Sure, we could tell you the kid was raised entirely on Mike Tyson’s Youtube KOs.

Especially now, as he prepares to open for that fella so long dubbed Baddest Man on the Planet.

But in truth?

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“Oh, growing up I loved Johnathan Thurston,” grins Dana Coolwell, kicking back now in the Los Angeles apartment where, for the best part of a month, he’s quietly readied for the most hyped opportunity of his life.

That, and a significant step up from his most recent win, in April, at Caloundra RSL.

Once a promising young five-eighth who dreamed of representing North Queensland Cowboys, 25-year-old Coolwell is now readying to throw down on the US blockbuster that is Saturday’s showdown between Tyson and $120m crossover star Jake Paul.

Set to be held inside the Dallas Cowboys’ famed AT&T Stadium – and screened live to an audience measured in millions – Coolwell will undertake the biggest test of his career against undefeated American Bruce ‘Shu Shu’ Carrington.

Undeniably, the event is a long way from Coolwell’s humble beginnings playing footy with the Beerwah Bulldogs.

Same deal a boxing journey that only started when, aged 14, and in a bid to mimic Cowboys stars JT and Matty Bowen – “they were my favourites” – Coolwell walked into his local fight gym seeking extra fitness training.

Instead, the NRL wannabe met Stephen Pitt.

That same trainer who, this weekend in Texas, will corner the young Queensland featherweight now chasing gold in a division where the likes of Australians Jeff Fenech, Johnny Famechon and Billy Dib have starred.

So as for what the fighter makes of everything coming?

Especially given even the fight week festivities alone will see him rub shoulders with that Hall of Famer long considered one of the most recognisable fighters – and people – anywhere on planet earth.

“Obviously, I’d love to meet Tyson,” Coolwell says with a smile when asked about how he plans to mix fight week focus with the obvious fanfare that will ensue.

Same as the Queenslander admits he did spend large chunks of his youth scrawling Youtube for the heavyweight king’s KOs.

“Because when you talk boxing,” he says, “the two names that really come to mind are Muhammad Ali and Mike Tyson.

“So if I get the chance to meet him, yeah, I’d love that.

“Because while I’m here to do a job, I also want to enjoy the journey.”

Certainly, Pitt is convinced his charge can do both.

Asked about fighting on what is being tipped as the most watched card in boxing history, the Queensland trainer says: “I’ve always known Dana is a star.

“And I’ve always seen him lift for the biggest occasions.

“People who don’t know Dana won’t understand, but he’s already been all over the world boxing.

“We’ve been to Russia, Dubai, gone up a division for Golden Gloves … and everywhere we go Dana just soaks up the limelight and performs.

“Obviously now, this is another level.

“And Dana’s being underestimated for this fight.

“Coming from Australia, nobody really knows who we are.

“But we’re no B-side.

“Those that know Dana know what he’s capable of.”

Which for Pitt, is a yarn beginning on the day that schoolboy leaguie entered his gym.

“At the time, there was actually a young fighter I was getting ready for the Australian championships,” the trainer recalls.

“So I’ve looked over at this new kid, who appeared to be around the same weight, and said ‘do you want to spar, brother?’.”

To which, the quiet new face simply nodded.

Which is how, with borrowed gloves, old headgear and no mouthguard, Coolwell found himself stepping through those gym ring ropes for what wouldn’t be the last time … and soon enough dominating his hyped rival.

To which Pitt thought what?

“Thought it might’ve been a fluke,” he laughs.

So the next day, he got them to spar again.

“Only this time,” the trainer says, “I told my fighter ‘mate, put your foot down’.”

But Coolwell, he out boxed the young star again.

“Which is when,” coach says, “I knew we had something special”.

But still, nobody ever really dreamed he would find himself in a week like this one — opening for an event that, even with Tyson aged 58, and Paul drawing all sorts of opinions, is still being billed as one of boxing’s most watched scraps ever.

Especially when, initially, Coolwell’s lot was making his amateur debut against a rival with 10 fights.

Which he won.

Then for his second bout, earning a tough split decision loss against a national champ.

All up, the beginning of a story that has since seen Coolwell often fighting more experienced rivals, or up several weight classes – “where we’ve had to drink water before weighing, just to make the minimum,” coach says – while even since turning pro, he has dropped two of his 15 bouts.

“But if we were undefeated in 15 fights,” Pitt shrugs, “nobody would’ve probably given us this shot”.

Still, while Coolwell may be simply considered the next scalp for rising US star Carrington, the coach knows those two losses, well, one was against a far more experienced rival while the other came fighting up two weight classes during the Covid pandemic

Same as Pitt will tell you Coolwell boasts the type of grit, and character, that has seen him never miss a training session.

Not one.

“Although there was one 5am start where he was about a minute late,” the trainer grins. “And even then he came rushing around the corner apologising.”

But as for how a fella prepares for something like this week?

“While it’s all exciting,” Coolwell says, “I’m just trying to keep a level head, focus on my training.

“Because I can try to prepare (for the atmosphere) all I like, but I’m not going to really know what it feels like until I’m in there.

“So I will just stick to my normal fight week week rituals”

And as for a main event tip?

“As a pure boxing fan, I’m backing Mike Tyson,” Coolwell says.

“But I definitely won’t knock Jake Paul jumping in there and putting a show on.

“When you think about all the eyeballs on this fight, boxing will be the winner.”

Same deal, this kid who once dreamed of being JT.

“Growing up, I loved my footy,” Coolwell explains.

“I only started boxing really to get some extra fitness.

“But then I started sparring and, once footy season stopped, I had my first amateur fight.

“And from there … I’ve just never looked back.”