Denzel Bentley ruthlessly got back to winning ways at York Hall, as he stopped Danny Dignum in two rounds to take the vacant WBO International middleweight title.
Both had encountered Zhanibek Alimkhanuly, with Bentley losing a spirited decision to the Kazakh in November 2022 for the WBO world title, while Dignum was blasted out in two rounds six months earlier.
Dignum had rebuilt with two low-key wins, while Bentley was coming off the loss of his British title to Nathan Heaney.
It was a tense first round, but Bentley (19-3-1, 16 KOs) quickly made his mark, round two seeing him drop Dignum heavily with a body shot.
Although Dignum (16-2-1, 9 KOs) survived the count, he was over again from a blow to the body, and once more on the resumption from a right hand to the head, and with Dignum’s corner ready to halt the contest, the referee waved the fight off.
Just WOW 💥@2Sharp_d puts Danny Dignum down three times before the referee decides to bring an end to the main event inside two rounds…#FightNightLive pic.twitter.com/fSErvBTpp7
— Boxing on TNT Sports (@boxingontnt) May 11, 2024
Sharp survives scare:
Archie Sharp (25-0, 9 KOs) was looking to receive a belated world title shot in 2024, but the super featherweight was caught cold against Argentina’s Facundo Arce (17-15-2, 7 KOs), dropped twice in round one before recording an eight round points win.
Sharp heavily hit the deck from a raking left hook seconds after the opening bell, and he was bundled over again in the same round in an awful start. Sharp regrouped, and scored a knockdown of his own in the third, and gradually showed his class to run out a 79-73 winner for the referee.
Collins grinds it out:
Nathaniel Collins (15-0, 7 KOs) added the EBU Silver featherweight title his collection, but had to work hard to take a unanimous decision against Francesco Grandelli (18-3-2, 4 KOs). Collins came through by two scores of 116-112, and a third at 117-111.
After twelve rounds of attrition, @NateCollins60 gets the W and the European belt 🏴#FightNightLive pic.twitter.com/XojLCcUXB1
— Boxing on TNT Sports (@boxingontnt) May 11, 2024
Garner and Dillon put on a show:
Ryan Garner (15-0, 8 KOs) retained his WBC International super featherweight title, as he took a wide points win in a pulsating contest over ten rounds against Liam Dillon (13-2-1, 3 KOs). Garner won by scores of 99-91, 98-93 and 98-92.
After twelve rounds of attrition, @NateCollins60 gets the W and the European belt 🏴#FightNightLive pic.twitter.com/XojLCcUXB1
— Boxing on TNT Sports (@boxingontnt) May 11, 2024
Barney Smith gets the rounds in:
Royston Barney-Smith (10-0, 5 KOs) went eight rounds for the first time, and the super featherweight took a 79-73 verdict against Jonatas Rodrigo Gomes de Oliveira (6-9, 5 KOs).
Undercard recap:
Ben Fail (6-0, 5 KOs) became the first to stop Ioan Alexandru Lutic (3-8, 3 KOs), as he overwhelmed the Romanian inside a round at super welterweight, while at heavyweight, Tommy Fletcher (8-0, 6 KOs) had to settle for a points win over six against Viktar Chvarkou (5-13, 3 KOs).
Khalid Ali (8-0, 3 KOs) won all six rounds of his super welterweight contest against John Henry Mosquera (5-12, 1 KO), and at cruiserweight, Oronzo Birardi (8-0, 6 KOs)stayed unbeaten with a 77-75 win on the referee’s card over eight against Milans Volkovs (10-3-2, 6 KOs).
