Black Country hero Denny is Euro king
Denny basks in the glory last night. Images: Lawrence Lustig/Boxxer
IF there is such a thing as Bovril cocktails, Black Country fight fans would’ve drank them while cracking open celebratory packets of scratchings following Tyler Denny’s European middleweight title victory.
They chanted his name from every tier of The Halls, Wolverhampton, last night as Denny paraded the belt and a Black Country banner.
In truth, his victory over veteran champ Matteo Signani was confusing and inconclusive. At times it was scrappy. Signani’s corner, treating a deep arcing cut over the Italian’s eye caused by a head clash, took an inordinate amount of time to leave the ring at the start of the eighth.
After what seemed an age, but later timed at eight seconds, and with the 44-year-old’s gumshield still not inserted, his trainer still by his side, referee Philippe Wouters waved off the battle.
Denny, belt over his shoulder, salutes the crowd
It was announced as a corner retirement.
The means of victory didn’t matter to former English champ Denny or his army of supporters. He has stepped from the small hall shadows to rule Europe. A world title fight is no longer a pipe-dream.
“It (the head clash) was accidental,” the 32-year-old said afterwards. “I feel as if I was winning, I thought he was tiring. It would’ve been nice to carry on, but I’m not complaining.
Signani shows the damage that would end the contest
“I’ve fought everywhere and this is definitely the best place.”
I had southpaw Denny (11st 5lbs 5oz) ahead at the end, but the tough Rowley Regis fighter didn’t have it all his own way.
Signani (11st 4lbs 5oz), with a stiff, jerky style, wobbled Tyler in the fifth with a left immediately after being buzzed by a shot from the challenger.
The champ carried power, but while Denny’s work flowed, Signani’s punches appeared forced and laboured. Mostly straight, they were fired from a high guard.
After a feeling-out first round that saw Denny target the body, Signani copped a heavy left in the second. A sweeping shot from the same hand made his legs dance momentarily in the third.
Signani always looked to hit back and a long right caught Denny coming in.
His defence took a turn for the worse in the fourth, with blood seeping from a wound in the corner of his left eye, a session where Denny’s body-punching caught the eye.
Both shipped heavy shots in the fifth, then came the drama that would effectively end the encounter. Signani, wincing in pain, stepped back after the sickening head clash and the ugly wound – a crimson frown across his right eye – survived a doctor’s inspection.
It was deep and turned the champ’s face into a crimson mask as he attempted to force the action in the seventh.
The gash, I believe, would have terminated the contest at some stage. The manner of the bout’s conclusion caught spectators by surprise.
Denny and Signani trade punches early on
That didn’t prevent the Black Country knees-up that followed.
Denny, a man who has had his share of misfortune in a 23 bout career, can now think big.
“Where’s Eubank?” he shouted from inside the ring, “I’ll fight anyone.”
Ben Shalom, boss of Boxxer, the promotional outfit behind the televised show, admitted: “Eubank-Denny sounds good.”
After plying his trade at Walsall Town Hall, Dudley Town Hall and an assortment of West Midlands venues, all the big names sound good to Denny.