How a rugby league fan that idolises Johnathan Thurston ended up on the Mike Tyson vs Jake Paul undercard

Dana Coolwell once aspired to play NRL and took up boxing for extra fitness, now the Queenslander, who grew up idolizing Johnathan Thurston, will take up boxing worldwide on the Mike Tyson vs. Undercard undercard. Jake Paul.

Dana Coolwell, a 25-year-old featherweight boxer from Beerwah, Queensland, is preparing for the biggest opportunity of his career.

Coolwell will battle undefeated American Bruce ‘Shu Shu’ Carrington and will enter the ring at the iconic AT&T Stadium in Texas on November 16 AEDT.

The event, headlined by Jake Paul and Mike Tyson, marks Netflix’s first-ever live-streamed boxing show, with an estimated audience of 550 million households worldwide.

“It’s life-changing,” Coolwell said.

“It will be one of the biggest events an Australian fighter has been a part of. I am grateful for this opportunity and want to showcase my skills to the world.”

The venue, home of the Dallas Cowboys, will hold more than 80,000 fans, a stark contrast to Coolwell’s last fight in March at the Caloundra RSL, where he claimed victory in front of a crowd of 500.

North Queensland Cowboys champion Johnathan Thurston was Coolwell’s idol

Now Coolwell is ready to show the world his potential, thriving in an atmosphere where millions of eyes will be on him.

“I imagine the crowd as I walk to the ring. “I think I will feed the energy and rise to the occasion,” he said.

Coolwell’s journey to this point was anything but typical. A former rugby league player for the Beerwah Bulldogs, he took up boxing for fitness at the age of 14, inspired by his NRL idols Johnathan Thurston and Matty Bowen.

That decision brought him to trainer Stephen Pitt, who saw something special in the young athlete.

“When he first wrestled in my gym, I thought maybe it was a fluke,” Pitt recalls.

“But after dominating two sessions against a seasoned boxer, I knew Dana was different.”

Under Pitt’s leadership, Coolwell’s career flourished. Despite setbacks, including two professional losses, Pitt believes these challenges have shaped his fighter.

The Queensland fighter took part in Caloundra RSL’s final fight in front of just 500 people

He will now face American fighter Bruce Carrington in front of 80,000 people in Texas

“Those losses made him stronger. Dana’s grit and work ethic are second to none. He’s never missed a workout, not one.”

The upcoming fight against Carrington is an important step forward. Carrington, with a perfect record of 13-0, has built a reputation as a technical and powerful fighter.

Still, Coolwell and Pitt are confident.

“People underestimate us because we’re from Australia,” Pitt said.

“But those who know Dana know he is capable of great things.”

Coolwell echoes his coach’s sentiments. “Although it’s exciting, I’m staying calm and sticking to my training. I won’t fully know the atmosphere until I’m in it, but I’m up for the challenge.’

Carrington, a rising star from Brooklyn, is just as motivated. Known for his technical precision and powerful knockouts, he sees the undercard of Paul vs. Tyson as an opportunity to expand his fan base.

For Coolwell, this is more than a fight: it’s an opportunity to make his mark on the sport. “As a pure boxing fan, I support Mike Tyson in the main event,” he said. “But no matter who wins, boxing is the ultimate winner.”

The fight represents a defining moment in Coolwell’s career. Beating Carrington will move the Queenslander closer to a world title shot, cementing his place on the world stage.

“I only started boxing to get fit,” Coolwell reflected. “But from my first amateur fight, I never looked back.”

With millions of people watching, Coolwell is determined to make the most of his moment in the spotlight.

As his coach Pitt puts it, “Texans love Australians, and Dana is likable, talented and ready to step up. The world will finally see what I’ve always known: Dana Coolwell is a star.”