Middleweight world champion Denzel Bentley has secured a multi‑fight agreement with Zuffa Boxing and is slated to step into the ring on November 7 at London’s Copper Box Arena, with the bout being shown live on Sky Sports. The British fighter from Battersea will square off against the talented American middleweight Shane Mosley Jr. as part of the stacked ZUFFA BOXING 12 card, which is headlined by the showdown between Chris Billam‑Smith and Cheavon Clarke. Tickets for the event are currently on sale through Ticketmaster, and the promotion promises a night full of high‑octane action across multiple weight classes.
Bentley, a world‑class middleweight, captured the WBO title after a hard‑fought victory over Endry Saavedra at the O2 Arena in April. In that encounter, Bentley weathered early pressure before delivering a decisive finish in the seventh round, turning his interim belt into the full world championship. Bentley’s journey to the top has been anything but smooth. The former British champion suffered his first world‑title setback when he challenged Zhanibek Alimkhanuly, and later endured an unexpected loss to Nathan Heaney.
Undeterred, he rebounded by defeating Danny Dignum, Derrick Osaze and Brad Pauls, paving the way for the title‑winning bout with Saavedra. Reflecting on his achievements, Bentley told Sky Sports, “That’s an achievement ticked off, that’s one of my goals.
I can leave the sport knowing that I was a world champion. But now it’s time to try and achieve more and raise my potential.
I don’t think many people tipped me to be a world champion when I first started.” He added, “I didn’t really know if I could even get a chance to compete for one rather than actually win one. It’s the highest accolade in the sport so you have to do a lot to get there but I just bit down and went through the process and made it there.” Mosley Jr., the son of former world‑champion Shane Mosley, comes into the fight with a strong résumé of his own. He most recently stopped Ukrainian contender Serhii Bohachuk in six rounds in Las Vegas, showcasing the power and skill that have defined his career.
Mosley Jr. has previously tasted success at the elite level, including a victory over former world champion Daniel Jacobs and a close contest for the WBC interim title against Jesus Alejandro Ramos last year.
The event also features a host of other compelling match‑ups. British cruiserweight hopeful Lucas Roehrig (9‑0, 5 KOs) will battle Scotland’s Connal McDonald (5‑1, 1 KO) in an eight‑round bout. Scottish middleweight prodigy Sam Hickey (6‑0, 3 KOs) aims for his third straight knockout as he faces Troy “The Hawk” Coleman (15‑5‑1, 7 KOs).
Hickey is riding the momentum of a spectacular seventh‑round stoppage of Brad Axe at Zuffa Boxing 10 in Dublin. American heavyweight Da'Mazion Vanhouter (13‑0, 10 KOs) makes his UK debut against hard‑hitting Ivan Balaz (9‑1, 7 KOs) in another eight‑rounder. The 21‑year‑old Vanhouter has recorded six first‑round knockouts in his last seven outings, promising an explosive display of power. Super‑lightweight prospect Kayla Allen, who turned professional last Saturday at the Copper Box Arena, will return to the same venue for her second professional fight in a six‑round contest, with her opponent yet to be announced.
While Mosley Jr. is not Bentley’s mandatory challenger, he is currently ranked No.
6 by the WBO. Bentley addressed the situation on Sky Sports News, saying, “I’m very game. I like to have a fight.
I’ve got a very good knockout ratio, you can expect knockouts. Most importantly I am still currently the WBO middleweight champion. I know everything that’s gone on online and all the rumours that I could be stripped of the belt.
My team has put in an appeal, that appeal has gone through. We are hoping that we can get through this appeal and we get to defend this WBO title against a game, ranked opponent too.” He continued, “The son of a legend, he’s there with a chip on his shoulder, trying to prove everyone wrong who believes he can’t be as successful as his dad. So he’s very dangerous. He’s got real motivation and he’s going to come in there and put on a great fight.” The stakes extend beyond the immediate bout.
A victory for Bentley could set up a future clash with Aaron McKenna, who recently captured the IBF middleweight title by defeating Etinosa Oliha. Bentley remarked, “I think me and Aaron, the winner of that will be the No 1 in the division. If we are the ones making a noise in this division, you can’t help but make the winner of that fight No 1, rather than looking at Carlos Adames or Erislandy Lara and using their past performances to rank them.
We can put the middleweight division back on the map.” Fans eager to watch the showdown can tune in to Sky Sports on November 7, while tickets for ZUFFA BOXING 12 continue to sell via Ticketmaster. The event promises a night of thrilling encounters, with Bentley’s title defence against the ambitious Mosley Jr. serving as a focal point for a card packed with rising stars and seasoned veterans alike.