Denzel Bentley produced another early night at a familiar site.
The heavy-handed middleweight flattened Derrick Osaze in the second round of their TNT Sports main event. Osaze was dropped and counted out at 2:27 of round two Saturday evening at York Hall in Bethnal Green, England.
Bentley fought at this venue just three months ago, with the same result. The local favorite from nearby Wandsworth stopped Danny Dignum (16-2-1, 9 KOs) in the second round on May 17.
It was a must-win scenario for Bentley (20-3-1, 17 knockouts) after two defeats in a three-bout span. His stock rose albeit in a losing effort in his Nov. 2022 WBO title challenge of Janibek Alimkhanuly (15-0, 10 KOs) in Las Vegas. Harsh—and justified—criticism ensued, however, after a points loss to Nathan Heaney (18-1-1, 6 KOs) one year later in Manchester, England.
Bentley has since rediscovered his in-ring swagger, competition level aside.
Osaze (13-2, 3 KOs) came to fight and pressed the action for the bulk of the opening round. Bentley wisely covered up during those moments and often forced Osaze to badly miss his mark. The more telling blows were produced by Bentley, who offered a measured approach and didn’t look for the knockout.
It eventually surfaced.
Bentley was well in control for much of round two. Osaze continued to come forward but ultimately paid the price. Bentley was in perfect position to land a right uppercut to functionally end the fight. A subsequent left hook and right hand served as window dressing, as Osaze landed flat on his front side. Referee John Latham proceeded to count out the Nottingham-based middleweight.
“It was a good shot, man. That was a clean shot,” Bentley said during his TNT Sports post-fight interview. “It was a good feeling.”
The celebration was briefly muted so that the victor extended his humanitarian side to his in-ring-rival and his loved ones.
“Derrick’s a good lad,” insisted Bentley. “We have loads of mutual (friends). After my last fight against Dignum, he messaged to congratulate me. He went on to share about our kids. I have two kids. He has two as well, just had a newborn. We wished each other the best, and before you know it, we had a fight.
“We just had to put aside our feelings and proceed. This is how we feed our families.”
Bentley is back in position for better paydays after back-to-back second-round knockouts. A big one could come if he can position himself to revisit old business. Alimkhanuly, No. 1 at 160 by The Ring, holds the WBO and IBF titles but has yet to fight in 2024.
“Listen, I’m No. 2 in the WBO,” Bentley pointed out. “I’ve been looking for a world championship for a long time in my career. That’s what I want.
“Having all these other [British middleweights] out there, it just means more. More options and I’m not being put in a corner. If these guys want to fight, I’m ready for you. All you got to do is say my name. I’m like Candyman, say my name three times in a row… and I’m there.”
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