Denzel Bentley, known as "Candyman," made a powerful statement in the middleweight division with a stunning second-round knockout of Derrick Osaze. Bentley displayed his explosive power and precise timing, needing only a couple of rounds and a perfectly executed right uppercut to finish the job. Osaze, who started the fight energetically, was quickly undone by Bentley's calculated approach. Bentley revealed that he spotted the opening for the knockout early in the fight and waited for the perfect moment to unleash his decisive punch.
Reflecting on the victory, Bentley expressed his satisfaction with the clean shot that ended the fight and acknowledged the long and challenging journey he's had in his career. He credited his manager, Martin Bowers, and promoter Frank Warren for their unwavering support and was grateful that Osaze was okay after the knockout.
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With this victory, Bentley has solidified his position as the number two contender in the WBO rankings, putting the disappointment of his previous decision loss to Nathan Heaney behind him. The loss to Heaney came during a difficult time in Bentley's life, but he has since bounced back with two impressive stoppage victories.
Now, Bentley has his sights set on a second world-title shot. He previously challenged Janibek Alimkhanuly for the unified WBO and IBF middleweight titles in November 2022, pushing the Kazakh champion hard before losing by unanimous decision. Bentley is eager for another opportunity to prove himself on the world stage and is ready to take on any of the big names in the middleweight division. His message is clear: "Say my name, and I'm there."
Read full short results of the event here.
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