Bentley Stuns Pauls To Reclaim British Middleweight Title
Denzel Bentley dropped Brad Pauls during a sensational comeback to become the British Middleweight Champion.
Bentley turned the fight around after seeing Pauls take control during the middle rounds to keep his world title hopes alive. The victory retains his position as the number-one-ranked fighter in the WBO rankings, meaning he is on course to face the full champion Janibek Alimkhanuly. Bentley started the fight brightly. His quicker hands caught Pauls off guard, as a right caught him early on. It was the same thing in round two, as Bentley’s jab allowed him to land the right again.
A left hand also followed in round three, as Paul was coming out second best in the exchanges. But he was the champion coming into the fight, which he showed. In round four, he landed a couple of left hands to keep Bentley on his toes. That was his best round, leading to a better fifth as Bentley was now being pushed back.
As the fight went to the second half, Pauls continued the pressure. Pauls backed up Bentley in the seventh. The fight was now in danger of moving away from Bentley. But then the tide turned in round ten. Bentley caught Pauls with two consecutive jabs, which blinded his vision. Pauls hit the floor in a 10-8 for Bentley. Bentley was now in the ascendency as he caught Pauls with another right hand in round 11. The 10-8 round meant that Pauls needed a knockout. It never came as Bentley coasted to a decision win: 117-110, 116-111 and 115-112.
Post-Fight
“Brad’s a tough guy but I gotta thank my team and Frank Warren for bringing me back, always believing in me. I said I wasn’t gonna knock him out with one punch but I think I outboxed him … gave him two rounds, had to show levels and I did that.
“Brad is a tough guy but I think I outboxed him. I was working on the jab and it found a home every time I landed it, it was death by a thousand jabs. I got that opportunity at the last minute, to fight in Las Vegas for a world title, but I promise everyone I will get back to that level,” Bentley said
“Shoutout to the Cornish, we stick together. It’s never been done before and you’re part of it [this journey], if you support me then I’ll keep fighting. My goals are the same, I’ll come back. Denzel has lost before and came back, so I’ll dust myself off and go again in 2025,” Pauls said
Full Results
Denzel Bentley beat Brad Pauls by unanimous decision (117-110, 116-111, 115-112).
Sam Noakes defeated Ryan Walsh by unanimous decision (119-109, 120-108, 120-108).
David Adeleye knocked out Solomon Dacres in the first round.
Lawrence Okolie stopped Hussein Muhamed in the first round (TKO).
Sean Noakes won against Matthew Rennie by decision (97-93 on all cards).
Aloys Junior stopped Lewis Oakford in the third round (TKO).
Royston Barney-Smith knocked out Andres Navarrete in the fifth round.
Pierce O’Leary knocked out J. Perdomo in the third round.
Billy Adams won by decision against Jonatas Rodrigo Gomes de Oliveira.
George Crotty defeated Dylan Courtney by decision (40-36 on all cards)
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