Tyler Denny produced a career-best performance against Brad Pauls to successfully defend his English middleweight title.

Although the pair served up a competitive, entertaining fight, Midlands man Denny dominated for large spells and was awarded a unanimous decision by the judges.

Howard Foster and Terry O’Connor both scored the 10-rounder 97-93 while Michael Alexander saw it 98-93 and the previously-undefeated Pauls could have few complaints about the decision.

This was the second successful defense of the title for Denny, who won it back in June via a split decision over River Wilson-Bent in Coventry.

Both men made a sharp start at the Wembley Arena but it was southpaw Denny who was landing first in most of the jab exchanges.

In the third round, Denny’s corner were imploring him to up the pace and put the pressure on Pauls, who was boxing for the first time since May. Denny was having success to the body with his lead hand and finished the round firmly in the ascendancy with a couple of eye-catching left hands snapping the challengers’ head back. 

There was more of the same in the fourth, although Pauls was refusing to crumble, despite another well-timed right hook from Denny in the closing stages appearing to trouble Pauls.

In the eighth, Denny landed the best shot of the fight, crashing home a right hook which made Pauls stumble momentarily although he refused to buckle, even as the champion piled on the pressure.

This was Denny turning the screw but the tiring Pauls dug deep. He even found another gear in the 10th and final round as he went in search of an unlikely come-from-behind knockout. It never came, however, and Denny marches on.