Denzel Bentley went home with the British and vacant European middleweight titles, as he took a points win against Brad Pauls at the OVO Arena, Wembley on Saturday.
Pauls (19-2-1, 11 KOs) secure a career-best win last time out against Nathan Heaney, finding the finishing punches in the final round for a famous win. Bentley (21-3-1, 17 KOs) had previously held the Lonsdale Belt twice before, and had also challenged for world honours. The Battersea man had taken out Derrick Osaze in two rounds in his most recent effort in August.
Bentley opened by going clinically about his work, and he capitalised on a slow start from Pauls to establish authority early on.
‘The Newquay Bomb’ finally had some small successes in round four and then backed that up by closing the gap on ‘2 Sharp’ in the fifth, and he was gradually cranking up the pressure, forcing Bentley onto the retreat.
The 10th proved to be an absorbing round, and with both connecting with power shots, Bentley found a straight left hand that hurt Pauls and he sought refuge on the canvas, although he did beat the count.
After a give and take penultimate frame, the 29-year-old troubled Pauls in the final round, landing with a couple of stiff right hands, but the two fought to a standstill, as the contest went to the scorecards.
Scores of 117-110, 116-111 and 115-112 saw Bentley become a three-time British title holder, and move to number one with the WBO.
Bentley will be hopeful of landing a rematch with unified champion, Janibek Alimkhanuly who beat him by unanimous decision in Las Vegas two years ago.
Noakes sees off Walsh
Sam Noakes defended his British, Commonwealth and WBO International lightweight titles and edged closer to a world title shot with a clear points win against Ryan Walsh (29-5-2, 13 KOs).
It was a competitive fight, but Noakes (16-0, 14 KOs) was always a step ahead, and was declared the winner by two scores of 120-108, and a third tally at 119-109.
Okolie blasts out Muhamed
Lawrence Okolie (21-1, 16 KOs) made a Queensberry and heavyweight debut, and he needed less than a round to deal with the limited German Hussein Muhamed to take the vacant WBC Silver title.
A massive right hand scrambled the senses of Muhamed (18-2, 14 KOs) and the fight was wisely waved off shortly after.
Adeleye destroys Dacres
David Adeleye rebounded from a stoppage loss to Fabio Wardley by taking the English heavyweight title with a devastating first round stoppage against Sol Dacres.
A superb left hand from Adeleye (13-1, 12 KOs) had Dacres (9-1, 3 KOs) on the canvas heavily, and referee Darren Sarginson called the bout off immediately.
Noakes outpoints Rennie
Sean Noakes successfully defended his English welterweight title, as he outscored Mathew Rennie (14-1-1, 1 KO).
Noakes (9-0, 4 KOs) was the winner by three scores of 97-93.
Remaining Undercard
Aloys Junior (9-1, 8 KOs) defended the WBA Continental cruiserweight title, and took the Commonwealth Silver crown, as he stopped Lewis Oakford (6-2) in the third round of their meeting.
In eight rounders, Pierce O’Leary (16-0, 9 KOs) ticked over with his third fight of 2024, and took a third round stoppage win against Jose Edgardo Perdomo (6-3, 3 KOs).
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Royston Barney-Smith (13-0, 7 KOs) was impressive in scoring three knockdowns in all in a fifth round win in his lightweight contest against Andres Navarrete (12-3, 3 KOs).
Billy Adams (5-0) won all six rounds in his super featherweight meeting with Jonatas Rodrigo Gomes de Oliveira (6-17, 5 KOs).
The sole four rounder saw a debut for George Crotty (1-0, KO0), and he won all four rounds at light heavyweight against Dylan Courtney (2-18-2, 1 KO).
