Sheeraz-Bentley slated for Saudi showdown

By Declan Taylor

HAMZAH SHEERAZ will set up a December 21 showdown with Denzel Bentley with victory against Tyler Denny at Wembley.

The undefeated Ilford puncher challenges for Denny’s European middleweight title on the undercard of Daniel Dubois’ clash with Anthony Joshua on September 21.

And promoter Frank Warren says a win for Sheeraz will finally secure the long-awaited battle of Britain with Bentley – and a spot on the Oleksandr Usyk-Tyson Fury bill has been reserved for the fight.

The pair, who are both promoted by Queensberry, had been on a collision course for years but Bentley’s shock defeat to Nathan Heaney last year put a line through those plans.

However, Bentley has racked up two inside-distance wins already this year and Warren is ready to put him in against 20-0 Sheeraz next, providing the 25-year-old comes through against Denny unscathed.

“They’re No.1 and No.2 in the WBO so we will see,” Warren told Boxing News. “We can make it now, they’re old enough to do that. It’s that sort of period in their career where they can make those fights. it may be an eliminator for a world title.

“December is the plan, in Saudi. If Hamzah wins against Denny then that’s what we will be looking at.

“I have no problem putting them in against each other. It’s not the end of the world for the loser. It depends how you lose and how you come back. Over the years I’ve had many fighters who have been beaten but I’ve stayed with them and brought them back through. I’m a big believer in that.”