Dale "Paratrooper" Fenton's fighting career started the way most good stories do – completely by accident.
He was doom scrolling through Facebook on an all-inclusive holiday in Turkey when he saw a post from Spartan Ring Warz. They needed a last-minute fighter for their Cumbria Carnage event at Box Arena in Carlisle. Weight requirement: 88kg.
Dale wandered down to the hotel lobby and jumped on the scales. 88kg flashed back at him.
The rest is history.
The nickname comes from his time serving with the Parachute Regiment, where he learned the kind of mental toughness that doesn't fade when you hang up the uniform. The Paras don't teach you to back down from anything, and that attitude has served him well in his new career.
First Fight, First Knockout
With ten days notice, no boxing experience, no coach, and no corner team, Dale stepped into the ring against an experienced bare knuckle boxer with four wins in five fights. There was no crowd to cheer him on either.
For most of the first round, he played it safe. "I was dancing and prancing in the ring looking like baby Bambi," he admits. But then, with ten seconds left, he saw his opponent's eyes change. He could see the desperation setting in.
Dale threw his best shot and caught him clean on the upper jaw, knocking him out cold. The poor guy spent two hours on oxygen backstage before going to hospital.
"I could put a tick in the box of having what it takes," Dale says. "I knew I had it, otherwise I wouldn't have put my name down to do it."
The videos started circulating. People took notice, and Dale was now on the radar.
Fighting Against Time
Just two weeks after that first fight, Dale went in for his third knee surgery. The news wasn't good – no cartilage left at all, just bone on bone grinding away. The clock was ticking.
Dale's journey back to fighting fitness hadn't been straightforward. Before his accident, he was 109kg, but dropped all the way down to 69kg during his recovery. After five years out of the gym, he'd had enough. He started training again in January and went hard, building himself back up to 85kg.
So when he decided to take fighting seriously, he did what any sensible person would do: He threw himself into a six-week training camp.
Charlie Sheppard took him under his wing. If you don't know Charlie, he's a former British, Commonwealth, intercontinental and world champion. Having him tighten the screws and sharpen the blade made all the difference.
Dale put his head down and worked. Every day, almost, for six weeks.
The result? Eight seconds of complete dominance.
The Fight That Changed Everything
Dale's second opponent was one of Scotland's leading amateur prospects, trained by Scotland's own bare knuckle champion, Jack Blair. On paper, this should have been a much tougher test.
It lasted eight seconds.
Complete dominance. The kind of performance that has people talking, sharing videos, and asking who the hell this Paratrooper guy is.
Since then, the phone hasn't stopped ringing. Dale's name is everywhere on social media, gaining serious attention after just two fights.
What's Next
WBKB are trying to get Dale on their October 4th show. Spartan Ring Warz want him back to headline their November 15th event, fighting for the middleweight title.
For Dale, that November fight is everything. "It's what will catapult my name into the discussions with the big leagues. It's not an option. I will win!"
The Real Dale Fenton
When he's not knocking people out, Dale's at home with his young daughter Grace, who's completely pony mad. The Parachute Regiment might have taught him how to fight, but being a dad keeps him grounded.
His partnership with Hartley Attire makes perfect sense. They're backing someone who's genuine, who's earnt everything through hard work, and who represents the values that matter.
From doom scrolling on holiday to headlining fight cards in mere months – Dale "Paratrooper" Fenton's rise has been nothing short of remarkable. With dodgy knees and a ticking clock, he's making every fight count.
The bare knuckle world is starting to realise what anyone who's served alongside the Paras already knows – when Dale Fenton sets his mind to something, he gets it done.
November 15th can't come soon enough.
Follow Dale's Journey
Latest Updates:
September 2025
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Dale's partnership with Hartley Attire confirmed - look out for the silver logo on his shorts
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Training camp underway for upcoming fights
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WBKB working on October 4th show placement
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November 15th middleweight title fight confirmed with Spartan Ring Warz
Upcoming Fights:
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October 4th - Potential WBKB show (TBC)
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November 15th - Spartan Ring Warz Cumbria Carnage (Middleweight Title Fight)
Fight Record:
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vs Zac Davenport - 24th May 2025 - WON (KO - 8 seconds)
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vs Cain Maxwell - 23rd August 2025 - WON (KO - Round 1)
This section will be updated with Dale's latest news, fight announcements, and training updates. Don't forget to bookmark this page!