Brad Pauls vs Denzel Bentley Preview
Brad Pauls and Denzel Bentley clash in middleweight action at Wembley Arena on December 7th. This fight will draw in a big crowd because there are several belts on the line. Both fighters enter this bout on the back of huge TKO victories in the Summer.
This all-British clash looks to be one of the most competitive of the year with the British, European, and WBO international middleweight titles on the line. Can Brad Pauls add another belt to his collection, or will Bentley continue his streak of stoppages against the Newquay Bomb?
Brad Pauls vs Denzel Bentley Predictions
Fight outcome: Denzel Bentley to win via decision
This fight looks incredibly tight on paper. They both carry similar height, reach, and records. Brad Pauls enters this fight after a stunning win over Nathan Heaney in July. That was a career-best performance for The Newquay Bomb and he will be full of confidence as he stares down the WBO international middleweight champion. However, Bentley will be happy to meet him in the middle with his British middleweight title on the line.
Denzel Bentley recovered from a loss to Heaney to claim the title in May. He defeated Danny Dignum by a second-round stoppage to lift the belt. ‘2 Sharp’ has showcased his power in recent fights and followed up that title win with another second-round stoppage in his first defence. These fighters are tough to separate, but Bentley’s power and longevity in fights are extremely impressive. Our boxing prediction is for Denzel Bentley to edge out Pauls for a win at Wembley.
Bentley has a clear power advantage in this fight, knocking out 85% of his opponents compared to just 58% for Pauls. 2 Sharp will try to assert his dominance early in this fight and make Pauls feel his power, forcing him back. He can push the pace and pressure the Newquay Bomb and force him to fight defensively. If Bentley can nail down an explosive start, he can control the fight on his way to victory.
Pauls is a great technical boxer and will look to fight methodically against Bentley. That is even more reason for Bentley to start explosively. He will stay active from round one and disrupt his opponent’s rhythm. 2 Sharp can overwhelm Pauls with his power and pace on his way to victory on Saturday night. The technique of Pauls has to be disrupted by activity. Bentley is the perfect boxer to match up against The Newquay Bomb’s style.
However, Brad Pauls is more than good enough to defeat Bentley on his day. His technique is impeccable, and he will wait for openings. While Bentley’s game plan can cause him plenty of problems, it will not be one he stands no chance against. Pauls is more measured in his approach approach and will match well against Bentley’s fast-paced style. It could potentially lead to the International middleweight champ opening up counter-punching opportunities. Pauls thrives in those areas and this fight will be a showcase of two contrasting styles.
Brad Pauls vs Denzel Bentley Fight Outcome
This is a very tough fight to call and looks set to be one of the most competitive British clashes of the year. However, we are taking Bentley to earn a hard-fought victory. The WBO international middleweight champion will make use of his power to take control of the fight. Bentley can control the distance and pace, using his power to push Pauls back against the ropes and into the corners.
Pauls is no slouch when fighting aggressive fighters. While Bentley’s power is his biggest attribute, he must use it wisely. If he lets his fists fly recklessly, he runs the risk of punching himself out or opening himself up to counterpunches. He also risks entering the latter rounds fatigued and sleepwalking into a loss by handing Pauls those rounds. That is why this clash of styles will be so competitive, but Bentley has enough experience to avoid those pitfalls on his way to a win.
Brad Pauls vs Denzel Bentley Betting Tips
Fight Result
Not a lot separates these men if you are considering betting on boxing, but Bentley enters as the favourite to defend his WBO International middleweight title. He is coming off the back of two excellent performances with early stoppages and that power gives him an enormous advantage in this fight. A bet on Denzel Bentley to win is worth 3/5.
Brad Pauls is not to be ruled out. The Newquay Bomb completed a remarkable turnaround in his last fight against Nathan Heaney, a man who defeated Bentley. He is now on a run of four fights undefeated and there is every chance this stylistic clash works in his favour. If you want to bet on Pauls to win, he is worth 11/10 with our online bookmaker.
Method of Victory
Bentley has two knockouts in his previous two fights and four in his last six. However, Brad Pauls has never been knocked out in his career. He does well to avoid big hits, and his defensive boxing is excellent. This is likely to be a battle of wits between two skilled fighters and we can see it going the distance. If you want to avoid choosing a winner, a bet on Pauls vs Bentley to go the distance is worth evens.
If either of these fighters were to win by knockout, the most likely would be Bentley. He has a considerable power advantage over his opponent and has impressed with stoppages in his previous two fights. You can bet on Bentley to win via KO/TKO or disqualification at 4/1 at Novibet.
Bentley has won both of his fights by stoppage in round two. It would be a shock to see a fighter like Pauls be disposed of that early, but 2 Sharp has tapped into another level of power in his recent bouts. You can back Bentley to complete a hat trick of second-round knockouts at 33/1 in the boxing betting markets.
Brad Pauls vs Denzel Bentley Head-To-Head and Key Stats
Brad Pauls had an excellent 18 months after bouncing back from a loss to Tyler Denny in February last year. The 31-year-old defeated Mitchel Frearson in September of that year to regain the British Boxing Board of Control English middleweight title before fighting to a split draw with Nathan Heaney. He enters this clash after one of the best fights of his career in the rematch with Heaney.
The Newquay Bomb clawed back into the fight after losing the early rounds, dropping the Stoke fighter in the fourth. A back-and-forth battle ensued before Pauls came out flying in the 12th round. He dropped Heaney again to claim a dramatic TKO victory in the final round after Hitman failed to answer the ten count.
Standing at 5’10” with a 71” reach, Pauls is virtually identical in proportion to Bentley. The Newquay Bomb fights a technical style, boasting excellent footwork and precision punching over power. Though not a power puncher, Pauls still carries impressive knockout ability with 57.8% of his wins coming via KO/TKO. He boasts a 19-1-1 record with his only loss coming on the wrong side of a decision.
Denzel Bentley has shown his ability to bounce back this year. 2 Sharp was on a run of two defeats in three fights between November 2022 and 2023. Zhanibek Alimkhanuly defeated him in his US debut before losing to Heaney via majority decision in November last year. Bentley has replied to that run with two incredible TKO victories in his most recent fights, claiming and defending the WBO International middleweight championship.
He defeated Danny Dignum for the vacant belt after landing two vicious body shots in the second round that crumpled the 32-year-old. 2 Sharp finished the fight with a lightning-quick right hook, sending Dignum to the canvas for the third time in one round and forcing the ref to wave off the bout. Bentley followed up with another brutal finish in August. His short right uppercut landed flush on Derrick Osaze’s chin, who dropped face-first to the mat before the ref called the fight.
Standing at 5’11” with a 72” reach, Denzel Bentley has a marginal height and reach advantage over Pauls. The Wandsworth-based fighter boasts a big power advantage over the Newquay Bomb with an 85% knockout rate. Bentley is a power puncher who throws with incredible speed. His most recent knockout was a showcase of just how powerful he is, able to throw devastating blows from range and in a phone box. He has a record of 20-3-1 with 17 victories and two losses coming via KO/TKO.
