“Give me another title fight” – Battersea’s Denzel Bentley on a high after winning British belt

BY RICHARD CAWLEY

Denzel Bentley won his first belt at the weekend – and instantly set his sights on adding to his collection.

The 25-year-old from Battersea was an emphatic victor in his rematch with Mark Heffron last Friday to claim the vacant British strap.

Bentley landed an excellent right hand in the second round which instantly caused serious damage under the left eye of his opponent.

And it was completely closed when Heffron’s corner pulled him out of the contest at the end of the fourth round.

Bentley had drawn with the Oldham fighter in September – all three judges marking it 95-95. But this time he claimed his 12th inside-the-distance win to move his record to 14-0-1.

Heffron drops to 25-2-1.

The former Fisher amateur namechecked Terry Downes, Lloyd Honeyghan and Ted Cheeseman – who all started at the Southwark club and won the domestic belt.

Downes and Honeyghan went on to become world champions while Cheeseman – still active – has challenged for the European belt.

“I’m going to follow in all of their footsteps,” said Bentley, pictured.

“I knew I was hurting him with those right hands – I saw his reaction. I put him on the back foot and I didn’t do that in the last fight.

“I knew I had to stay in there, hold my ground and put in my big shots – that I’d be able to push him back.

“All week I said I was going to stop him, because I knew what I was going to do. I felt stronger and better in the gym. I knew he was a strong guy – but not as strong as the guys I’d been sparring. I knew I could take him out.

“In the third round he tried to put it on me to show his corner he was still in the fight.”

Asked what he wants to happen next, Bentley replied: “Give me another title – I don’t care what it is.”