Denzel Bentley retained his WBO International middleweight title in devastating fashion, as he knocked Derrick Osaze out in the second round of their meeting at York Hall.
Bentley (20-3-1, 17 KOs) lost his British title in an upset majority decision loss to Nathan Heaney last November, but took this title by stopping Danny Dignum in two rounds in April. Osaze (13-2, 3 KOs) had been largely inactive since winning a BOXXER tournament in 2019 and was last seen in March, stopping Joel Julio in three in Bulgaria.
It was a busy start by both in the opening round, and Osaze took the fight to ‘2 Sharp’ in the second, causing the champion problems until he found a trusty equaliser, flattening the 30-year-old with a huge right uppercut that had him face down on the canvas and the contest was abruptly over.
Bentley, who is ranked at two by the WBO is in line for a rematch with unified WBO and IBF champion, Janibek Alimkhanuly, who beat him on points in November 2022.
The 29-year-old could also target the victor of the September 21 clash between Tyler Denny and Hamzah Sheeraz.
Junior secures first straps
Aloys Junior claimed his first professional titles, as he went the full ten rounds to take the vacant WBA and IBO Continental cruiserweight titles in a wide points win over Oronzo Birardi.
Junior (8-1, 7 KOs) was tested by Birardi (8-1, 6 KOs), but was largely in control, and ran out the winner by two scores of 97-93, and a third at 98-92.
Fail overcomes Rodriguez
The sole eight rounder came at super welterweight, where Ben Fail went the distance in a lively points win against Omir Rodriguez.
A short left hand had Rodriguez (15-20-1, 6 KOs) on the deck in the second round, but the pair then engaged in a firefight, and it was Fail (7-0, 5 KOs) that got the win by a tally of 77-74 for the referee.
Remaining Undercard
Joshua Frankham (10-0, 2 KOs) had his first outing of 2024, and the super welterweight did as he pleased in taking all six sessions against Artjom Spatar (4-10-1, 1 KO).
At super featherweight, Billy Adams (4-0) impressed, winning all six rounds against Marvin Solano (24-19, 8 KOs).
William Hamilton (6-0, 3 KOs) took a lacklustre points win at heavyweight against Perry Howe (5-17-1, 1 KO), triumphing 60-54 over six rounds.
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Mykyle Ahmed (1-0, 1 KO) made his debut and took a stoppage win at super flyweight against Stephen Jackson (1-53-1, 1 KOs), who had only lost early twice in 54 previous outings.
Mason Payne (1-0) also made his bow, and took his welterweight contest with John Henry Mosquera (5-17, 1 KO) on points.
Frankie Wood (1-0) was the third to make a pro debut, and the super featherweight won all four rounds in his meeting with the experienced Engel Gomez (8-35-3, 4 KO).
