Brad Pauls vs. Denzel Bentley | TNT Sports - 7 December 2024

[Ruthless-RKO]

Brad Pauls-Denzel Bentley to headline Magnificent 7 card at Wembley

Brad Pauls will face Denzel Bentley in a middleweight clash to headline the latest installment of Queensberry Promotion’s “Magnificent 7” series, which will appear in London for the first time on a December 7 card at Wembley Arena.

Bentley, 20-3-1 (17 KOs), lost to current middleweight titleholder Janibek Alimkhanuly in late 2022 by unanimous decision, though he managed to win four rounds on two judges’ scorecards. Pauls, 19-1-1 (11 KOs), is less tested against the elite. The fighters share a common recent opponent in Nathan Heaney, against whom Pauls drew before scoring a TKO in their immediate rematch earlier this year. Bentley lost to Heaney by majority decision in 2023.

Also on the card (to be broadcast on TNT Sports in the U.K.) is a matchup of lightweights Sam Noakes, 15-0 (14 KOs), and Ryan Walsh, 29-4-2 (13 KOs). Further down the bill, Sam’s old brother Sean, 8-0 (4 KOs), will take on the 13-0-1 (1 KO) Matthew Rennie.

Heavyweight Lawrence Okolie, 20-1 (15 KOs), will fight on the card, and although Queensbury did not list his opponent, he is scheduled to face Hussein Muhamad, 18-1 (14 KOs), according to his BoxRec fighter page.

Another heavyweight, David Adeleye, 12-1 (11 KOs), will return in his first bout since being stopped by Fabio Wardley in October 2023, against Solomon Dacres, 9-0 (3 KOs).

At cruiserweight, Aloys Junior, 8-1 (7 KOs), will attempt to continue his ascent against Lewis Oakford, 6-1 (0 KOs).

[jameswilson]

Hope Adeleye can make it into the ring.

[JamesPhilips]

Decent bill

[Ruthless-RKO]

Do or die: Queensberry Promotions’ Magnificent Seven

“It’s an early Christmas present for everybody in boxing,” declared allegedly, of the December 7 promotion led by the appealing middleweight contest between Denzel Bentley and Brad Pauls.

It was regardless tempting to conclude that he will use that same line weeks later, when his leading fighter Tyson Fury fights Oleksandr Usyk in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, for the second time.

On the same Queensberry promotion at Wembley Arena, Lawrence Okolie fights Hussein Muhamed, Sam Noakes fights Ryan Walsh, and David Adeleye fights Solomon Dacres. If it resembles the nature of promotion built by Warren during the era of allegedly, it also represents the most appealing one he has solely overseen in the UK in 2024.

Queensberry announced earlier in November that in 2025 they will change broadcasters to DAZN from TNT Sports. But to revisit 10 months before that announcement, when Hamzah Sheeraz stopped Liam Williams and Joshua Buatsi was ringside to watch Anthony Yarde stop X ahead of the proposed contest between them that is still to take place, Queensberry similarly appeared to be building towards something – a reflection of the extent to which the wider British fight scene has suffered through neglect.

Like Queensberry, Matchroom have in recent months had bigger priorities than British boxing. Boxxer, similarly, have attempted to prioritise the eye-watering money available in Saudi Arabia – as a consequence there have been times the domestic fight scene has felt like it has almost ground to a halt.

The December 7 promotion – incidentally a week after Matchroom oversee Galal Yafai-Sunny Edwards in Birmingham – also has all of the hallmarks of one Warren is using to build a platform for, particularly, Bentley and Noakes to be matched at a higher level. Pauls and Walsh represent appealing opposition; victory can deliver for Bentley and Noakes the nature of opportunity to, much like Britain’s leading promoters, almost leave domestic level behind.

“It’s been a minute since I’ve been in this position – the challenger,” said the 29-year-old Bentley. “I respect him as a champion and a fighter. But I’m in here to move forward with my career and I’ve got to get through Brad Pauls to do so. He done what he needed to do [against Nathan Heaney]. Losing to Heaney I created a whole mess in the division, and this is my chance to clear it up.”

“I’ve earned my right to be here,” said Pauls, 31. “It’s definitely my toughest fight. I know that from sparring him. Denzel hits hard. I hit hard. It’s going to be a really exciting fight. I’m going to have to be better than I was in my last fight to win.”

