Denzel Bentley vs Nathan Heaney (18-11-2023) Full Fight
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SportsTranscript
00:00 [INAUDIBLE]
00:03 All times above all, protect yourselves at all times.
00:06 Touch gloves.
00:08 Well, the atmosphere in here is electric.
00:12 The fight Nathan Heaney described
00:13 as the FA Cup final of boxing.
00:15 By his own admission, he needs to overturn the form
00:18 and perform better than he's ever done tonight
00:21 against a man in Denzel Bentley, who's
00:24 shown he can mix in at world level, Richard.
00:27 Indeed, Bentley is an established British champion.
00:33 So it'll be interesting to see how this one starts.
00:35 Heaney will try and disrupt the rhythm, I should think,
00:37 of Bentley early on.
00:39 Try and start quick, get the crowd behind him.
00:42 And you never know.
00:44 But Bentley, he's established, like I've said,
00:47 Fletch, and he's a good all-rounder.
00:49 He's a good boxer.
00:49 He's good with his own jab.
00:51 He's got a lot of skill as the champion.
00:53 But that's what Bentley's got to do.
00:55 He's got to get on that front foot and just disrupt
00:57 the rhythm of the champion.
00:59 Heaney comes in tonight as the best man of his career
01:01 against Jack Flatley in March.
01:03 He's sold over 2,000 tickets with his passionate supporters
01:07 from Stoke-on-Trent inside the building.
01:10 Bentley's come such a long way since losing
01:12 to Felix Cash in 2021.
01:14 And his performance against Janibek,
01:16 a challenge for the WBO world title,
01:19 indicates he might just be hitting his peach.
01:22 The conventional wisdom is that it should be straightforward
01:25 for Bentley, but Heaney is an overachiever.
01:29 And he's in there trying desperately tonight
01:31 to prove everybody wrong, to prove the experts wrong.
01:35 And he's being worn on by this crowd in here.
01:37 - Yeah.
01:38 That would be a big help to him.
01:41 But at the same time, he's got to concentrate.
01:44 He'll lose that jab, keep his chin down.
01:46 He holds his chin a little bit too high.
01:48 Heaney can be a little bit stiff and tense.
01:51 So he's got to be taking risks, got to work behind that jab.
01:55 But Bentley, the champion, just waiting, look, patiently.
01:58 He's quick off the mark, Bentley, with his own work,
02:00 especially with his jab.
02:02 So he's just waiting now for Heaney to come to him,
02:05 to come into range.
02:06 That's what Denzel Benton's doing.
02:09 - Strings of Delilah being sung all around the Manchester arena
02:14 by the Heaney supporters.
02:16 We had the full ring walk, the final bar.
02:18 Heard the song was just about hitting
02:20 when he climbed through the ropes here.
02:23 He's made quite a confident start
02:25 in there against Denzel Bentley.
02:26 The black trunks for Heaney,
02:27 the car key for the champion,
02:29 gone back to suit.
02:30 Heaney landing that right hand after Bentley
02:34 had just missed with one of his own.
02:35 - Yeah, that's still too bad there from Heaney.
02:37 He's got to measure the distance and gap
02:38 a little bit better though,
02:39 especially with the left hand of his.
02:42 He just started a couple of the attacks
02:43 a little bit too far out,
02:44 but Bentley is getting into a rhythm.
02:47 Now finding the target there with that right hand.
02:49 (crowd chanting)
02:52 - He's a good opener actually.
02:54 (crowd chanting)
02:57 - Bentley popping out that left jab.
03:12 He's been boxing on the back foot in the lane
03:14 in this first round.
03:15 Heaney looking to try and counter punch
03:18 when he gets the opportunity.
03:19 He just started to let his hands go right
03:21 at the end of the round there,
03:22 the man from Stoke-on-Trent.
03:24 (crowd chanting)
03:27 (bell ringing)
03:28 And there's the bell to end the first.
03:30 (crowd cheering)
03:33 - Oh Lord, listen, you're walking onto his right hand
03:42 a few times.
03:43 I told you what he's doing.
03:45 Listen, he's looking for that right hand counter
03:48 as soon as the bell went one-two.
03:50 I told you.
03:51 Right hand counter, keep unsettling him.
03:53 Drop in, drop out, step one way, step the other way.
03:57 Don't let him set any of them up.
03:59 Keep him guessing, okay?
04:01 I told you that all along.
04:02 And then be fast and don't hang about the speed.
04:05 That was a good round.
04:06 Nathan, more compact.
04:08 Don't box lovely like that.
04:10 And then give one big shot away.
04:12 Boxing well, spit this.
04:14 - Steve Woodvine in the Nathan Heaney corner
04:16 with no message for us to avoid
04:18 Denzel Bentley's right hand counter punch.
04:20 - Yes, you see, he's got to concentrate on that.
04:23 But I didn't think it was too bad around.
04:25 He just nicked the round to be quite honest.
04:27 (bell ringing)
04:29 Bentley certainly did some better work
04:31 towards the end of the round.
04:32 But overall, he just did enough.
04:34 Not a lot in it though.
04:35 - Second round of 12,
04:38 the British middleweight title on the line.
04:40 That belongs to Denzel Bentley,
04:41 the WBA continental middleweight belt.
04:44 He's what Heaney brought to the ring.
04:45 And he just catches Bentley there with a long right hand
04:48 at the start of his second round.
04:50 - He just started the attack
04:53 from a little bit too far out, Heaney.
04:55 But nevertheless, he did catch Bentley with that shot.
04:59 But he has to watch that.
05:00 He can't afford to start from too far out,
05:03 but that's not bad from Heaney.
05:04 - He's having a bit of success himself there.
05:06 When they got close together,
05:08 it was Heaney landing the shots.
05:11 18 wins for Denzel Bentley.
05:14 15 of them have been via stoppage.
05:16 And a lot of them have been inside the opening two rounds.
