Paulo was born in Angola and trained as a boxer from a young age. His dreams of competing in the 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles were crushed by the political conflicts at the time which lead to Angola boycotting the Olympics that year. Having missed out on an Olympic title, Paulo now runs a boxing club, helping his students fulfil their own dreams. But more than just a boxing coach, Paulo is seen as a father figure to many of his students, having a positive impact on their lives inside and outside the ring.