Fabio Wardley is one who with victory over Frazer Clarke almost guaranteed that in the coming 12 months his career will be accelerated. Adeleye’s has stalled since his defeat by Wardley; against Dacres he, not unlike Okolie on the occasion of Okolie’s move to heavyweight, fights to ensure that he is not left behind.

“Whoever wins this is going to go on to the next level,” said Warren. “Fabio; Moses [Itauma]. Lawrence is on the scene. These two guys are in a lively division, where you can go and make some serious money by delivering.

“Next year’s a big, big year for us. Queensberry – all of the fighters – they’re going to get some big opportunities to show what they’re about.”

Most arresting from the top table was the look later exchanged by the two lightweights. It was the look shared by two fighters considerably more invested by what happens inside of the ring than outside of it; a look of mutual respect done for their own purposes without a hint of hostility or seeking attention or attempting the pointless act of intimidation; of anticipating a test of their physicality and desire, and recognition of the violence expected to come.

“I’ve always felt boxing owes me something,” Walsh had already said. “December 7 – if that can’t excite me, nothing can. That’s a really nice early Christmas present. This isn’t new to me. But it does excite me, just like it did before. This is beautiful brutality. You can die. If you don’t sign up to die, you’re in the wrong sport.”

“He’s not got quit in him,” Noakes responded. “He ain’t ever been stopped. He’s got a lot of fight left in him. It’s a good learning fight for me. If I’m trying to get on the world stage, a good win against Ryan Walsh will get me there.”

“I’d be surprised if it’s not [the fight of the night],” finished Walsh, by when the look they exchanged had already started.

“Yeah, and me,” said Noakes, aware of what he will have to give to prevent Walsh from disrupting his career.

“And me.”

[Ruthless-RKO]

EXCLUSIVE: Denzel Bentley to join elite club if he defeats Brad Pauls next month

British middleweight contender Denzel Bentley has shown his abilities as a ruthless finisher in recent years and is now well-poised for a second world title shot of his career. However, he must first get past countryman Brad Pauls before he can look towards a bid for world honours, and he is set to make boxing history if he is able to overcome the ‘Newquay Bomb’.

After drawing in their first encounter, Denzel Bentley halted Mark Heffron in their 2020 rematch to claim the British middleweight title and has established himself as one of the top players at 160lbs in the United Kingdom in the time that followed.

‘2 Sharp’ lost the coveted Lonsdale Belt in his very first fight as champion, suffering a first career defat to the well-respected Felix Cash, but Bentley reclaimed the title just two fights later with a split-decision win against Linus Udofia.

An eye-catching knockout win against Marcus Morrison came soon after, before Bentley made the humungous jump up to the world level to challenge the poster boy of 160lbs, Janibek Alimkhanuly, for the WBO middleweight world title.

In spite of a spirited display, Bentley was no match for ‘Qazaq Style’, who hung on to the WBO strap with a unanimous-decision victory, whilst Bentley earned respect globally for his efforts, despite coming home without the belt.

Bentley then returned to the domestic scene and made a second defence of the British middleweight crown with an emphatic first-round knockout of Kieran Smith but he was then the victim of one of 2023’s biggest upsets when he was outpointed by Nathan Heaney around twelve months ago.

This year, Bentley has bounced back with back-to-back second-round knockouts of Danny Dignum and Derrick Osaze respectively, positioning himself for a clash with Brad Pauls, who knocked out Nathan Heaney in July to become the British champion, and at #4 with the WBO.

Should Bentley come out on top, the Londoner will become the third fighter in the history of boxing to become a three-time British middleweight champion and the first to do so since 1988.

Speaking with Boxing Social, Bentley revealed his excitement at the prospect of cementing his legacy in the sport.

“That is mad, that is a good stat there, I didn’t know that. At least we are making history again and they are adding the European [title], so there is even more accolades to achieve.”

The 29-year-old would join Kevin Finnegan (1974, 1977, 1979) and Tony Sibson (1979, 1984, 1987) in an extremely elite club – although it is no foregone conclusion with Brad Pauls sure to fancy his chances in a 50/50 affair on December 7th.

[margaret thatcher]

3x champ is a nice achievement, but on the other hand he's only ever made 1 succesful defense, hence the repeated opportunities to regain

[Ruthless-RKO]

So if we wins it 3 times, does he win the belt outright?

