My pro debut came on the 23 March 1994 at the Star Leisure Center in Cardiff , where i fought Darren Noble, winning by KO in the 3rd round.
Four weeks later i got my first taste of the iconic York Hall, Bethnal Green , a points win over Graham McGrath led to a long drive down to Bristol for my 3rd pro fight with Neil Swain where i made it KO number two.
Between 1994 - 1996 i travelled the country winning all of my next 11 bouts. ( see my full record HERE )
The 11th Janruary 1997 was the day i had been working so hard towards, a shot at a BBBofC British featherweight title against double winner Colin McMillan. After stopping McMillan in the 8th round, i defended my belt 4 weeks later at Hull Ice Arena where i forced Michael Alldis to retire at the start of round 11.
My Pro Career.
I had suffered defeat for the first time in my pro career but was determined not to let it stop me fulfilling my dream of world title glory.
My dream came true on the 13th November 1999 in my adopted hometown of Hull where i went 12 gruelling rounds with the legendary Manuel Medina for the IBF World featherweight title.
The fight was scored 118-107 , 114-110 , 113-111 to THE NEW!!!!!!!! I had done it,
I WAS WORLD CHAMPION.
Next stop.... Maddison Square Garden , New York to face another legend, Junior Jones.
Referee Steve Smoger stopped the fight at 1:16 in round 11 , i kept my beloved belt. "Ring" magazine later named me " The Most Exiting Featherweight" to watch in their 2000 annual State of the Game rankings.
My next defence came in October 1997 when i faced Jon Jo Irwin at the sheffield Arena for the BBBofC British featherweight
and the Commonwealth (British Empire) featherweight title. Referee, Larry O'connell stopped the fight at the beginning of round 8 and i was on my way back up the M62 with 2 belts.
I successfuly defended my belts twice at the Hull Ice Arena and headed for a showdown on 8 August 1998 against Rakhim Minhalieyev in my hometown at The Spa, Scarborough for the IBF Inter-Continental featherweight title. I added the title to my collection with a KO in the fourth round.
The following year i headed to the Barbican Centre, York, to face Billy Hardy for the EBU (European) featherweight title.
Paul Thomas (referee) stopped the fight late in the 8th round and secured my shot at the WBO featherweight title
against probably the best pound-for-pound fighter of the decade "Prince" Naseem Hamed who was 31-0-0 at the time.
"Who needs Lamborghinis and Ferraris - I've got two whippets and a ferret." Paul Ingle.
We have a pair of signed Paul Ingle Boxing gloves for sale contact
for details.