05:20 Heaney coming in for the night unbeaten,
05:22 but tends to have to go the distance in the main
05:25 when he's in there.
05:26 - Bentley just made a mistake there,
05:28 when he gets caught.
05:29 He got caught with a right hand counter from Heaney.
05:32 He naturally led with a good one-two,
05:34 but then held his feet
05:35 and Heaney come back with his own one-two.
05:37 So I'm wondering if his building's actually
05:39 livening up this one.
05:41 - We've asked this question a few times tonight,
05:43 and it is the kind of night when we find out
05:45 just how good Nathan Heaney is,
05:46 because he's setting up the levels tonight
05:49 against a man who pushed a very good world champion
05:51 all the way, Denzel Bentley.
05:54 So it's a bit of a fact-finding mission
05:57 with regards to what the absolute potential
05:59 of Nathan Heaney might actually be.
06:01 Bentley's looking for that right hand, isn't he?
06:04 Gonna work, the champion's gotta work more with his jab.
06:08 He's looking for that backhand all the time.
06:11 Both of them looking to grit their teeth
06:13 and let the punches go.
06:14 The look on Heaney's face told you that.
06:16 Not a bad right hand counter there from Bentley.
06:20 Heaney just sitting back and trying to catch Bentley,
06:25 as he's actually coming forward.
06:27 Bentley just finding his range a little bit better now,
06:32 the champion.
06:33 Heaney looks like he's quite happy to stand there
06:35 and have a tear up, if that's what Heaney wants to do,
06:38 whether that's a foolish notion, we'll wait and see.
06:41 Moving towards the end of the second.
06:42 The crowd in here, definitely on the side of Nathan Heaney.
06:48 He's a brilliant ticket seller
06:50 and he's always roared on by the passionate supporters
06:53 from his hometown of Stoke-on-Trent.
06:55 Heaney having to grit his teeth in there.
07:10 And every punch he's thrown,
07:12 he's just tilting up a little bit too much.
07:15 Bentley far more relaxed.
07:17 Good shot from Heaney right towards the end of the round,
07:23 that right hand over the top.
07:24 (crowd cheering)
07:27 (bell ringing)
07:30 - That's shows off.
07:53 It's as hard as you make it.
07:55 You can win this British title with speed, son.
07:59 It stays where it's done.
08:00 The youngster at the side of the end,
08:02 he's loading everything up.
08:03 And the longer it goes on, the more you're frustrated.
08:06 - Let's have a look at some of the action
08:09 from the second match.
08:10 There's Bentley there,
08:13 come back with that nice hook to the body, didn't he?
08:15 That right hand roll there.
08:17 But Heaney himself had a couple of good moments in there
08:21 with those straight shots.
08:22 I just thought Bentley got back into it in that round.
08:25 Who knows, it could be one of his.
08:27 - If you did a straw poll around the arena earlier,
08:30 there were a lot of people suggesting
08:31 that this would be over and done with inside two rounds.
08:34 So Heaney's made a mockery of that.
08:36 Now it's whether he can build from here.
08:38 He's calling on Steve Woodby between rounds
08:40 and saying, "Look, this is gonna be as hard as you make it."
08:43 (crowd cheering)
08:46 - Bentley looking for that big right hand,
08:57 looking to let his hands go.
08:58 Heaney happy to stand there.
09:00 Bentley pushed back by Heaney.
09:03 He's a big man at middleweight, isn't he?
09:05 Big and tall and strong.
09:06 - He is indeed.
09:07 Just a little bit too tense.
09:11 You can see the quality technique in Bentley's work.
09:15 The shots seem to flow a little bit better.
09:17 Heaney tends to push them out a little bit more.
09:20 Nevertheless, gritting his teeth every time
09:24 he throws that right hand.
09:26 Throwing it with real intent.
09:28 (crowd cheering)
09:31 - Heaney's turned to try and counter
09:48 Denzel Bentley's work in there.
09:50 The winner's been promised a world title shot next year.
09:54 Both are very respectful of each other
09:55 at the weigh-in yesterday.
09:57 Both of them very approachable men outside the ring.
10:00 Two good men in there, aren't they?
10:02 - Yeah, they're cracking fellas outside the ring.
10:05 And inside they're in there totally different
10:07 and that's how it should be.
10:08 - This stage probably neglecting his jab a little bit.
10:12 That's not too bad there from Heaney.
10:14 - He's had a bit of success with that right hand,
10:15 hasn't he, up to this point?
10:17 - He's quick raiding attacks that he keeps doing.
10:19 Bentley's just neglecting his jab.
10:20 So he's looking for that right hand all the time.
10:23 Once he catches his opponent with a big power shot,
10:25 he's got to use his jab a little bit more as Bentley.
10:29 But Heaney's doing really well.
10:30 Into the final minute, the third round scheduled for 12.
10:43 Heaney on the move.
10:45 (crowd shouting)
10:48 Bentley seems convinced he can get that big right hand through.
11:00 They were saying between rounds in the Heaney corner
11:02 that he's loading up on that shot, looking to land it.
11:05 Heaney makes the spray cascade off the head of Bentley.
11:08 - Bentley's just neglecting the right hand,
11:12 neglecting his jab rather.
11:13 And the clock is coming forward now, high guard.
11:15 He's just trying to take the shots on the gloves
11:19 and on the arms.
11:20 So he's not really respecting the power of Heaney.
11:23 There's the right hand that we spoke about.
11:24 That's the shot that he's trying to land.
11:27 Very untidy in there.
11:29 And there's the foul.
11:31 - Hey, what if kidding insurance is scary?
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12:07 ♪ It's time for the U.N. ♪
12:12 - It's at the end of the round that Nathan Heaney
12:16 yelling around a little bit.
12:17 All really untidy at the end, Richie.
12:19 - Yeah, one got two, didn't it?