Or that only for defences.

[THEBUTCH]

To win a Lonsdale belt outright the champion must include a successful defence against a mandatory contender.

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MAGNIFICENT 7 LONDON-BOUND - By Frank

LAST WEEK WE enjoyed a London gathering to put a marker down ahead of the Magnificent Seven hitting the capital for the first time on December 7.

There was plenty for everybody to get stuck into, with 13 of the 14 fighters involved in the main fights in attendance and it is clear we have got some mighty confrontations to look forward to.

None more so than the middleweight headliner, with three hugely significant titles on the line in the British, WBO International and now vacant European championships up for grabs.

Denzel Bentley against Brad Pauls is a likely potential humdinger of a fight to make because middleweight has been a special division for Britain over many years. Back in the day, when we were considered no-hopers at heavyweight, the Brits really punched their weight at 160lbs.

If I think back over my time involved in the sport, the eighties was the age of Alan Minter, Tony Sibson, Mark Kaylor and Herol Graham, which came before the later arrival of Nigel Benn, Michael Watson and Chris Eubank as we crept into the nineties.

In more modern times Billy Joe Saunders picked up the baton and became world champion, outfoxing Chris Eubank Jr along the way in a memorable British encounter that captured the imagination.

We’ve got another strong clutch of middles now, with Hamzah Sheeraz poised for a world title tilt, Denzel seeking another bash after running Janibek pretty close, Brad a proud British champion and Eubank still lurking about not showing any apparent desire to fight any fellow middleweights.

So Denzel going up against Brad is a classic fight to make because they actually will go in against anybody and just want to be in the best fights they can possibly be in.

Denzel, who has been a regular feature on our shows across his career to date, rediscovered his ruthless streak with a pair of second round stoppages following him being outpointed by Nathan Heaney. Brad, now with us, comes into the fight off the back of two hugely enthralling fights with Nathan, with the second seeing him taking the Lonsdale belt back to Newquay.

Both of these men are, in many ways, proper old school fighters who go about their business with a minimum of fuss. I also doubt if either of them has been in a bad fight, which makes this a cracking headliner for the London edition of the Magnificent Seven.

There is a belter of a similar ilk happening at lightweight, with the British, Commonwealth and WBO International belts being fought for between Sam Noakes and Ryan Walsh.

This is another one, as I like to say, with fight written all over it.

Sam has done everything right since bludgeoning his way to significant titles. In his last eight fights he has fought for or defended five major belts, including becoming European champion. He has taken the right steps at the right time and he showed a maturity in the way he negotiated the challenge of Yvan Mendy to snatch the EBU title.

He will need this quality again against Ryan. Forget the fact that Ryan is 38 because he has still got it and the way he demolished the very capable and favoured Reece Mould in less than two minutes last time out proved as much.

Ryan is a hugely driven individual who takes everything in. The fact that Mould stated he would win by knockout, in the mind of Ryan, amounted to signing his own defeat warrant. This tough, tough campaigner simply couldn’t comprehend the thought of being knocked and took big offence to the suggestion.

It shows what sort of character he is and Sam sensibly avoided making any rash predictions!

This is a great fight for both men and it will be for all of us watching on. It will be in good company and I will take a look at the other side of the card next week, which includes a couple of heavyweight bangers.

I will complete this week’s previewing with the English welterweight championship match-up between Sean Noakes and Mathew Rennie, one of two English title scraps on the card.

I know fans love title fights at this level getting TV coverage and particularly when the fight is between two fearless and highly ambitious competitors. Sean is making a name for himself now after coming into the professionals at a later stage after taking a few years off from the amateurs.

To his great credit he didn’t just jump into the pros off the back of his younger brother Sam’s success. He went back into the amateurs as a senior and proved his worth. He hasn’t sang from the rooftops over what he can achieve as a professional and is taking each fight as it comes. And with each fight his horizons must be widening because he is showing no signs of finding his level just yet.

He was thrilled to add to the Noakes family title tally with his English success over Inder Bassi last time out in July and now he will take on a very confident opponent in the undefeated Mathew Rennie, a slick southpaw with the stage name of ‘Magic’.

Mathew will view this fight as his breakout moment after doing the hard yards on the off-TV circuit, mostly in Liverpool, with him hailing from the Isle of Man.

