FAST-RISING MIDDLEWEIGHT force Denzel Bentley could not hide his delight over signing promotional terms with Frank Warren and joining up with the Hall of Fame promoter's richly talented team of champions and contenders.

The charismatic 24-year-old from Battersea has built up an 8-0 record to date, with seven of those wins coming via blistering KO.

His first two fights as a professional - under the stewardship of trainers Ray Ball and Martin Bowers - lasted a combined 88 seconds. His third, a revenge mission for an amateur reverse against Ashley Bailey-Dumetz - went into overtime by Bentley standards and was concluded in 98 seconds.

Aside from redoubtable journeyman Christian Hoskin Gomez, who last the full six rounds, none of his subsequent five fights have extended beyond the second round.

"I am excited about it," said the Peacock Gym protégé. "I found out yesterday and I am so happy about it. It was good news for me when Martin came through with the contract, I signed it and now it is my time.

"It is time for me to get the exposure and to get my name really out there on the scene domestically.

"I am eight fights down the line, I have paid my dues and I have been waiting for an opportunity like this for a while. You need to be patient and this has come at the right time for me.

"I couldn't ask for any more and I am happy with it," added the 160-pounder, who believes he is 'title-ready' for his entry into the Frank Warren ranks.

"That is the good thing is well, I will be title-ready going onto that platform. I have got to perform going into these fights and then I feel my name will build quite nicely and we'll get bigger fights.

"It's good, I've had my early learning fights and I want to step up now, but it will be down to the team."

Denzel will debut for his new team at the Royal Albert Hall on March 8.

"That is the best thing about it - the Royal Albert Hall! When we went there for the press conference I looked around the venue and was very happy to think I would be boxing there."

MTK Global is delighted to confirm the signing of youth Olympian and African champion Marwan Madboly from Egypt.

 

The Cairo-born 19-year-old also boasts a bronze medal at the 2018 World Youth Championships and turns over determined to emulate his impressive amateur achievements in the professional ranks.

Madboly said: “Since day one, I started boxing to get to the top. I became national champion, then Arab champion, then African champion and I will continue to meet all challenges.

“MTK Global has a lot of champions and a lot of great boxers and I want to start my professional career in the top team.

“I know it’s possible to become a world champion. I hope to achieve that dream with MTK Global.”

South African featherweight Lerato Dlamini has signed with MTK Global as he looks to convert his world ranking into a world title shot.

 

‘Lights Out’ (12-1-KO6) has not been beaten since his professional debut and with the IBF Continental Africa featherweight title and a WBC world ranking title already to his name, is looking to press on to the top of the sport.

Dlamini said: “I’m so happy. I know MTK Global will help me get closer and closer to my dream of becoming a world champion.

“As well as getting me the world title shot, I believe this move also puts me in line for gaining exposure internationally.

“I fought for 11 years as an amateur and won South African national medals in 2010, 2011 and 2012; ending my amateur career with a record of 150 fights, 140 wins and only 10 defeats.

“I’m ready for the next phase of my career and I’m excited.”

Dotel for the WBO European super-lightweight title on February 23.

 

Liverpool’s Sam Maxwell (10-0-KO8) gets his big chance against the Spaniard in Leicester – live on BT Sport – and is poised to show the arena and a televised audience just what a threat he poses to the big names at 140lbs. 

Maxwell said: “This is my biggest fight yet and my first chance to show myself on the big stage. I plan to win my first pro title and blast onto the scene here.

“I know if I get through this fight like I know I can, I’ll be noticed and it’ll be the start of a big year for me. It feels real now and I’m beginning to get properly excited.

“Fighting for a title makes it that much easier to push myself. I’ll be going that little bit further than normal because I’ve got real fire in my belly with something so meaningful to aim for.

“I’m keen for people to see how good I am. Sometimes when I’ve performed well, I think: ‘I wish that had been on TV.’ Now I’m high up on a card in a title fight, I’ve got the screen time and I hope the fans like what they see.”

Maxwell has blasted his way to a degree of prominence since turning professional in late 2016, with only two of his 10 opponents taking him a four and six-round distance.

‘Super’ faced elite fighters such as Vasyl Lomachenko during an illustrious amateur career.