12:21 - Hey, give four letters, can't it?
12:22 - Yeah, two by the round.
12:23 I think Heaney again may have nicked it.
12:25 - A lot in the rounds.
12:26 - Heaney says he's fighting for his city tonight.
12:28 He's a big scope fan.
12:30 He's trying to put that city back on the map in boxing terms.
12:33 Bentley's enjoying his second reign as British champion.
12:36 He won the belt from Mark Ackron in 2020,
12:38 lost it in his first defense to Felix Cash.
12:41 Then he won it back again
12:43 when he beat Linus Udofia last year.
12:45 And he's making the second defense
12:47 since regaining it tonight into the fourth.
12:50 And there are a lot of people who didn't think
12:51 this fight would go this far.
12:53 Boxing's a clever contest, hasn't it, Heaney?
12:57 On that back foot, gets caught with the right hand there.
12:59 Then he replies with his own shot.
13:01 So that wasn't too bad.
13:02 Well, you can see the confidence building in Bentley now.
13:06 The way he's walking forward.
13:07 And there's that right hand, left foot combination.
13:10 Heaney happy to stand his ground, though.
13:12 He took it well.
13:13 Can't take too many of those, though.
13:16 He can bang Denzel Bentley.
13:38 He's just falling short with that right hand.
13:40 But he's got the confidence in that punch
13:42 that he knows he can end the fight with it
13:43 if he lands it properly.
13:45 But sometimes that's not a good thing, Fletch.
13:50 Too much confidence in that right hand.
13:52 And he's waiting a little bit too long.
13:54 Again, look, you see he's on that front foot.
13:56 It's time to catch Heaney.
13:58 He's relying too much on that right hand of his.
14:01 It's a Heaney corner, Richie,
14:03 is screaming at him to keep popping out the jab.
14:05 Not just move backwards like this,
14:06 but to get the jab going as well.
14:08 They probably know that some judges
14:13 prefer that front foot pressure,
14:14 and that's what Bentley's doing.
14:16 There's got to be a little bit more come back from Heaney.
14:20 Maybe try and push Bentley back.
14:22 Heaney looks to get his own right hand through there.
14:26 It was well blocked, actually, from Bentley.
14:28 That was good defensive work.
14:29 Just kept his left hand nice and high,
14:31 and the shot actually hit his arm.
14:34 We can see the confidence in Bentley.
14:36 He's trying to close that gap down and land that right hand,
14:39 but a good response from Heaney again.
14:41 A really good punch.
14:42 He keeps finding those just when he needs them.
14:44 Tremendous atmosphere inside the Manchester Arena.
14:57 30 seconds to go in round four.
15:00 (CROWD CHANTING)
15:02 Trevor Parker instructing Denzel Bentley
15:10 to stop hitting on the back of the head.
15:12 Bentley lands the right hand.
15:17 (CROWD SHOUTING)
15:29 By the three seconds here in the fourth round,
15:31 everything that Heaney lands is cheer to the rappers in here.
15:34 (BELL RINGING)
15:38 And there's the bell.
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16:26 Two rounds, two rounds of these.
16:28 Steve Wood finds messages, "This is all about your feet."
16:32 And they're getting more and more confident, Richie,
16:33 the longer this fight goes on.
16:36 Yeah, they want him to hit a move, don't they?
16:38 (BELL RINGING)
16:39 And not to exchange and trade with him.
16:41 But at some point, you know, he's got...
16:46 When he's on that back foot, he's got to land the shots
16:49 as Bentley's coming forward.
16:50 Into the fifth round, only two men from Stoke
16:55 have been British champion.
16:56 Tommy Harrison of Bantamweight in the '20s,
16:59 and the late Chris Edwards,
17:00 who won titles at Flyweight and Superflyweight more recently.
17:05 It's a real opportunity tonight for Nathan Healy
17:08 to really make his name as a Stoke boxing man.
17:12 And he's listening to his corner,
17:17 he's hitting and he's moving.
17:19 That's a little bit better from him.
17:22 Bentley marching forward there.
17:25 Too far away with that right arm.
17:26 Telling the Healy corner to be quiet.
17:39 It's been a decent start to the round here for Healy, Richie.
17:50 Yeah, he's boxed well, he's boxed at range,
17:52 and he's kept the movement going,
17:53 and that, I think, is crucial.
17:55 He cannot afford to stand in trade with Bentley,
17:58 who's planting his feet, concentrating on power shots,
18:01 and neglecting his jab here, Bentley.
18:03 So Nathan Healy, he's boxed in the right fight up to now,
18:07 listening to his corner, hitting and moving,
18:10 and being very awkward.
18:12 And they're all scoring punches from Nathan Healy.
18:16 Not a great deal coming back, by the way,
18:18 and volleying from Denzel Bentley.
18:19 He seems confident that he can land that right hand
18:21 at some stage, but not to this point.
18:24 Healy growing in confidence,
18:29 maybe believing in himself even more
18:31 than he did at the outset.
18:32 Good work again from the challenger.
18:33 Minutes ago in this one, round number five.
18:45 Well, you heard Healy's corner talk about
18:50 making Bentley frustrated,
18:52 and that's what he's probably doing here.
18:54 He's hitting and he's moving, he's being very awkward.
18:57 And Bentley just occasionally just loading up
18:59 a little bit too much, concentrating on big shots.
19:01 And again, Healy plucking away his knee
19:04 with these punches, scoring combinations,
19:06 which he all right.
19:07 He's waiting for that one big shot from Bentley to come.
19:16 And in the meantime, it's Healy
19:17 just poking away with these punches.
19:20 He's listening to his corner as well,
19:24 because they said it's all about your feet.
19:26 Your feet are gonna decide the fight.
19:27 He's been on the move all the way through this round.
19:30 And what's important, he spoke about it
19:31 at the start of the round, he's hitting the target
19:33 and he's moving, so that's good.
