Denzel Bentley, who was expected to be contending for a world title, found himself nearly taking a job as a delivery driver instead. After finishing 2024 on a strong note by capturing the British middleweight title for the third time and securing the European championship, the 31-year-old from London was confident a shot at a world title was imminent. However, although discussions with promoter Queensberry initially raised hopes, when fight schedules were released, commitments fell through.
During this frustrating period without fights, Bentley’s financial situation deteriorated, forcing him to explore alternative income sources just to get by. A conversation with his cousin even led him to consider becoming a delivery driver through the Amazon app, but a lack of available work in his area ultimately stopped him from signing up. “After a year out, I felt I had to do something,” Bentley told BBC Sport. “I’m good with money and managed to hold on until then, but it was starting to pinch. My cousin told me about the Amazon gig—zero hours contract through an app you use to check for local jobs. I downloaded it and logged in, but there weren’t any deliveries nearby, so that’s why I didn’t proceed.”
Bentley’s 16-month break from the ring didn’t prevent him from winning the WBO interim middleweight title in April 2026, defeating Endry Saavedra. Three months later, he was promoted to full world champion when Janibek Alimkhanuly moved up to super-middleweight, fulfilling Bentley’s lifelong dream. However, Bentley’s reign lasted only 102 days without any defenses because he chose to fight Shane Mosely Jr instead of his mandatory challenger. The upcoming bout against Mosely Jr at London’s Copper Box Arena on Saturday has brought Bentley’s frustrations into the spotlight, though he remains hopeful that promoter Zuffa Boxing can help him return to world title contention. “I’ve switched to Zuffa, and people think it’s just about money,” Bentley said. “Yes, I want to be paid fairly—it’s a tough job with a lot of punishment—but my main goal is to become world champion again. I’ve asked Zuffa to help me get back on track, and they said no problem.”
Bentley’s entry into boxing was anything but typical, starting out in a fight club organized by his brother in their local neighborhood. With only headgear, gloves, and a friend, Bentley stepped into the sport and has since compiled a record of 22 wins, three losses, and one draw. He quickly realized that street fighting was very different from professional boxing. “When I went to college, I met a friend who boxed, and because of what I did on the streets, I thought, ‘Yeah, I can box.’ But it was completely different. I called punches the wrong names—thinking there was a left jab and right jab, but it’s actually a jab and a right hand or cross,” Bentley recalled. “I was hitting the bags with bad form and getting beaten up in sparring. I thought, ‘OK, this isn’t what I was doing before,’ but I was determined to learn.”
Getting to the gym was also challenging financially, but Bentley’s resourcefulness helped him adapt by using Santander bikes. “I was short on cash, had sold my car, and didn’t want to spend money on buses. So I rented Santander bikes,” he explained. “I’d pay £2, ride quickly to make sure I didn’t go over 30 minutes, then return the bike and come back. As long as I stayed under half an hour, I wasn’t charged extra.” Bentley’s gym was in Bermondsey while he lived in Battersea, so before finding this solution, he simply walked. “People would ask if I liked walking to the gym, but I had no other way,” he said. “When I found the bikes, that was a complete game-changer.”
Fan Take: Denzel Bentley’s journey from almost quitting to becoming a world champion shows the grit and determination needed in boxing. For fighting fans, his story underscores the struggles behind the scenes and adds depth to every match, reminding us how valuable perseverance is for the sport’s heart and soul.
Source: sports.yahoo.com