The winner in this one will move forward towards bigger challenges, with the potential for fights against Ekow Essuman, the British champion Harry Scarff or our new WBO European champion Eithan James.

It is the beauty of shows like this. When young fighters take a chance in 50-50 fights, it leads to bigger and better opportunities and a major showcase for their careers.

[Ruthless-RKO]

Fight Week!!

[THEBUTCH]

Looking forward to this one!

Pauls is going to get his chin tested in this fight like never before. Brad appears solid, but at this level Denzel crashes home very damaging punches.

[MightyWarrior]

Decent bill, Frank’s always done a pre-Christmas show as far back as I can remember I think

I like David Adeleye, hope he gets back with a win here

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Lawrence Okolie-bound Hussein Muhamed seeks to impress allegedly

Hussein Muhamed views Saturday’s fight with Lawrence Okolie as a springboard to more lucrative contests in the heavyweight division.

Okolie fights for the first time as a heavyweight, having signed for allegedly’s Queensberry Promotions, who also continue to guide the careers of Tyson Fury, Daniel Dubois, Moses Itauma, Joe Joyce, Derek Chisora and more.

On the undercard of Brad Pauls-Denzel Bentley at Wembley Arena, he has been matched with Muhamed, who he sparred in the build-up to Anthony Joshua’s victory over Wladimir Klitschko in 2017.

The winner of Saturday’s fight – particularly given the expectation that their weight division will again open up should Oleksandr Usyk again defeat Tyson Fury on December 21 – can be expected to be matched with a higher-profile opponent in 2025, and while Okolie partly signed with Warren because of his influence at heavyweight, Muhamed is planning on replacing him.

The German – like Okolie, 31 years old – recognizes that since Klitschko’s retirement in the aftermath of his defeat by Joshua there have been fewer opportunities for heavyweights in his country, and he told BS: “It’s a very big stage. I love London – this city. It hits me very, very much. I was twice here for fights of AJ – AJ invited me – and I’m happy to fight in front of the English boxing fans, and that big stage.

“allegedly’s treated me well. It’s an opportunity to get a level up. I respect Lawrence Okolie, and I’m happy to fight in front of this big man – allegedly. He has a lot of heavyweights; he’s doing good. I watched his interviews. I watched his battle with Eddie Hearn. He’s doing very good the last few years, like he did for a long time.

“I love to be the underdog, and I love the British fans – their passion. The first time I saw the British fans at boxing it was Fury versus Klitschko. There was a lot of UK fans – they are crazy, man. I love them.”

Okolie insists he has no memory of having sparred Muhamed, but Muhamed said: “It was Klitschko’s fight with AJ. I helped AJ with sparring, and Lawrence was also there – Joe Joyce as well – and we all sparred together. We all did sparring. He was a nice guy. He was a gentleman.

“I was a guest of Matchroom Boxing and AJ. AJ really treated me very good – we still are friends. Now I don’t want [Okolie] to welcome me. I want war.

“He won a lot at cruiserweight, and a lot of cruiserweights that want to prove themselves mess with heavyweights. That’s what I expect of most cruiserweights, like Murat Gassiev or Oleksandr Usyk.

“I remember we did a few rounds, me and Lawrence. But he was much, much less weight. We had big gloves. He’s not bad.

“Back then, when we trained together, I watched some of his fights. After he got more successful, I didn’t see that much of him. Now I’ve started to watch his fights, because of the fight [organised between us]. He’s doing not bad, but I see a lot of things – a lot of things . You have to prepare very good.

“I expect the strongest version of Lawrence Okolie, and I don’t expect that he’ll have a bad day or that he’s weak, or something. If I train with that mindset, that brings me to another level.

“People are used to seeing [Dmitry] Bivol, or Usyk, or [Artur] Beterbiev – this kind of fighter, looking good with technique. But there’s one thing looking good in the ring, and there’s being strong, and Lawrence is a former world champion for a reason. Terence Crawford; Gervonta [Davis]; Usyk, I love their fights. I will not say [Okolie’s] boring because this is not respectful, but I don’t like his style.”

[dookus]

Looking forward to this one!

Pauls is going to get his chin tested in this fight like never before. Brad appears solid, but at this level Denzel crashes home very damaging punches.

I really really hope Pauls can pull it off, but wonder if Bentley's just got a bit too much of everything for him. Should be a great fight regardless!