19:34 That's what he's got to do.
19:36 What he doesn't wanna do is stand there
19:39 and trade against Denzel Bentley,
19:41 so he moves away.
19:42 And the corner men jump in, there's the bell.
19:46 And that was a good round for Nathan Healy.
19:48 - Split this one.
19:54 Nath, Nath, relax and box.
19:57 Stay switched on.
19:59 Listen, I told you, when he's loading up like that,
20:02 he's got, listen, for me, you're winning these rounds.
20:06 You're winning these rounds.
20:07 I can never promise you what these are,
20:09 but for me, you're winning the rounds.
20:11 So now, he's gonna have to try and come knock you out.
20:15 Stay switched on, make sure you're doing enough
20:17 to win the rounds, chip away, chip away,
20:20 and give him a boxing lesson.
20:22 Stay switched on.
20:23 When he's backing up to that, I'm ready.
20:25 - Sound advice there, isn't it,
20:32 in the Healy corner, Richard.
20:33 Stay switched on, it's a move.
20:36 He's following the instructions really well.
20:40 (bell ringing)
20:42 - What can Bentley do to get to Nathan Healy?
20:46 - Healy's six years older than Bentley at 34.
20:49 They turned pro six weeks apart back in 2017.
20:53 Healy had the longer amateur career of the two,
20:57 but he's boxing really cleverly in there at the moment.
21:00 Moving towards the halfway stage,
21:04 and there's not really been any moments of crisis up to now.
21:07 - No, he's sneaking the shots at long range, isn't he?
21:10 He's hitting and he's moving.
21:12 - He's being very awkward,
21:14 and frustration has definitely creeped into Bentley's work,
21:17 I think, and also neglecting that lead hand of his.
21:20 And as I say, that then throws that jab,
21:22 but throughout the contest,
21:25 he's just been looking for that right hand too much.
21:28 It's allowed Healy to come back with shots like that.
21:32 Been very good at counter-punching so far tonight, Healy.
21:35 Looks really sharp in there.
21:39 Have to emphasise the step-up in class that he's making tonight.
21:42 Nathan Healy, but he's taken to it well.
21:44 - Yeah, it's a massive step-up for him, he knows that.
21:48 At the moment, he's carrying out the tactics very well indeed.
21:54 - Bentley missing with a left hook.
21:56 - Healy's got a good chance of getting a free kick.
22:09 - He's got a good chance of getting a free kick.
22:11 - He's got a good chance of getting a free kick.
22:13 - He's got a good chance of getting a free kick.
22:15 - He's got a good chance of getting a free kick.
22:17 - He's got a good chance of getting a free kick.
22:19 - He's got a good chance of getting a free kick.
22:21 - Healy boxing a really sensible fight in there.
22:25 At the moment, and whenever Bentley does miss and does commit,
22:29 he's being made to pay by a solid counter from the challenger.
22:32 - At the moment, not Bentley wants him to,
22:34 he wants to exchange and wants Healy to exchange with him.
22:38 - Healy sensibly boxing on the outside,
22:42 mainly mid and long-range punches,
22:44 catching Bentley as he comes forward.
22:46 Some action now, Fletch.
22:48 - Bentley looking to open up,
22:49 but didn't really land anything solid in there.
22:52 He doesn't lack for guts and determination, Healy, either.
22:55 He's just going to lay it long.
22:57 - It's a really good left hook from Nathan Healy,
22:59 taken really well by Bentley.
23:01 - Yeah, reverse one-two, wasn't it?
23:03 The right hand went out, then the left hand,
23:05 super shot, that wasn't what Bentley wasn't expecting, no?
23:08 - The one thing he might just want to guard against
23:10 is a bit of overconfidence in there, Healy.
23:12 He's just trying to drop his hands and strut his stuff a little bit,
23:15 which can be dangerous against a man like Bentley
23:18 who can really punch you.
23:20 - Because he boxes with a little bit of tension,
23:24 you can see in his body,
23:25 I'm afraid for him dropping the arms,
23:27 he's probably tiring a little bit now.
23:29 Whereas Bentley looks the more natural boxer.
23:32 Healy tends to tense up,
23:35 but nevertheless, he's boxing well here, Healy,
23:37 boxing the right tactics, listening to his corner.
23:40 At the moment, that round was his round.
23:42 - Well, the last two rounds have been really good Healy rounds,
23:45 haven't they?
23:46 He was in control pretty much for all of it.
23:49 Listen to the reaction in the corner.
23:51 - Come on, get your tail ups on.
23:52 Stay switched up for me, won't you?
23:54 Nathan, we're halfway through.
23:56 He's got to knock you out, I'm telling you.
23:58 Okay?
23:59 I want you to win every round.
24:01 How are you feeling?
24:02 - Great.
24:03 - That's what all that training was for.
24:05 Spit it.
24:07 Nathan, you listen carefully, okay?
24:11 He's going to punch the food.
24:14 - Good tactics from Healy here.
24:15 Look, just a brilliant reverse one-two, that is.
24:18 It's a right hand, left hand.
24:20 You expect the one-two, which is a left-right,
24:22 if you're an orthodox boxer,
24:23 but he does it the other way around.
24:25 Good work.
24:26 Leads with the backhand and then finishes on the lead hand.
24:29 - Great shot there.
24:31 - Great insight in the Healy corner, wasn't it?
24:34 The words from Steve Woodbine in the Healy saying,
24:37 "I feel amazing, I feel amazing."
24:39 If there is concern, it's going to be in the corner
24:43 of Denzel Bentley.
24:44 Out they come for the seventh,
24:45 and Richie at the moment has Nathan Healy two rounds up.
24:49 Last couple of rounds, especially, I think,
24:53 Healy has got very well.
24:55 It's whether he can keep it going.
24:56 Remember, we're halfway in this contest.
24:58 Healy against an established, seasoned British champion.
