You can only PROCEED with what is put in front of you.
It's a common phrase you hear in boxing when fights are fought against opponents who are expected to beat them. How many times do we hear boxers say that they find it difficult to fight for fights that they are expected to win. Lack of motivation can turn itself into a banana skin leading to irritation or, at the very least, poor performance.
Denzel Bentley could have fallen into that trap in his last two fights but in his favor he has something to prove. The two-time British middleweight champion has been a mystery since winning the Lonsdale belt over Mark Heffron four years ago. His first defense was a disaster when Felix Cash used fouls to strip him of the title in less than eight minutes. This was a time when the Matchroom fighter (Cash) fighting the Queensberry fighter (Bentley) was unknown. How times have changed.
Bentley went to the well to beat Linus Udofia by split decision on Channel 5. That was a must-win. The champion stunned Marcus Morrison in his first defense before traveling to Las Vegas to challenge Janibek Alimkhanuly for the WBO World Middleweight title in November 2022. The Briton's gutsy performance could have been much better if Bentley had gotten off to a better start.
The following year was a frustrating and difficult year. Blasting Kieran Smith in round one did him no good. Inactivity was intense and last November he lost his British title again when an inspired Nathan Heaney took advantage of Bentley's sluggishness to take the prized championship back to Stoke.
Bentley was expected to win, he believed he didn't have to be at his best to do so. But his partner had to give birth and the father-to-be was going back and forth to the hospital. Born prematurely, their child spends the first 10 days of his life in the hospital. When mother and son left in Bentley she had to ask her partner to move in with her mother so she could focus on Heaney. When the fight came to Manchester Arena it was clear in the first half of the fight that Heaney was not going to beat him.
Another return of “2 Sharp” came this year on May 24 against Danny Dignum who challenged Janibek six months before what Bentley did in 2022 and took 10 rounds less.
“If I go to the next fight and I don't win that, what's my excuse,” Bentley said. Debate News before the war at York Hall.
Bentley entered the ring expected to win and had to impress. He knocked Dignum out of there in six rounds. “2 Sharp” was very sharp that night. Then last night at York Hall Bentley faced Derrick Ozaze. Another English/British title level. It would have been a tough night's work if the Bentley hadn't been unlocked.
“I have to take a step back to move forward again,” he said BN last week.
“I think this could be a dog fight.”
The biggest bite belonged to Bentley when he landed a world-class uppercut in the second round. The war is over. Bentley has been struggling but we haven't seen enough. Against Dignum and Ozaze, he showed exactly what he can do to his opponents when the opportunity arises.
The toughest tests await and Bentley wants them all. He's a world-class middleweight and he's using everything he's been through since defeating Heffron to push him to his ultimate goal – a world title. If he had worked hard fighting Dignum and Ozaze he would have been killed. Instead, he rejected their challenge, showing that he was above standards.
Rejuvenated, more experienced and enjoying fatherhood at 29 years old not only is there no way back but he looks better than ever.
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