career, won a brace of Asian titles, returned home and boxed superbly to outpoint Tom Cowling for the vacant Midlands belt. He did that in Cowling’s backyard.
And having fought in Australia, Thailand and Dubai, Troy won’t be fazed by the wall of sound generated by Goldsmith’s supporters.
Brad, a product of Coventry’s famed Triumph Club, is well aware of what the champ brings to the table. He has trained for his hardest bout.
And in an era of stare-downs and social media slanging matches, the respect displayed by both men is refreshing.
“I don’t want to be a cliché merchant, but everything in camp could not have gone better.”
Goldsmith said. “I have absolutely no complaints. The only thing left to do is deliver in the ring, which I’m very confident I will do.
“There is no reason for either of us to be disrespectful. We sparred each other a few years back and I know a lot of the lads at BCB (Coleman’s promoters) and their team.
Unfortunately for him, he is in my way and has to be dealt with.”
In other words, it’s just business not bad blood.
“I think the fight could steal the night,” Goldsmith added. “I have prepared for my toughest fight. Realistically, he is the first opponent who is really coming to win. He is the champion, he is the one with something on the line.
“Troy has not been taken lightly – definitely. The preparation is done, now I want to get down to the nitty-gritty. A win on Sunday, then onward and upward to bigger things.”
Coleman told me recently: “It’s a hard fight, but that’s the way it’s been throughout my career. I believe I’ve taken harder fights with less preparation, I’m ready to challenge myself. The card is full of 50-50 fights and this is just one more great fight.
“I have my own experiences, I’m on my own journey and believe I can beat him.”
Coleman, battle hardened and also burning for big things, is out to silence 500 voices on Sunday night.