25:03 So the next six rounds, yeah,
25:06 it's going to be really hard for Nathan Healy,
25:08 but up to now, things are going his way.
25:11 - He just started to showbiz a little bit in there.
25:14 That's how much the confidence is growing in Nathan Healy,
25:17 and then he puts a combination together
25:19 at the end of all that.
25:21 Cannot take his eye off the ball, though,
25:26 because if Bentley uncorks one of those right hands,
25:29 this can change in a second.
25:31 - Yes, indeed.
25:33 - It's Healy's fight at the moment, though.
25:37 - Yeah.
25:38 - The minute gone in the seventh.
25:39 - He's just outworking Bentley at this stage.
25:42 Bentley's concentrating on the heavy shots still.
25:45 And Healy is just poking those punches out.
25:49 There's not a lot in them,
25:50 but they're still hitting the target,
25:52 and you can't ignore that.
25:54 See, look at that for a shot there from Bentley.
25:58 That right hand, he threw everything into that.
26:00 His right leg even came round because he was so committed,
26:03 but it didn't hit the target.
26:08 He's probably shocked from Healy.
26:09 He's getting the better of the exchanges.
26:12 There's some blood on the face now of Healy,
26:21 whether that's coming from the nose.
26:24 He can't afford to hold the feet here.
26:26 Fletch has got to keep moving.
26:28 Healy, Bentley will prefer him to stand and trade.
26:32 That's what Bentley will want.
26:33 The movement is causing Bentley a few problems.
26:36 It's more awkward.
26:38 He can't seem to nail Healy with a good shot
26:40 because of that movement.
26:41 He slows the feet down, it could change.
26:43 Less than a minute to go in the seventh.
26:46 Healy with a combination.
26:52 Bentley's not really ever been able to find
26:59 any real rhythm in there because he was loading up
27:01 on those big right hands early in the fight.
27:04 And Healy's the one that's got himself into a nice rhythm here.
27:07 And Bentley's got to try and do something here
27:09 to turn the tide.
27:11 At the moment, there seems to be three shots coming back
27:14 to Bentley's one.
27:17 So Healy picking and prodding with his punches.
27:21 Healy said, "Look, you're planning more than..."
27:25 He continues to be elusive in there, Nathan Healy.
27:29 Blood flowing from his nose, but he won't worry about that.
27:31 Into the final ten seconds of the seventh.
27:34 Another round has been decent for him.
27:36 And there's the bell.
27:41 And everything that Nathan Healy came here to do tonight
27:45 is going according to plan at this stage.
27:47 Nathan, they are banking on you gutting now.
27:58 And he's got to walk you down.
28:00 How do you feel?
28:01 - Breathe. - How do you feel?
28:03 - Good. - Good? I want you to feel fucking great.
28:05 - Breathe. - Well, there you go, then.
28:07 Come on. Focus. Switch on.
28:10 Spit it. Swill it.
28:13 Right, let him...
28:15 Nathan, keep boxing. Why would you change anything?
28:18 He's going to just try and walk you down and pump you.
28:21 - Again. - Leave yourself space behind you.
28:23 - Fast hands and fast... - Better territory now.
28:28 Come on, Nathan. Stay some time.
28:30 - We have to stay... - Stay.
28:32 One, two straight punches.
28:34 All right, come on, let's go.
28:35 I'll tell you what's really noticeable in there tonight,
28:37 the energy in the respective corners, Richard.
28:40 Yeah, unbelievable, isn't it?
28:43 I think Healy's corner, you know, they're so excited.
28:47 Their game plan is working at this stage.
28:50 But there's still five rounds to go.
28:53 And they've said he's going to come for you.
28:55 And straightaway, Denzel Bentley lands a good shot there.
29:00 Healy needs to stay on the move,
29:04 but he's got to find a way to somehow pin him down.
29:07 Come on, Nathan!
29:34 He's got a slow start next to this room.
29:37 Slow down a little bit.
29:39 He certainly slowed the feet.
29:41 Bentley again looking for the more power shots.
29:49 That right-handed is also the left hook coming into play now.
29:53 Can Healy keep his opponents at bay?
29:57 It's a big ask for him.
29:58 This is the big question, Richard.
30:00 They're asking him between rounds in the corner,
30:02 they keep asking him that question.
30:04 They've got to work out whether he can do this for 12 rounds.
30:07 And Bentley might just be starting to get into unravelment.
30:10 Healy digs in and digs those toes into the canvas and fires back himself.
30:15 He had to dig in there because he walked onto a cracking shot.
30:18 It was a right hand over the top.
30:19 As Healy comes forward, little shot, short punch,
30:22 he walked straight onto it.
30:24 He's actually recovered quite well.
30:26 But he was in trouble there for a moment there.
30:28 Was Healy landing a good shot himself there?
30:30 That had just spun the head of Bentley round Nathan Healy.
30:33 But he should go in the eight.
30:35 Lifting right hand from Healy as Bentley came in.
30:49 Nathan Healy's joined in.
30:56 The fans are thinking there.
30:58 He's enjoying his night, standing his ground.
31:00 He's landing punches of his own.
31:02 And he's pushing Denzel Bentley backward.
31:04 He's recovered well from that shot.
31:06 30 seconds to go in the eight.
31:12 Head seems clear enough despite that Bentley punch.
31:15 Good response.
31:20 He's obviously very fit, isn't he, Nathan Healy?
31:23 Get his arms straight, punch him in the eye.
31:25 Break!
31:26 Final few seconds.
31:40 And there's the bell.
31:42 So let's bring in Carl Frampton.
31:45 Carl, give us your assessment of how this one's going.
31:47 Not many people thought that this fight was going to go this long.
31:51 How's Nathan Healy doing to you?
31:53 I have him a fair bit in front.
31:55 I think he's boxing beautifully.
31:57 He looks like he's fighting on nervous energy.
