🥊 York Hall is the place to be for Saturday night boxing courtesy of Queensberry Promotions. Top of the bill is a middleweight title showdown between Denzel Bentley and Danny Dignum. Tickets are on sale here.
Queensberry Promotions are back in the capital for their latest show of 2024 show with WBO International middleweight title on the line in the feature event of the evening between Denzel Bentley and Danny Dignum.
MAIN EVENT
It’s Battersea v Basildon as Bentley and Dignum go toe-to-toe in what is set to be a thrilling scrap in Bethnal Green. The winner will be propelled up the middleweight rankings.
Two-time British champion Bentley (18-3-1, 15 KOs), 29, was on the wrong end of a majority decision up in Manchester in November of last year when he defended his Lonsdale belt against Nathan Heaney. A year earlier the Londoner had extended the WBO world champion Janibek Alimkhanuly to a tough 12 rounds in Las Vegas.
Former WBO European champion Dignum (16-1-1, 9 KOs) has been contending with inactivity in recent times. The 32-year-olds last fights came in March and April of 2023 with victories over Dustin Amman and Lukasz Maciec respectively. Previously, Dignum was also defeated by Alimkhanuly in a challenge for the WBO Interim world title in May 2022.
UNDERCARD ACTION
Also on tonight’s card is the return of the ‘Piranha’ Ryan Garner (14-0, 8 KOs), in a defence of his WBC International super featherweight title against former British champion Liam Dillon (13-1-1, 3 KOs), in what will be the toughest examination to date for the Southampton 25-year-old.
British and Commonwealth featherweight champion Nathaniel Collins (14-0, 7 KOs) is back in title action with a challenge for the EBU Silver Championship against the champion Francesco Grandelli (18-2-2, 4 KOs) from Italy.
FIGHTERS QUOTES
“I think Danny is a good fighter, nice and sharp,” commented Bentley on his forthcoming foe. “He’s had a good amateur career and a decent pro career.
“This is what I am about. I just want to be in fights that people want to see me in. I am a boxing fan so when I see a good fight getting made I am excited. There are fights that get fans excited and this is one of them. The belt will put the winner straight back in there. I told them I didn’t want any comeback fights, I just want to get straight back in there.”
Dignum, who trains out of the iBox Gym in Bromley under the stewardship of Alan Smith, admits he was beginning to despair over his lack of options, but continued striving and now gets his reward in the shape of a big title fight.
“I can’t wait for it,” he said. “I know Denzel very well and I’ve got a lot of respect for him and his team. This is a real good fight and I think a genuine 50-50. This is what people want to see and I’ve not really boxed before in a big domestic fight. This will be my first one and I rate Denzel highly and think he is a very good fighter, but I am so up for this and I’ve got a buzz about me in the gym again now.
“I have been training for a year with no fight so I can’t wait for this. I was thinking about retiring and was on the verge of it. Now this fight has come up and they have given me eight weeks’ notice. You never know what is around the corner in this game.”
FRANK WARREN QUOTES
Hall of Famer promoter Frank Warren added: “This is a proper middleweight dust-up between two fighters with it all to prove. Both have fought at the highest level. And both of them are trying to force their way back into the picture.
“Winning the WBO International championship will do just that. I am sure this will be a popular match-up with the fans and it has got all the makings of a York Hall classic.
“I am also looking forward to getting our Piranha back on the prowl again with Ryan Garner defending his WBC title in an excellent fight against Liam Dillon to kickstart what we plan to be a very big year for him. Plus we have Nathaniel Collins bidding to win a third title in the EBU Silver belt in what will be another step forward for him.”
QUEENSBERRY PROMOTIONS TICKETS, TIMINGS & TRAVEL
Tickets for this Queensberry Promotions show are on sale via the ‘Get Tickets’ link.
🔑 Doors open at 5pm tbc.
🥊 Show starts at circa 6pm.
🚊🚗 Travel tips: Bethnal Green underground station on the Central Line is closest to the venue. It’s a 5-minute walk from York Hall Leisure Centre. Parking in the area is limited. Use the Transport for London website to plan your journey.
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