Denny oozes class in outpointing Ahorgah
Denny keeps Elvis on the end of his jab. Pic: Lawrence Lustig/Boxxer
WHAT a fine craftsman Tyler Denny is.
On Sunday’s big Resorts World show, the southpaw middleweight doled out a textbook lesson on how to deal with an awkward, erratic and dangerous opponent, clearly outpointing Elvis Ahorgah.
Referee Chris Dean scored the 10 rounder 97-92. I gave Elvis only the eighth when he clattered the Rowley Regis favourite with a wild bolo punch and landed a thudding body shot.
Other than that, it was plain sailing for Tyler.
The Ghanaian came with a KO artist’s reputation, 12 of his 13 wins coming early. Yet he was picked apart by Denny who kept on the move, built-up points behind a solid jab, then nailed Ahorgah with hooks.
The standing count imposed on Elvis in the ninth appeared harsh. He slipped, rather than being all shook up by a shot, if you’ll forgive the pun.
This was 33-year-old Denny’s first outing since losing his European title inside two rounds to Hamzah Sheeraz. There was no hangover from last September’s defeat.
“I’ve got all the skills, man,” Denny said after giving a fighter known as “The Soldier” his marching orders. “I showed my skills. I just want big fights – I never turn a fight down.”
Ahorgah gave a larger-than-life performance at the press conference and was equally theatrical during the contest.
He glowered, shimmied, poked his tongue out and, in the 10th, even jumped threateningly on the canvas.
The clowning couldn’t mask the fact Ahorgah lacked the speed, skill and savvy to ruffle Denny. He was too wild, pinning all hope on a big right hand. By the midway stage, it became apparent that was a false hope.
Tyler shrugged off the antics and responded in kind only once, wiggling his hips after the African missed wildly.
He pierced Ahorgah’s guard with a surgeon’s skill and by the third was putting crisp combinations together in clusters.
Denny continued to glide through the gears, while Ahorgah’s work became increasingly ragged. A straight left sent spray flying from the visitor’s ginger hair in the seventh and with the bout in the bag Tyler used the ring and pot-shotted points.
It was a thoroughly professional performance from a thorough professional. And Black Country ex-champ is correct – he’s still in the mix for big fights.