It was a classic British-style boxing night at the O2 Arena yesterday evening. The event, organized by Queensberry Promotions, was headlined by the 50th and final bout of hometown favorite Derek Chisora against Deontay Wilder. On the main card, British middleweight Denzel Bentley defeated Venezuelan Endry Saavedra via seventh-round TKO, capturing the WBO Interim title.
The fight didn’t begin with much of a feeling-out process. Despite a moderate pace, Bentley came out throwing sharp punches, landing a crisp one-two and immediately taking control. Saavedra looked focused, advancing behind the jab and firing the right hand at the right moment. Both fighters appeared eager to impose their game plan.
The pace picked up in the second round: Bentley launched fast combinations, while the Venezuelan sought close-range exchanges. The Englishman showed excellent timing, waiting for his opponent, slipping out and countering, while Saavedra tried to assert constant pressure and punching power.
The pattern remained similar in the third round. Bentley kept moving well, staying off the line and countering quickly. “El Chino,” step by step, applied steady pressure with punches that were far from light. Despite the relatively balanced action, the punch volume remained low, with both fighters showing great focus.
In the fourth round, Bentley displayed impressive punch selection. He was precise and explosive, but the South American tried to stay glued to him, chasing him around the ring. Bentley defended well at close range, neutralizing any threats.
The fifth and sixth rounds were, truthfully, a bit dull, with the Englishman appearing more cautious. Saavedra, for his part, struggled to maintain consistency. Still, there were plenty of exchanges, with both fighters showing sharp awareness and composure.
Everything changed in the seventh round. The fight suddenly caught fire. The Venezuelan started aggressively, throwing combinations with both hands, but out of nowhere Bentley unleashed a relentless barrage in pressure. It was an endless attack from the Brit, stopped only by the referee, who saw Saavedra in serious trouble on his feet and waved the fight off. An impressive TKO due to the sheer intensity of Bentley’s assault, which left no escape for a Saavedra who had been competitive until that moment.
Bentley is now the WBO Interim world champion, awaiting the return of Janibek Alimkhanuly, who is currently serving a suspension for doping. If Bentley retains his position in the meantime, the two are expected to meet to determine the undisputed champion. We’ll see whether the fight happens and whether the Englishman can prove himself at the top of such a prestigious division.