Blocking out the Noise – Denzel Bentley is switched on for the “threat” from Danny Dignum

DENZEL BENTLEY admits he can find it difficult to get motivated for a fight that he is expected to win.

Distractions, or as he describes it, โ€œoutside noiseโ€ can get inside his head and divert his attention from the task at hand. Against Nathan Heaney in November Bentley was widely expected to defend his British middleweight title and be the one who put a full stop on Heaneyโ€™s underdog story.

In the main event at Manchester Arena, after the likes of Nick Ball, Liam Davies, Harry Scarff, Nathaniel Collins, and Solomon Dacres all conducted successful business in the ring, Heaney caused the biggest shock of the night and the year. The underdog snapped away at Bentley and eventually won a deserved decision to take the Lonsdale belt.

Bentley, 18-3-1 (15 KOs), did not want to offer excuses when he spoke to Boxing News several weeks after the loss but believed his wifeโ€™s pregnancy and the premature birth of his first child did affect his preparations.

At the time he said, โ€œI didnโ€™t want to say that on the night because it would seem like Iโ€™m making excuses. I wanted Heaney to enjoy his win. Itโ€™s still not excuses but itโ€™s what was going on and I decided to get in the ring. Iโ€™ve got to deal with the outcome.โ€

Four months later, Bentley now faces Essex middleweight Danny Dignum, 16-1-1 (9 KOs), on Saturday night (May 11) at York Hall. Two years ago, the two men faced โ€œQazaq Styleโ€ Zhanibek Alimkhanuly six months apart in Las Vegas. Dignum was in over his head in May 2022, lasting two rounds, but Bentley went the distance and at the time proved his worth as a world title contender.

โ€œIf I go into the next fight and donโ€™t win that, whatโ€™s my excuse, then,โ€ Bentley laughed.

The 29-year-old initially spoke to BN about his experience last week with Steel Warriors, an anti-knife crime charity, but kindly gave up more time to talk about the Dignum fight which headlines the Saturday fight night on TNT Sports.

โ€œIโ€™ve got to be on point,โ€ he said.

โ€œIf I donโ€™t perform next time, I shouldnโ€™t be in the ring. But I feel good this time. Danny Dignumโ€™s a good fighter. In my opinion a better fighter than Nathan [Heaney]. Iโ€™m excited to put out a statement and get back to where I was because I was in a good position before that [loss], and I let Nathan take that from me. That stung me a little bit. I know that feeling and I donโ€™t want it again. I need to put on a good performance and get back to where I was and move forward.โ€

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Bentley vs. Dignum is the main event at the York Hall (Stephen Dunkley/Queensberry)

โ€œHeโ€™s a good boxer, very technical,โ€ Bentley said of Dignum.

โ€œHeโ€™s a southpaw, got good straight shots, got a good shot selection and he only ever lost once. Heโ€™s a good fighter. I tell people this ainโ€™t a comeback fight. This is a fight I couldโ€™ve had after Heaney if I couldnโ€™t get a world title shot. This is a real competitive fight.

โ€œI know we ainโ€™t seen Dignum for a while and he ainโ€™t been active, but I know he stays in the gym because I know where he trains. And I know in that gym they stay pretty active. Iโ€™m not expecting him to be rusty. Iโ€™m expecting a good version of him. Iโ€™m excited for this fight, Iโ€™m actually really excited, I canโ€™t express how much.โ€

Like many boxing fans, Bentley is enjoying a period in the sport where the best fights are being made. Undefeated records are not wrapped up in protective materials because more and more fighters are willing to take a loss, knowing itโ€™s not the end of their career. The financial injection from Saudi Arabia has likely made the risk factor easier to swallow but letโ€™s not forget that boxing is also prizefighting.

โ€œThatโ€™s the phase weโ€™re in,โ€ Bentley said.

โ€œGood fighters are taking good fights and losing so that undefeated stuff is going out the window. They realise if you take the right fights, you get paid the right money. Weโ€™re in a good phase of boxing because weโ€™re seeing good fights now.

โ€œThe main thing in boxing is if you put up a good fight and a good performance people are going to want to see you again, regardless. It’s a sport, itโ€™s competition. Youโ€™re allowed to fall short in competition, itโ€™s how you get back.

โ€œIโ€™m someone that likes competition,” he added. “If Iโ€™m fighting someone thatโ€™s not on my level, itโ€™s kind of hard to get up for. Iโ€™m sometimes good at blocking outside noise if the task at hand is greater than whatโ€™s going on. When youโ€™re fighting someone that you donโ€™t feel is as good as you or not on your level, sometimes the outside noise can get inside, and you donโ€™t pay attention. I know you should be professional, but thatโ€™s just human nature.

โ€œRight now, Danny Dignum is a threat and can take something away from me. And all the outside noise thatโ€™s going on, itโ€™s easy for me to block out because Iโ€™ve got the energy. Thereโ€™s a threat in front of me and I need to focus.โ€

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