Fresh after a fantastic knockout win over Derrick Osaze and armed with a proud support team celebrating his latest highlight reel finish to close another York Hall show, I spoke with Denzel Bentley as he surveys the middleweight scene. Beforehand, there were several boxers ringside sharing updates about their respective return timelines, fight dates and what they would like next.
Bentley’s boxing speaks for him
YORK HALL, LONDON — Sitting next to an increasingly animated fighter’s mother, brother and girlfriend on press row, knowing their man was minutes away from losing for the first time as a pro is one thing. Watching friends put aside their camaraderie, forced to pick a side – Ghana or Nigeria – straight after, is another.
Then ten minutes later, oxygen mask removed and awkward pleasantries shared after a knockout punch lands flush, everything’s back to normal again. Only in boxing.
During his post-fight celebrations before the result was announced, Bentley declared this was his house and it’s hard to argue otherwise. Eight fights at York Hall, six wins – five by stoppage – and three headline bouts in just under two years. He wants more.
Performances and perfectly-placed shots like he’s shown in his last two fights will go a long way to securing those bigger opportunities but what does he think? Here’s our conversation in the changing room, 45 minutes after a memorable 20th pro win.
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Mosope: There was a lot said after the Nathan Heaney display, we know the circumstances leading up to that but after Danny Dignum – who said it was win-or-retirement for him – how did you feel heading into this, against a credible opponent but one who doesn’t have the same name value as others before him?
Bentley: I think I’ve shown my level since then, where I was mentally but nothing else matters now. You’re only as good as your last performance and mine was 20 minutes ago, was a pretty good one no?
When it got announced people [around me] were saying it’s a good tough fight, he won the Boxxer tournament and you don’t win that if you can’t fight.
He’s a cool guy, we talk and catch up every now and then… it’s difficult to hurt someone you’re familiar with but that’s the game, he accepted it too and would’ve done the same to me so that’s how it goes.
I’m happy he gets to go home safe to his family, but also I can move forward now rather than worrying about what happened last year or a few months ago.
Keeping a keen eye
MO: In terms of moving forward, a lot has been said about the 160lb division. Unified champion Janibek could move up after his fainting episode last month – that’s not a guarantee though – Sheeraz-Denny is on Sept. 21 too, but what would you like next?
DB: I’m gonna enjoy the scenery, see what everyone else is doing, then get back out there at the end of the year. I don’t really care what anyone does, just want my shot – don’t care who it is against either.
Hamzah, if he gets through Denny or whatever then we can make it #1 vs. #2 for the WBO… that would be great, if not and Janibek stays at 160, could get another shot at him. I’m right there now, vacant title or not, I’m in a good position.
MO: When we spoke earlier in the year before the Dignum win, you were clear: I want three fights for 2024. So after another quick one… November/December time?
DB: Yeah man, easily. I’ve boxed twice – two rounds each – four rounds this year, I’m quite fresh and it’s only August so for sure.
I know camps are hard, you need time to let the body recover and whatnot, but I’ll be ready when you mentioned yeah. That timeline sounds very good for me.
MO: How long was this camp then?
DB: Good question. [Pauses]. Around 7-9 weeks I’d say, but either way I stay in the gym – went away for five days [after the Dignum fight] before it was straight back to work. Four weeks from when the opponent was confirmed.
MO: Nathan Heaney vs. Brad Pauls 2, I saw you previewed it but did you watch in the end? Talk to me…
DB: I watch everything, of course! Heaney took the first three rounds clearly but after he got knocked down, fight and mindset changed. Brad took over, got him outta there in the 12th – shows his character and just how much he wanted to win.
Former foes, familiar faces and sparring partners
MO: Your former foe-turned-sparring partner Linus Udofia was the happiest man in Birmingham that night for Brad, nice to see the other side in moments like that.
I know they say it’s a lonely sport but you have guys in the gym, guys you’re close with, they share in your wins. Isaac [Chamberlain] was next to me throwing every punch with you, Chris [Kongo] was there too, just talk to me about that dynamic and how much support from your peers means, from the outside looking in?
DB: Yeah! To be honest, it’s not that lonely. I’m in the gym with a bunch of guys everyday and we all push each other, my team are here, it’s only lonely when you lose and go into your shell but when you win, everyone’s celebrating.
It’s a good feeling, what you said about Linus – Brad is his close friend – they’re gymmates, if he wasn’t celebrating like that, it’d be odd. He got his shot and came through, how can you not be happy for him? I was happy for Brad, know them quite well, they train down the road and come up for sparring, it’s only right.
MO: Dan was here today, Linus I just spoke about, Sam Gilley you mentioned earlier in fight week. That’s some quality sparring there, how do you switch it up?
DB: It’s good work, they’re all quality smart fighters so every time we spar, it’s like a chess match figuring each other out – no-one’s trying to beat the brakes off each other – we’re here to keep sharp, out-think one another so it’s really good to have.
MO: Liam Smith vs. Josh Kelly, thoughts?
DB: It’s a good fight but, it’s two 154lb fighters boxing at the weight above. I’ll watch as a fan but haven’t really delved deep into it, just that it’ll probably be good.
MO: Sheeraz-Denny? If I had to push you for a prediction and why?
DB: That’s another good one. Hamzah, he’s just a disciplined fighter – knows how to use his advantages – Tyler’s on a roll right now and might come in overconfident, get clipped or something, and that wouldn’t be good. Hamzah for me.