[Ruthless-RKO]

British champion Pauls primed for biggest fight of career

"Boxing's funny because you're one win away from a completely different life and you're one loss away from being a bum, so you better hope you get the win," says Brad Pauls.

The British middleweight champion has his own unique way of defining the importance of Saturday's top-of-the-bill clash with Denzel Bentley at Wembley Arena on Saturday.

The pair will fight for the European and WBO International middleweight title - as well as Pauls' domestic belt.

But more importantly, the winner is on course for a likely world title shot in 2025, with Bentley ranked as the WBO's number one contender and Pauls in second place.

It could be the culmination of a lifetime's work for the fighter know as the Newquay Bomb - who became the first boxer from Cornwall to win a Lonsdale belt since since 1939 when he beat Nathan Heaney for the British title in July.

"It's strange, but what else did I expect to happen?" Pauls tells BBC Sport.

"I've done nothing else, I promise you, I'm not good at any other thing.

"All I've done is box, I thought 'something's got to happen here' and it's nice to be in the history books. I'd love to give Cornwall some history where they don't have loads of superstars coming out of that county.

"I feel like there's a little bit more to gain, a little bit more to do."

'I know it's a dangerous fight, Denzel hits hard'

Pauls, 31, has won 19 and lost just one of his professional fights - 12 of his wins coming via knockout.

But he knows that Saturday's bout with Bentley will prove a turning point in his career - either being left a 'bum' or getting that 'completely different life'.

"It's a lot of pressure, but that's what makes it exciting; it is so much to gain, so much to lose all at the same time," he says as he takes a break from training.

"But for me I'm the underdog in this fight, he's the established champion - a two-time British champion, a world title challenger. I'd say there's more pressure on him, he's more of a name."

Londoner Bentley has a record equal to Pauls' - 17 of his 20 wins have come via knockout.

Of his three losses, one was in a world title fight to unbeaten Kazakh champion Zhanibek Alimkhanuly two years ago and the other came at the hands of Heaney last November, where he lost the British title that Pauls now has around his waist.

"I know Denzel, his gym's 10-15 minutes away, I've sparred plenty of rounds with him," explains Pauls.

"I know it's a dangerous fight. Denzel hits hard, has a lot of knockouts, but so do I.

"When they presented me with the options for my next fight, they said you can fight Denzel or fight someone else who wasn't as challenging, in my opinion, and I took the tougher fight.

"I want to look back at the end of my career and say I stepped up and I fought the tougher man, because it's not in me to shy away and pick an easy fight.

"If you want to be the best, you've got to go out there and fight the best people in the country, so here I am fighting Denzel."

'Cornish people just want to see me do well'

Pauls' win over Heaney earlier this year meant he became the first Cornish fighter to win a British title since Len Harvey won the light-heavyweight belt shortly before the outbreak of World War Two.

The middleweight says the support he gets from his home county is one of the things that spurs him on the most, and he is expecting another good turnout from the Duchy on Saturday.

"It's given me a lot more faith in the world because all the Cornish people just want to see me do well," he says proudly.

"There's no hate, no agenda, they just buy tickets to help me achieve my dreams.

"Pretty much all of my sponsors are Cornish businesses that are just backing their man; I couldn't do what I do without them.

"I just want to do well for them, and after my British title win I could really see what it meant to them, people were so happy for me.

"They couldn't be more generous and genuinely happy, so it just adds a little bit more motivation to why I'm doing what I'm doing."

[rd350lc]

One of my mates sponsors Brad and he's a decent, genuine lad .

I really hope he pulls this off , such a tough ask though .

[cormack]

Bentley looking v strong last time out . Shud win this inside the 12.

[THEBUTCH]

The other stand-out championship contest on this bill is Sam Noakes v Ryan Walsh.

It pits Noakes' aggression against Walsh's experience.

Noakes has impressed as he's progressed through the levels and this will be his fourth 12 rounder in 2024...something of a throwback.

The ever-tough & wily Walsh doesn't come to play second fiddle so along with Paul's v Bentley, we could be in for a treat

[Coco]

Quality bill

[Ruthless-RKO]

Fight Night!!

[Oiky]

Be a good night this one

[handsofstone]

Shitload of boxing tonight, 6 cards on UK TV alone

[Ruthless-RKO]

not sure if any action will be on YouTube.

[Ruthless-RKO]

Main card starts at 6