31:59 Maybe that's went away the last few rounds.
32:01 But the first sort of half, the first sort of five or six rounds,
32:05 he was so tense.
32:07 He started to relax a wee bit more.
32:09 He's definitely getting a little bit tired.
32:11 But Bentley's also tired as well.
32:13 This is a really...
32:15 Like, I expected this fight not to be competitive in Bentley's favor.
32:20 But it's the other way around here.
32:22 I don't even think the scorecards are that close.
32:24 I think that Healy's way in front.
32:26 And it's surprising me and a lot of other people.
32:29 Thank you, Carl.
32:31 And I think it's one of those night switches.
32:33 We see some of the action from the previous round.
32:35 But regardless of the outcome tonight,
32:37 Nathan Healy has enhanced his reputation by his performance
32:40 quite considerably at British level.
32:42 Absolutely, yeah.
32:43 He's boxing superbly well.
32:45 Bentley's just coming forward.
32:49 More and more now, though, Fletcher.
32:51 He's trying to wear him down.
32:52 And I think it's noticeable that Healy is holding his feet a little bit more.
32:56 Bentley's still concentrating on those heavier shots.
32:59 But yeah, Nathan Healy, he's boxing really, really well.
33:02 I've got him in front, coming around.
33:04 Carl's got it wider.
33:06 So we shall see.
33:07 So Richie has him two rounds up, unofficially, of course,
33:10 with four to go, Nathan Healy.
33:12 And for the ninth and 12th, the British medalist,
33:17 the British middleweight title is on the line,
33:19 as well as Healy's WBA continental middleweight title.
33:23 And the Healy supporters continue to sing
33:26 and continue to generate a magnificent atmosphere in here.
33:29 I think one of the most disappointing aspects tonight
33:37 from the Bentley perspective is he's never really been able to sustain attacks in there.
33:42 No, certainly hasn't.
33:45 I think, I don't know, his compassion's crept in here.
33:48 I don't know.
33:49 But certainly he didn't start the contest too well.
33:52 And loads of the floor team was looking for the big shots.
33:56 And that's just around Healy to box his sort of contest on the outside,
34:01 kicking and poking with his shots.
34:03 And he's boxed really well.
34:04 Halfway through the night.
34:12 Quiet round to this point.
34:14 (CROWD CHANTING)
34:16 Healy continues to box in there,
34:23 continues to keep a semblance of control.
34:25 A slight change in tact here.
34:32 From Bentley, staying on the outside.
34:37 Trying to get Nathan Healy to come forward.
34:39 That's giving him a little bit more confidence.
34:42 Bentley tried to load up on that right hand,
34:45 but didn't really make it.
34:47 Catches Healy with that one, though.
34:49 That was a nice sharp shot in there from Bentley.
34:51 Half the shot he should be throwing.
34:56 That's a simple jab, that's what.
34:58 Oh, that's a good punch there from Healy.
35:01 Healy just neglected his jab.
35:03 Yeah, right hand landed on the chin of Denzel Bentley.
35:07 30 seconds to go in the night.
35:09 (CROWD CHANTING)
35:11 A lot of emphasis has been on whether Healy can do this for 12 rounds,
35:18 but Bentley looks tired in there as well.
35:20 He looks tired, he probably didn't expect Healy to be keeping this up
35:24 for as long as he has been doing.
35:26 Well, there you go.
35:30 (LAUGHS)
35:33 There is a man enjoying his night.
35:35 Well done, D.
35:36 I think he might tell his son about how he's feeling,
35:44 because if you're shattered, you don't spring back up like that, do you?
35:47 He's so confident, isn't he?
35:49 I think he's feeling the pace a little bit now.
35:53 He did not expect this stretch.
36:00 Well, we talked about this being the FA Cup final of boxing,
36:03 even by his own admission, he said he's going to overturn the form book.
36:06 At this point, by Richie's card, he's doing exactly that.
36:10 That wasn't right, was it?
36:16 Listen, your feet were moving, but listen,
36:20 we have to use them as well.
36:22 Don't get greedy with them.
36:23 Pop, pop, pop.
36:24 Because if you don't, you're not going to stop him coming.
36:27 And then he's going to pick rounds off, isn't he?
36:30 You ain't going to stop him coming.
36:32 So you've got to hit him as well. More water.
36:35 I've only got three rounds.
36:40 Three rounds?
36:42 Three rounds.
36:43 Yes, you've got one of them now.
36:45 Yeah, but you've got that round, haven't you?
36:48 I lost it, yeah.
36:49 Don't do silly things like that. You're giving it in.
36:52 I know.
36:53 I don't want you to exchange. I don't want you to get greedy.
36:55 I don't want you to hit him and lose.
36:57 Because you won't keep him off, if you do.
36:59 I think those two have been brilliant tonight, between them.
37:02 Nathan Healy saying to Steve Woodbine,
37:04 "It's only three rounds, Steve. I can box three rounds."
37:06 He's the man with the problem to solve.
37:10 Denzel Bentley, defending champion.
37:12 This was supposed to be a relatively straightforward defence for him tonight.
37:16 It's turning into anything other than that.
37:19 Round ten, three to go.
37:22 Richie's got Healy ahead on his card.
37:24 We don't know what the judges are seeing.
37:26 Howard Foster, Steve Gray and Victor Laughlin.
37:29 But already, this is a brilliant performance tonight.
37:31 From the underdog, the overachiever, Nathan Healy from Stoke.
37:35 Can Bentley find the quality and class to turn the fight in his favour
37:39 in what remains of this fight?
37:41 That's what he's got to do.
37:43 You have to give a lot of credit to Nathan Healy, the way he's boxed.
37:47 No-one expected him to do this.
37:49 He's controlled the attacks from the champion, Denzel Bentley.
37:55 Bentley, for whatever reason, hasn't been on it tonight.
37:59 And again, Nathan Healy, you can see the confidence that he's growing.
