Denzel Bentley still disappointed despite pushing WBO world champion Alimkhanuly the distance in Las Vegas

BY RICHARD CAWLEY
richard@slpmedia.co.uk

Denzel Bentley proved some of his doubters wrong as he went the distance with WBO world middleweight champion Janibek Alimkhanuly in Las Vegas on Saturday night.

But the Battersea boxer, a huge underdog going into the contest at Palms Casino Resort, was still left a touch dejected despite being the first to take the unbeaten Kazakhstani (13-0) the 12-round distance.

Bentley was wobbled in the final round but survived and then even managed to fight back in the closing stages after regaining his senses.

Two judges scored it 116-112 in Alimkhanuly’s favour with the other scorecard a more generous 118-110.

Bentley had last been in action defending his British belt in September and made a significant step up in the States.

“I’m a bit disappointed,” said the South Londoner, 27. “I thought that was my moment, that I was going to leave here world champion and cause an upset. It didn’t go that way.

“For me to be the man to go the distance [with Alimkhanuly], that’s not enough for me. I’m here to win, be great, be a world champion and achieve my goals. Coming a close second ain’t good enough for me.

“The crowd were entertained and I’m proud I stuck there until the last round and fought until the last bell. I did get hurt a couple of times and I stuck in there.”

It was Bentley’s first reverse since he was halted by Felix Cash in an unsuccessful bid for the British and Commonwealth titles in April 2021.

Alimkhanuly smiled a few times at his opponent but the challenger did not feel that was because he was feeling comfortable.

“I don’t think he was smiling because he was having fun,” said Bentley. “I think he was smiling because he realised I was a bit trickier than he thought I would be.

“He was smiling to say: ‘Okay, you’re not too bad’.

“In the fifth round Ray [Bull, trainer] told me to push him back and step up the pace.

“Fights come in waves. There were moments I backed off and pushed him back. I can’t say I felt I won or lost but I felt I was in the fight. That last scorecard was a bit wide, a bit disrespectful. I think I earned his respect, he definitely earned mine.”

“I can be a world champion. This wasn’t an eliminator and I let it slip. I’ve got to go back to the gym, get better and go again – keep climbing up that ladder. I’ll be back and I’ll be world champion. I showed I’ve got heart and that I’ve got the minerals. But just showing it isn’t enough, you’ve got to do it.”

Alimkhanuly said: “It’s good for the fans if I knock [opponents] out in the first round, it’s good for me if the opponent doesn’t get knocked out in the first round. You gain experience every round. Twelve rounds was a great experience for me.”

Bentley’s record is now (17-2-1, 14 KOs).

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