Battersea’s Denzel Bentley a two-time British champion after narrows points win over Linus Udofia
Denzel Bentley regained his British middleweight title with a split points decision over Linus Udofia in South London last night.
The Battersea boxer came on strong in the second half of an absorbing and gruelling bout at indigo at The O2.
Bentley had lost the domestic strap after a third round stoppage defeat to Felix Cash in April of last year. But Cash vacated the title leaving it back up for grabs.
Judges Mark Bates (115-113) and Marcus McDonnell (116-112) scored Friday’s fight in favour of Bentley with Terry O’Connor going 115-114 to the Luton boxer.
But luckily the fact referee Mark Lyson missed a knockdown in the eighth – Udofia’s knee touching the canvas – did not prove costly. If the correct rules had been implemented then that round would have been scored 10-8 to Bentley, rather than the standard 10-9.
“I’ve done it again but there’s more to achieve,” Bentley told Boxing Social. “You can’t keep getting mad high about a British title.
“I thought [when it was announced it was a split decision] they were going to rob me. It was a good fight, the split decision doesn’t spoil it for me. The right man won.
“I thought I was going to stop him. I knew he was hurt – his face was busted up. I said to my corner [before the 12th round] shall I just move around or go for it. They said go for it [finish strong].”
Bentley boosts his record to 16-1-1 (13Kos).
PICTURES: WASSERMAN BOXING
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