Middleweight world champion Denzel Bentley has inked a multi‑fight agreement with Zuffa Boxing and is set to step into the ring on November 7 at London’s Copper Box Arena, with the bout being shown live on Sky Sports. The Battersea‑born fighter will face the talented American middleweight Shane Mosley Jr. as part of the stacked ZUFFA BOXING 12 card, which is headlined by the clash between Chris Billam‑Smith and Cheavon Clarke. Tickets for the event are on sale now through Ticketmaster, and demand is already high given the quality of the lineup.
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 he turned the tide in the seventh round, delivering a decisive finish that secured the interim belt, which was subsequently upgraded to the full world championship.
Bentley’s path to the top has been anything but smooth. After a promising start to his career, he earned the British middleweight title but fell short in his first world‑title attempt against Zhanibek Alimkhanuly. A surprising defeat to Nathan Heaney followed, yet Bentley rebounded by defeating Danny Dignum, Derrick Osaze and Brad Pauls, positioning himself for the pivotal showdown with Saavedra.
Reflecting on his journey, Bentley told Sky Sports, “That was a goal checked off my list – becoming a world champion. I can now look back and say I achieved that milestone, but I’m not stopping here. I want to push my limits further.
Nobody expected me to reach this level when I first started.” He added, “I wasn’t even sure I’d get a chance to fight for a world title, let alone win one. It’s the highest honour in boxing, and I fought my way there.” Shane Mosley Jr., the son of former world‑champion Shane "Sugar" Mosley, arrives in London on a wave of momentum. He most recently stopped Ukrainian contender Serhii Bohachuk in six rounds in Las Vegas, showcasing his power and ring IQ.
Mosley Jr. has already faced elite opposition, 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 undercard features a host of promising fighters. British cruiserweight prospect Lucas Roehrig (9‑0, 5 KOs) will meet Scotland’s Connal McDonald (5‑1, 1 KO) in an eight‑round bout.
Scottish middleweight sensation Sam Hickey (6‑0, 3 KOs) seeks his third straight knockout against Troy "The Hawk" Coleman (15‑5‑1, 7 KOs), building on 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. Meanwhile, super‑lightweight Kayla Allen, who turned professional just last Saturday at the Copper Box Arena, will return for her second pro fight in a six‑round contest, with her opponent yet to be announced. While Mosley Jr.
is not Bentley’s mandatory challenger, he holds the No. 6 spot in the WBO rankings, making the fight a significant test for both athletes. Bentley explained his mindset to Sky Sports News: “I’m eager for a fight. I have a solid knockout ratio, so fans can expect fireworks.
I’m still the reigning WBO middleweight champion, and I’m aware of the chatter online about a possible stripping of my belt. My team has filed an appeal, and we’re hopeful it will be upheld so I can defend the title against a worthy opponent.” He continued, “Mosley Jr.
carries his father’s legacy and a chip on his shoulder. He wants to prove he can match or exceed his dad’s achievements, which makes him a dangerous adversary with genuine motivation.
I expect a high‑octane encounter.” The winner of the Bentley‑Mosley Jr. showdown could open the door to further high‑profile match‑ups. Aaron McKenna, who recently captured the IBF middleweight title by defeating Etinosa Oliha, is mentioned as a potential future opponent. Bentley said, “If I beat Mosley, the next logical step is a fight with McKenna.
Whoever wins that bout will likely be regarded as the division’s number one.” He added, “We shouldn’t just look at past performances of fighters like Carlos Adames or Erislandy Lara; we need to create new narratives that put the middleweight division back on the map.” Fans can watch the entire event live on Sky Sports on November 7, and tickets remain available via Ticketmaster. The fight promises to be a pivotal moment for both Bentley, who aims to cement his reign, and Mosley Jr., who seeks to carve out his own legacy while living up to his famous surname. The Copper Box Arena will host a night of high‑stakes boxing, with the potential for new champions to emerge and the middleweight division to regain its spotlight.