By Mark Eisner: WBO middleweight champion Janibek Alimkhanuly (12-0, 8 KOs) will put his title and unbeaten record on the line tonight against fringe contender Denzel Bentley (17-1-1, 14 KO) on ESPN+ from the Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas. The main portion of the card on ESPN+ will start at 11:00 p.m. ET
Credit: Mikey Williams (Top Rank via Getty Images)
Interestingly, the 27-year-old Bentley believes he’s on the same level as the 2016 Olympian Janibek, more or less, which is surprising this is a showcase [read: mismatch] in favor of the Kazakh.
If Bentley is lucky, he’ll make it beyond the second round, but that’s extremely doubtful. This fight has the first or second knockout written all over it.
Janibek is in another galaxy in terms of talent compared to Bentley, and fans are going to see that immediately tonight when the bell sounds for the first round.
UP CLOSE.
PERSONAL.
We’ll see you tomorrow night – LIVE on @ESPNPlus. #JanibekBentley pic.twitter.com/WyEueEc9pM
— Top Rank Boxing (@trboxing) November 11, 2022
Is Janibek too good for Bentley?
Bentley was exposed last year by British-level fighter Felix Cash, getting blown out in three rounds. Cash arguably isn’t near the same level as Janibek, so that tells you what type of fight we’ll have tonight in the main event of this Top Rank Boxing card.
In the co-feature, WBA female mininumweight champion Seniesa Estrada (22-0, 9 KO) defends against Jazmin Gala Villarino (6-1-2, 1 KO).
Bentley’s recent fights:
Marcus Morrison – TKO 4 win
Linus Udofia – SD 12 win
Sam Cash – TKO 3 loss
Mark Heffron – RTS 4
“I match up good against southpaws,” said Denzel Bentley to Secondsout, discussing his fight with WBO middleweight champion Janibek Alimkhanuly tonight.
“I don’t think it’s much of a leap because the guys he’s been beating aren’t much better than the guys I’ve been beating. It’s not much of a leap,” said Bentley when asked how he’ll adjust to going from fighting the opposition he’s been facing to suddenly dealing with a talented champion in Janibek.
“I’m fighting a good fighter. He didn’t beat a champion to get a belt. That’s no discredit to him because, like I said, he’s a good fighter; he’s an amazing fighter.
“I don’t think there’s much to say. He’s a fighter with a whole lot of potential, and he hasn’t proved it yet. I’m not saying he’s not that guy, but he hasn’t proved it yet. To be honest, neither have I.
“Apart from that, he’s got all the media hat and a bigger amateur background. We’re both kind of on the same trajectory. He’s a champion that has been elevated to world champion, which is cool.
“But with 12 fights and no real big names on his record. I don’t think we’re far off from each other in that sense if that’s what you’re saying about leap.
“I hear that, and I don’t even care,” said Bentley when told that Danny Dignum, a recent knockout victim of Janibek, was impressed by his talent.
“Even if I didn’t know and I seen he was in the Olympics. He’d been in with a few guys from Britain. What does that mean? It wasn’t me. I don’t really care. I’m a good fighter too.
“We’re going to go trade leather and see who comes out on top, which I believe will be me. Not really,” said Bentley when worried about going the distance with Janibek in Las Vegas, where he has the spotlight and the hype about him. “I went the distance with Linus on his own home show.
“That don’t really mean anything. I just got to do what I got to do and win convincingly. I’m not really bothered about he’s the main guy and this and that, and I got to stop him.
“I’m not putting that sort of pressure on myself. You could do that and still not stop him. I’m focused on what I’m going to do and what I’m doing and how I’m doing,” said Bentley.