38:05 Good work from Healy again.
38:12 Bentley a little bit ragged as he was trying to throw that combination.
38:22 Healy standing and letting the punches go
38:25 and actually getting the better of the exchanges now.
38:27 Superb that was there from Healy.
38:29 Good jab from Bentley to start it all off.
38:31 Healy replied, all five, maybe six shots went in there.
38:36 Healy just guilty of landing that one shot and then holding his feet
38:41 and just allowing his opponent to come back with clever counters.
38:48 Healy didn't expect Healy to stop punching, then he just keeps the attack going.
38:52 Supremely fit, isn't he?
38:55 Nathan Healy's clearly trained extremely hard for this fight.
39:00 A minute to go in the tenth.
39:03 Just when you think that Bentley might land a shot
39:12 and start to turn it around in his favour,
39:14 Healy responds with three or four punches to swing it back his way.
39:17 I mean, he's always dangerous, Bentley.
39:19 You know he's a big hitter, big puncher.
39:22 But he's just been out-runned to it.
39:26 He certainly didn't expect this from Healy.
39:29 He's not only not been in the contest,
39:32 but perfect end to a great night of boxing here in Manchester.
39:35 A magnificent seven card has lived up to its billing.
39:38 We've had some excellent fights in there tonight.
39:41 Oh, we're going to get a big, big shock at the end of it all.
39:46 Twenty seconds to go in the tenth.
39:48 Are you seeing this, Naheedie, round to this point, Rich?
39:52 Again, I mean, it's a close round.
39:54 Oh, that's better there from Bentley.
39:57 I mean, it's a close round.
39:59 Flex was one.
40:00 There's the bell, two to go.
40:09 CHEERING
40:11 MUSIC PLAYS
40:14 APPLAUSE
40:42 What do you make of Bentley's body language in there, Rich?
40:45 Well, I'm not that impressed, to be quite honest.
40:48 I mean, he's talking to his corner man.
40:50 But he doesn't look like he's that confident, Fletch.
40:54 Whoa, yes.
40:57 That's the way Richie's got it.
41:00 A three-point lead for Nathan Healy with two rounds to go.
41:04 And somehow he's got to find something from somewhere.
41:07 If that card's correct,
41:09 it's all going to come down to Howard Foster's three-point victory.
41:12 If it goes for distance, but if they're seeing it like that,
41:15 Bentley's got to find something here in the last two rounds.
41:18 He's certainly got to do a lot better.
41:23 That's what he's been doing.
41:25 But he's started anyway.
41:29 He's started the races for me tonight here.
41:35 CHEERING
41:37 He still looks like there's plenty of life in the legs.
41:44 Again, the quality power shots you see from Denzel Bentley.
41:52 His technique's good.
41:54 He's clamped those feet, whips the shots in.
41:57 And when he lands one, there's still a feel of fire
42:00 that comes back from Bentley from Nathan Healy.
42:03 CHEERING
42:05 Healy landing there just as Bentley was loading up that big shot.
42:15 More punches being thrown here by Bentley in this round.
42:21 There's more urgency about him.
42:23 He just got through with a left hook there,
42:25 but it's a better attack there from Bentley as he's coming forward.
42:28 He's got to keep his right hand a little bit higher
42:30 as he moves closer to Healy, throws that left hook on the inside.
42:34 Nevertheless...
42:36 I think Bentley's got a bit of confidence in this round,
42:40 landing with some better punches.
42:43 Healy has started to feel the pace,
42:45 and the crowd inside the arena are going to give him a huge lift.
42:49 They've been extremely vocal throughout,
42:51 managed to land the right hand himself there
42:53 just over a minute to go in the 11th.
42:56 It's been a better round from Bentley,
42:59 but it's not been a dominant round from the champion.
43:01 He's been a little bit busier, hasn't he?
43:03 More from Bentley.
43:05 Bentley just managed to land that right hand onto the cheek of Healy,
43:28 but he comes straight back again.
43:30 Comes straight back, but he hasn't really hit the target.
43:33 This is a little bit better.
43:34 He's got to get off those ropes.
43:36 He's got a bit of off-beat just up in front there,
43:41 just launching in with Bentley's head,
43:43 leaning in with the head.
43:45 Certainly a better round for Bentley.
43:50 He's been more active.
43:52 I think he's fallen. He knew he needed it.
43:56 He's coming in!
43:58 Good shot from Healy right at the end of the round.
44:00 Paul Bentley coming in.
44:02 Both of them now want to stand and trade.
44:06 And there's the bell.
44:09 And we will go into the final round tonight,
44:12 and two weary fighters make their way back to their respective corners.
44:15 Do as I'm telling you, don't let him edge back in this fight.
44:19 Don't let him edge back in this fight and nip you off.
44:22 It's the British title, son.
44:23 Do you want to take it to the potteries?
44:25 Do as I'm telling you.
44:27 Come on. How are you feeling now?
44:29 Don't let him edge back in it easily.
44:32 Okay?
44:33 Wait for him. Let's go.
44:36 Last round.
44:38 Hey, Finn, don't get caught. Nothing silly.
44:42 Fast hands and move.
44:44 If you don't punch at all, you're not going to keep him off.
44:46 Bump move, bump move, bump move, bump move.
44:49 How many times, boy?
44:53 I can't believe the difference in the two corners, Richie.
44:55 I really can't.
44:56 No, absolutely.
44:57 He just seems so relaxed, doesn't he?
45:01 As if he thinks he's ahead, maybe.
45:04 But I don't.
45:05 No, Richie's got Nathan Heaney up by two.
45:07 Final round.
45:08 British title on the line.
45:10 WBA continental middleweight title.
45:13 Three minutes to go.
45:18 Three minutes to decide it.
45:23 Raucous atmosphere inside the Manchester Arena.
45:26 Bentley the champion, Heaney the challenger.
