Denzel Bentley, a year after his world title challenge against Janibek Alimkhanuly, stands at a pivotal moment in his career. Although he didn’t secure the WBO middleweight championship in Las Vegas, the experience left him with a bolstered sense of belonging at the top level of boxing.
Currently, as the British middleweight champion, Bentley is set to defend his title against Nathan Heaney in Manchester. Far from underestimating Heaney, Bentley is determined to use this fight as a stepping stone to bigger opportunities. He views this bout not just as a defense but as a showcase, aiming to leave the British domestic scene and step onto the global stage.
Bentley is acutely aware of the middleweight division's landscape, eyeing potential clashes with top-rated fighters like Chris Eubank Jr. and Liam Smith. He expresses frustration over not being a bigger public figure, believing it hinders high-profile matchups. Nonetheless, Bentley is confident in his ability to defeat them both, citing their recent performances as not overly impressive to him as a competitor.
The last twelve months have seen Bentley in action for only 45 seconds, demolishing Keiran Smith in a title defense. Meanwhile, his Kazakh rival Janibek has been active, unifying the 160lb division. Bentley's aspiration for a rematch with Janibek is strong, but he’s also open to fights with other notable names like Erislandy Lara and Jermall Charlo. His approach is fearless, willing to take on any significant name in the division, as he boldly calls out potential adversaries.
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