Denny faces another hungry top prospect

Tyler Denny…coming off a career best performance

ANOTHER night, another unbeaten, hungry prospect awaits Tyler Denny, the southpaw craftsman honed by a succession of tough title fights.

On Saturday, under TV arc lights, the Rowley Regis middleweight puts his English title on the line against Brad Pauls at Wembley Arena.

For Denny – a fighter respected throughout the game, a true pro’s pro – it’s another tough assignment.

The Newquay Bomb is unbeaten in 16 – nine inside distance, spectacularly took the Southern Area title and is being groomed for big things.

But so was Bradley Rea, widely outpointed by Denny last November. Bar a dramatic ninth round when Denny was badly hurt by a body-shot, the Black Country warrior controlled the action to retain his belt.

And Pauls last performance showed he’s beatable. Fellow BCB boxer Ryan Kelly, from Chelmsley Wood, pushed him to a hotly disputed split 10 round decision. Ryan felt sure he’d done enough.

That’s not a good omen for the Cornish hope.

Denny told me on Wednesday: “He’s a good fighter. I think he’ll start quickly and try to take me out.

“I’m buzzing for it – Wembley Arena, on TV – what more can you ask for? The training has gone well, there have been no niggles, I’m just so excited.”

“I feel I have the attributes to beat him – and if I do, they can’t ignore me for a British title shot.”

No boxer deserves a British title fight more than Denny.

He has emerged stronger and more complete from setback and defeats. Like good wine, the 31-year-old seems to be improving with age.

This will be his sixth English title fight in a 20 bout career (two losses, three draws). He initially attempted to take the belt in 2018, but was busted-up by Reece Cartwright. Linus Udofia squeezed past him by majority decision a year later.

Denny seemed on his way to finally taking the title in November, 2021, only to be thwarted by one of the year’s most controversial decisions.

With opponent River Wilson-Bent badly gashed and under fierce pressure, the contest was stopped in the eighth, went to the scorecards and declared a technical draw. Make no mistake, River was staring at defeat before the unsatisfactory finish.

Denny seethed, but gained split decision revenge – and the belt – seven months later.

Then, at Manchester Arena on a star-studded bill topped by Ricky Hatton’s ring return, Tyler uncorked the master class against Rea.

He is on top of his game and represents the greatest threat to Pauls’ perfect record.

And Denny warned: “I don’t take too much notice of what my opponent’s done because they haven’t boxed at the level I have.

 “I would love a shot at the British title, I don’t know what more I have to do to get one. They can’t keep on ignoring me.”

 If he wins on Saturday, a bid to take the Lonsdale Belt must be next.