MO: Lastly from me, just talk about how you are mentally, physically, how happy you are right now with where your boxing is and life in general?
DB: I’m in a good place, everything’s going well in-and-out of the ring right now. Life’s good, I can’t really complain, people say what they want, my performances allow them to speak how they feel – if I want them to speak well on my name, gotta do well. Can’t moan about what they say, I’m sure they’ll be saying good things now!
Other tidbits, news and boxer updates
Itauma hopes for tougher tests, Kongo-Marku 2?
Rising teenage heavyweight talent Moses Itauma told moandsports.com he’ll make his in-ring return on November 2 at Wembley Arena, with an opponent TBC.
The 19-year-old needed just 23 seconds to dismiss Marcel Bode there on his pro debut last January and again eight months later, secured another first-round finish in dispatching Amine Boucetta, declaring it a venue he readily enjoys performing in.
The frontrunner is Essex-based Australian southpaw Demsey McKean, a year on from his 12th-round TKO defeat by former IBF #1 contender Filip Hrgovic, while it’s unclear what English titleholder Solomon Dacres plans to do after the BBBofC ordered him to defend against the 19-year-old next with a Sept. 11 deadline for purse bids.
One-time world title challenger Mariusz Wach was chosen to give Itauma an opportunity at banking valuable rounds before inevitably steps up the competition but after a second-round knockout on the Joe Joyce vs. Dereck Chisora undercard last month, manager Francis Warren outlined a desire for his charge to box against one of the bigger domestic names or unbeaten Australian contender Justis Huni.
British champion Fabio Wardley and Olympic bronze medallist Frazer Clarke have agreed terms for a rematch later this year, so are both occupied, while it doesn’t make sense to thrust Joyce into such a fight after falling short last time out.
Matchroom chief Eddie Hearn has other plans for fan favourite Johnny Fisher too, so Huni’s similarly quick night at the office last month back home in Australia against unbeaten hopeful Troy Pilcher could play in their favour but is unlikely.
IBO Inter-Continental welterweight champion Chris Kongo was a worthy winner against Florian Marku on the Wardley-Clarke undercard and he told me there’s a desire to book a rematch between them, potentially in Saudi Arabia, after their promoter Ben Shalom revealed the Albanian went into the bout with a hand injury.
Knowing his European title ambitions, Kongo was asked about which rematch he’d prefer if given the choice: Marku or Ekow Essuman, who climbed off the canvas to stop Owen Cooper during a memorable firefight in Birmingham last month.
“Marku and plus he’s an easier fight. Essuman had a good win but whatever the decision is, you know it has to make sense,” was the reply.
Azeez-Arthur, Isaac Chamberlain plotting way back
Former European, British and Commonwealth light-heavyweight champion Dan Azeez says he’s hopeful of finalising plans for his next fight before long – former IBO world titlist Lyndon Arthur has been seriously linked, in a potential Sky-Wasserman matchup between domestic rivals at 175lbs with big ambitions after defeat.
Azeez, who boxed to an eight-round draw with Croatia’s Hrvoje Sep on the Chris Billam-Smith vs. Richard Riakporhe 2 bill on June 15, was among Bentley’s sparring partners in preparation for this show and reiterated he’s always training, even if a fight date feels distant when negotiations are ongoing behind-the-scenes.
Also on the CBS-Riakporhe 2 bill was former British champion Isaac Chamberlain, who lost a competitive 12-round decision against Jack Massey. He told me while it’ll be dismissed as an excuse, he was ill during fight week and that impacted his inability to step on the accelerator during the second-half of their contest. Naturally he wants a rematch, though Viddal Riley’s name has popped up again too.
The 27-year-old pitched a shutout to clinch vacant English honours against Nathan Quarless last November, before fighting through injury against Mikael Lawal in March.
There are moving parts which don’t involve him – Michal Cieslak after injury and Riakporhe’s next steps – but ideally he’d prefer to rematch the Joe Gallagher-trained boxer next. All being well regardless, he’ll make his return in October or November.
No update on Nicolson-Chapman, Tommy Fletcher’s return
WBC international featherweight champion Raven Chapman hasn’t heard anything about a proposed world title shot against world champion Skye Nicolson, but just knows she’ll be back in the ring again at some stage in October. The 30-year-old made her 2024 debut with a 10-round decision win over Colombia’s previously unbeaten hopeful Yohana Sarabia on the Joyce-Chisora undercard last month.
Rising cruiserweight hopeful Tommy Fletcher has recently recovered from tonsilitis and tells me he’ll be back in October, having watched domestic rival and stablemate Junior co-headline this show – the pair have long been linked with an in-house clash, that could materialise in future provided both keep winning and it makes sense.
Luke McCormack was originally slated to box on this weekend’s York Hall card but instead, the Sunderland man’s second pro appearance has been pushed back to the Sept. 6 card, also at the iconic venue, headlined by Sam Noakes’ maiden European title defence against mandatory challenger Gianluca Ceglia. No opponent yet.
Featherweight Masood Abdulah faces his first 12-round test vs. George Stewart in a battle of unbeaten contenders for the vacant Commonwealth crown, while Charlie Hickford and Christian Fetti are among those slated to box on next month’s bill.
Picture source: All pictures via Getty unless stated — all quotes procured by me
Mo and Sports 