British middleweight champion Bentley happy to face Commonwealth king Sheeraz next

British middleweight title-holder Denzel Bentley is up for facing Commonwealth champion Hamzah Sheeraz after a ultra-quick victory on Saturday night.

Battersea’s Bentley, 28, took just 45 seconds to KO Kieran Smith on the undercard of the Joe Joyce-Zhilei Zhang show at the Copper Box Arena.

The bout was also a final eliminator to take on Sheeraz (17-0, 13KOs).

Bentley (18-2-1, 15KOs) has made two successful defences of his domestic belt and was stepping back down in class after dropping a unanimous decision to WBO world champion Zhanibek Alimkhanuly in November.

“Hamza Sheeraz is in the same (promotional) stable – we’re there,” the South Londoner told iFL TV.

“Of course it has got to make sense for all of us. We’ve all got to want it, I’m not saying anyone doesn’t.

“If this is the path that we have to take, to get to where we want to be, then let’s take it, mix it and fight each other.

“I’m the one who has shown I’m ready to mix it with anyone. I’m the one with two losses because I have taken chances and risks. I’ve come up short but I’ve proved again that I’ve bounced back stronger every time.

“I’m happy with where I am. There are so many options. These fights can be made for big things.”

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