45:29 Looking to upset the form book.
45:32 Looking as the underdog to cause the big surprise here tonight.
45:35 Only the judges know how they're scoring it.
45:39 Howard Foster, Steve Bryan, Victor Lachlan.
45:41 Could all come down to this three minutes.
45:44 We don't know.
45:47 That's it, Nathan Heaney's gonna stick to the tactics from that corner.
45:51 Here to move.
45:53 Bentley, box on that front foot again.
45:56 Still looking for those power shots.
45:58 Heaney down.
46:00 Decent scoring shots there from Heaney.
46:04 Those two-punch combinations that he's landed all night
46:06 when Bentley's tried to come in.
46:08 What will the judges prefer?
46:13 The front foot crusher from Bentley
46:16 or Heaney on that back foot scoring with threes and fours?
46:19 Hitting and moving.
46:21 That is the million dollar question.
46:25 There you go.
46:26 It's not good to see it differently.
46:28 I'm thinking of getting away from the fact though
46:33 that there's been periods in the contest
46:35 that Bentley's been just being at work here and there.
46:38 He always seems to be watching him
46:42 and waiting for the big shot to land
46:44 but hasn't really got home here tonight.
46:47 And again, Heaney's coming back, threes and fours from him.
46:50 Heaney's landing more punches here in the final round
46:53 and he's the one that's standing there and having success.
46:56 Just a little bit more than a minute to go in the 12th.
46:58 Heaney's starting to show though.
47:00 Bentley looking frustrated.
47:02 He's never really found his rhythm all night.
47:04 There's never really been a period of the fight
47:07 where he's been the dominant man in there.
47:09 Perfect tactics from Heaney at this stage of the contest.
47:12 Last round, Bentley's coming forward,
47:14 a little bit frustrated.
47:15 Heaney now, hands low, inviting the pressure
47:18 but he's responding with threes and fours
47:20 and then he's moving, listening to his corner.
47:22 I mean, it's good tactics and it's worked well for him.
47:25 It's whether he's going to get it,
47:26 that's the big question, as you say.
47:29 Kevin Parker leading the riot at Nathan Heaney.
47:39 In comes Denzil Bentley, trying to land the right.
47:42 Hands held low by Heaney, 30 seconds of the fight to go.
47:47 Heaney tagged on the way out, Bentley misses with a punch.
47:52 Both of them standing, center ring.
47:54 Heaney throws that big left hand at Bentley.
47:58 Yeah, and both now just standing, as you said, flexed,
48:00 toe to toe, trying to land that big shot,
48:03 both of them just swinging.
48:08 Hoping to connect, but Heaney on his bike,
48:11 thinks he's done enough.
48:13 Heaney playing to the crowd, time ticking down.
48:16 Bentley looking for the punch.
48:18 There's the final foul.
48:20 And then Nathan Heaney corner, diving to the ring.
48:23 Heaney starts to celebrate.
48:25 His supporters around the arena
48:27 think he's done enough to win the fight.
48:29 It'll come down to Howard Foster, Steve Gray and Victor Laughlin.
48:33 But regardless of the outcome,
48:35 he's over-delivered and so tonight, Nathan Heaney.
48:38 Absolutely, yes, 100%.
48:40 No-one even expected Nathan Heaney to hear the final bell.
48:44 Let's get it right.
48:45 And he's boxed a very clever contest indeed on the outside.
48:49 And that last round would probably tell the story of the fight,
48:52 to be quite honest.
48:53 Richie, if body language counts for anything,
48:56 Nathan Heaney's got it.
48:58 I mean, Denzil Bentley doesn't look confident at all in there.
49:01 Heaney's been up on the shoulders of his trainer.
49:03 He's got a strong embrace between Steve Woodbine and Denzil Bentley.
49:08 He looks really confident.
49:10 He feels like he's done more than enough to win this British title.
49:13 An incredible performance from Nathan Heaney,
49:15 no matter what the result.
49:17 And like I say, in that last round,
49:19 hitting and moving, frustrating the champion Denzil Bentley,
49:23 who was always looking for that big shot.
49:25 It was good tactics from Heaney,
49:27 coming back with twos, threes and fours,
49:29 then moving again, literally frustrating his opponents.
49:32 Like you said, Fletch,
49:33 no one really expected him to get to that last round,
49:36 never mind win the contest.
49:38 So it's been a tremendous display from Nathan Heaney.
49:41 Well, you can feel the tension inside the Manchester Arena
49:46 while we wait for the scorecards to be collected
49:50 and we wait to get the result here.
49:53 The Heaney supporters, who have been singing loudly throughout the fight,
49:58 are just quieting down a little bit
50:00 as they wait for confirmation, wait for the result.
50:04 Nathan Heaney in there with the big flag.
50:08 The big Stoke City fan is a passionate supporter of his local football team.
50:13 And those people who follow him, likewise,
50:16 are big supporters of him, big supporters from Stoke.
50:20 The dream remains to take a big fight back to the Potteries.
50:23 And if he gets the result tonight,
50:25 then maybe he gets the chance to do that.
50:27 OK, let's find out who's won it. Thomas Stryber.
50:30 Ladies and gentlemen, after 12 rounds of boxing,
50:42 we go to the judges' scorecards.
50:45 Judge Victor Laughlin scores it 114 to 114, even a draw.
50:55 Judge Steve Gray scores it 116 to 113.
51:00 And Judge Howard Foster scores it 117 to 111.
51:06 Both in favor of your winner by majority decision,
51:11 and now both British and WBA continental middleweight champion,
51:21 Nathan Heaney!
51:27 Nathan Heaney has turned the form book upside down.
51:32 Shocks happen in the FA Cup.
51:35 He says this was the FA Cup of boxing tonight.
51:38 And he's shocked the boxing world by deflating Denzel Bentley
51:42 and adding the British middleweight title to his WBA continental middleweight title.