Brad Rea

Bio

Brad Rea is one of the most quietly accomplished British boxers of the last five years, and the boxing world really should have heard more about him by now. The 29-year-old Manchester-based light-heavyweight is a former European champion, has been in with Joshua Buatsi-level company at sparring, and his technical foundations are as good as anyone's in the British 175lb division.

What sets Rea apart is the box-and-move style. He's not a slugger. He's not going to wow you with one-punch finishes. But the boxing IQ at distance, the footwork off the lead foot, and the punch retention through twelve rounds — all top class. The two losses on his ledger came against fighters who could match the technical work and add power Rea doesn't have at 175.

The May 9 fight against Liam Cameron on the Wardley-Dubois undercard at the Co-op Live in Manchester is the kind of fight Rea is built to win on points if he can't be hurt early. Cameron is the bigger puncher, but Rea has the youth, the legs, and the technical edge. A clean win here puts him back into the British title conversation at light-heavyweight, and arguably back into European-level matchmaking.