Having given a good account of himself against the world’s best middleweight Janibek Alimkhanuly in November 2022 the future looked bright for Denzel Bentley.
However, a one-round blowout of Kieran Smith last April was followed by a fight – and third defence of his British title – against Nathan Heaney in November, which ended up being the Boxing News Upset of the Year.
Bentley spoke to Boxing News about that loss, as well what it means to become a father for the first time. He also gives his thoughts on one-time potential opponent Hamzah Sheeraz facing Liam Williams next month.
Interview by Shaun Brown
BN: How have you been since the defeat to Nathan Heaney?
DB: It’s been up and down. The first week or two were horrible having to deal with it. I had a son before the fight so I finally get to spend some time with him. He spent the first nine to 10 days in hospital because he was premature. When he came out, I asked my girl to go to her mum’s so I could focus on the fight. It was mentally draining for me going into that fight. But I’ve managed to spend some time with him and haven’t really been thinking too much about the loss because I’ve been spending time with my son. It’s a new experience for me.
BN: How are you finding fatherhood?
DB: Interesting. It’s good; I’m enjoying it. Knowing I’m someone’s dad now… anyone that knows me, in a playing way, knows I’m one of the most immature out of my friends (laughs). Everyone kept saying, “Karma’s going to get back to you,” and I’ll get a son as annoying as I am. I’m sleeping through all the cries late at night so I’m not really being too disturbed. I guess I’m just that tired. The missus gets upset every time. I wake up and I’m like, “You slept well?” And she’s like, “You think so?”
BN: Have you watched the fight back?
DB: No and I’m not going to. I watched the highlights, that’s about it. I know what was going on in the fight. I was mentally drained. I couldn’t switch the gears. I wasn’t setting anything up. I kept walking forward thinking I’m going to land but didn’t have the capacity to think about my work. In that sense I guess I overlooked him by thinking I can beat him on my worse day, which I still think I can, but of course he beat me on my worse day, and he was at his very best.
Like I said, there was a lot going on: my son was premature and I was helping my missus because she had an emergency caesarean. I was back and forth to the hospital and, when I finally get some time to myself, all I could think about was my boy. Now, I feel mentally free. I’m doing what I want to do. I’m seeing my boy, I’m chilling, I’m relaxing. I’m back in the gym as well.
I wish I had this time before the fight to spend some time with my boy, but that’s not the way the cookie crumbled, and I have to deal with it. He weren’t due until after the fight but he came five and a half weeks early. That’s life [and] you’ve got to deal with it. I didn’t want to say that on the night because it would seem like I’m making excuses. I wanted Heaney to enjoy his win. It’s still not excuses but it’s what was going on and I decided to get in the ring. I’ve got to deal with the outcome.
BN: Are you now done with the British title scene, or do you want a rematch with Heaney?
DB: If I can get a rematch, then I would love a rematch. I’d want it with me being in a much better frame of mind. If I don’t get the rematch, I don’t really want to compete at British level again. I know it’s going to be hard to move on and take another direction, but if I can get the rematch then 150% [I’d take it]. If not, I’d rather take another direction. Try and get myself at a higher level.
BN: A fight between you and Tyler Denny for the European title would be a cracker in my opinion.
DB: One hundred per cent. That’s a fight I’d take in a heartbeat. I’d go over to Sky for that as well. I wouldn’t even try and get him over here [to TNT Sports]. He’s the champion. I’ve never shied away from a fight and there’s something big in this fight. Most definitely I’d love that fight. Whether he wants to take it or not, or he feels no because he never got a shot at me when I was British champion… I don’t know we’d have to see. But that’s a fight I’m definitely up for if he wants.
BN: What’s your prediction for the Hamzah Sheeraz-Liam Williams fight on February 10?
DB: Williams looked good in his last fight, but it wasn’t against anybody. Hamzah’s been progressing well. When the fight was meant to be in December, I thought Hamzah would win but then I saw Liam Williams and he looked good. His last few fights before that he hasn’t looked too good. If he’s back to his normal self, it’ll be a good fight but I’m still going to side with Hamzah. I think he wins that.
BN: Is a fight against Hamzah still on your mind?
DB: It’s still a fight I would like. He may not see the point in it anymore [but] I’m relentless. I’m going to keep coming, I’m going to keep pushing forward. I will make a comeback and I will be back in position and hopefully we can get that fight on down the line even if he doesn’t beat Williams. It’s still a fight that’d interest me. It’s a good fight, it’s an exciting fight, and I want exciting fights and big nights.