The latest installment of Queensberry Promotions’ ‘Magnificent 7’ series will land in London.
Circuit regulars Brad Pauls and Denzel Bentley will meet in the December 7 TNT Sports headliner from OVO Arena Wembley. Hall of Fame promoter Frank Warren confirmed the bout Thursday along with the show’s full lineup.
Also on the show is the Queensberry debut of Lawrence Okolie (20-1, 15 KOs). The 2016 Olympian and former two-division titlist makes his heavyweight debut against Hussein Muhammed (18-1, 14 KOs).
“This is another exciting card, fully in line with our Magnificent Seven series,” said Warren. “Once again our fighters step up in serious title action in largely even money fights. Brad Pauls vs. Denzel Bentley is as good as it gets in the British middleweight division. The winner can expect to be pushed forward to a world title shot.”
Both fighters are coming off knockout victories in their most recent outings.
Pauls (19-1-1, 11 knockouts) stopped previously unbeaten Nathan Heaney (then 18-0-1) at the top of the previous edition of ‘Magnificent 7’. The 31-year-old Essex man stopped the fight in the 12th round on July 20 at Resorts World Arena in Birmingham, England.
The same venue hosted their 12-round split decision draw just four months earlier. Pauls is now undefeated in his last four starts since an upset loss to Tyler Denny last February.
Bentley (20-3-1, 17 KOs) has a pair of second-round knockouts on the year. Both came after his disappointing loss to Heaney at the top of last November’s ‘Magnificent 7’ show in Manchester.
The 29-year-old Londoner bounced back with a three-knockdown performance against Danny Dignum (16-2-1, 9 KOs) at Bethnal Green’s York Hall on May 11. The win was followed by a two-round blitz of Derrick Osaze (13-2, 3 KOs) on August 17, also at York Hall.
Bentley’s name has previously been teased as a potential opponent for top-rated middleweight Hamzah Sheeraz (21-0, 17 KOs). Such a match came up when it was believed that Janibek Alimkhanuly (16-0, 11 KOs) would be relieved (or vacated) of his WBO title. The Ring’s no. However, the 1-rated middleweight still holds it and the IBF belt and has been ordered by the WBO to negotiate a mandatory title defense against Sheeraz.
That meant finding another matchup for Bentley, the WBO’s No. 2-rated middleweight. His willingness to take on all comers made it easy for Queensberry to secure his main event on December 7th.
ADDITIONAL BOLTS
Sam Noakes (15-0, 14 KOs) defends his British lightweight title against the resurgent Ryan Walsh (29-4-2, 13 KOs).
Solomon Dacres (9-0, 3 KOs) defends his English heavyweight title against David Adeleye (12-1, 11 KOs).
Pierce O’Leary (15-0, 8 KOs) will appear in a ten-round junior welterweight bout. An opponent has not yet been named.
Sean Noakes (8-0, 4 KOs), Sam’s older brother, takes on Mathew Rennie (13-0-1, 1 KO) in an English welterweight title fight.
Aloys Youmbi (8-1, 7 KOs) and Lewis Oakford (6-1, 0 KOs) collide in a ten-round cruiserweight tilt.
“Sam Noakes against Ryan Walsh is an absolute belter,” insisted Warren. “We can expect fireworks against heavyweights from Sol Dacres and David Adeleye. (That fight) has been brewing for some time now. Additionally, I am excited to quickly welcome Lawrence Okolie to the Queensberry ranks with a title fight.
“Sean Noakes and Aloys Jr are two crowd-pleasers of whom we are very proud. I’m excited to see them both go into really challenging fights against Mathew Rennie and Lewis Oakford respectively. There is something for everyone on this map. I am delighted to transport the Magnificent Seven concept to London for the first time.”
