Denzel Bentley exclusive: I can’t afford any more slip-ups

This time last year, Denzel Bentley was wondering just what 2025 would have in store for him.

The previous month, an unfocused and distracted Bentley had lost his British middleweight title to Nathan Heaney. He found himself without a title belt and looking for a path back to contention.

In boxing, a couple of spectacular knockouts can shorten people’s memories and Bentley’s clinical wins over Danny Dignum and Derek Osaze have seen him regain most of his lost ground.

On Saturday night, Bentley can complete his comeback and move himself to a different level.

The 29-year-old has the chance to win back his old title – and a whole lot more – when he fights Brad Pauls at Wembley Arena. For all the latest fight odds, visit our sportsbook.

“I’m on a good path”

“It’s just mad and I’m kind of grateful. My career’s in good stead. I’m on a good path, I just can’t afford no more slip-ups.

“If they do mention Heaney, it’s always like, ‘Yeah, we all know that was a bad night.’

“All right, cool. However you lot see it. You lot judge it how you see it. I’m not going to keep trying to tell people I wasn’t right that time.

“But now in the perspective of everyone’s mind, it’s like everyone knows it was an off night.”

Pauls’ British title is on the line this weekend but reclaiming the belt he has already held twice will be a bonus for Bentley. There is far more on the line. The prestigious, vacant European belt will also be at stake but the winner will put themselves in pole position for a shot at WBO and IBF champion, Janibek Alimkhanuly. Two years ago, Bentley lost a unanimous decision to the Kazakh and has wanted revenge ever since.

“I’m not overlooking anything”

Hamzah Sheeraz will fight WBC champ, Carlos Adames, in February which means that Bentley has been elevated to number one in the WBO rankings. Pauls sits at number two. If Bentley wins, he can expect to be made Alimkhanuly’s mandatory challenger early in the new year.

Having worked his way back from the Heaney upset, Bentley is in no mood to go through another gruelling, lengthy rebuild.

“Oh, 100%. I know my position can get taken away from me if I don’t turn up. So it’s like, ‘Come on, Denzel. You’ve been here before and you messed up. Don’t get here again and mess up again.’ Do you know what I’m saying?” he said.

“I’ve had enough rebuilds in my career where it’s kind of nearly there but not there yet. This one I’m taking with both hands. I’m not overlooking anything.

I’ve been in the gym, I’ve been feeling good. I’ve been sparring well and doing my workouts. I think everything’s coming together nicely for this fight, if I’m being honest. I just feel like this is the right time to accelerate and all these things.

“Really and truly, if I’m being honest, I can actually just sit back and wait until Hamzah does what he does and then I’ll be number one with the WBO and then I’ll eventually get a mandatory call-up and all I’ve got to do is sit down. But I like being active. I think I’m better when I’m active.”

“I’ve got to go in there and make sure”

Pauls carries legitimate power and is in the form of his life. Not many fighters would decide to take on such dangerous fight when they have the option of sitting tight and waiting for a big opportunity to land in their lap but Bentley believes that a sense of jeopardy brings out the best in him.

Bentley doesn’t want to be handed his opportunity, he wants to go out and snatch it and he can do that by beating Pauls this weekend.

“When I just started and had probably just had a few fights, I always said I’d rather just always fight to fight the best,” he said.

“Everyone wants to get paid the most for the least risky fight. For me, just being a fighter and how I am, I prefer the challenges.

“Everyone thinks it’s a 50-50 fight so I’ve got to go in there and make sure – make it clear – you lot are all wrong about that.

“It seems a bit mad but saying it’s a 50-50 fight, it kind of gives me that edge. ‘Okay, so you lot think he can beat me? Cool.’ Do you know what I mean? It’s given me that edge.”

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