The Magnificent Seven Preview: Pauls vs. Bentley

The Magnificent Seven Preview: Pauls vs. Bentley

By Matt Elliott

The Magnificent Seven concept rides again this weekend, as Queensberry Promotions close off 2024 in the UK with another solid-looking card at Wembley Arena headlined by a clash between Brad Pauls (19-1-1) and Denzel Bentley (20-3-1) for the British, European and WBO International middleweight titles. The format, which has proved popular since its first outing last year, aims to provide boxing fans with a card filled with competitive fights from top to bottom, and this is another strong offering from Frank Warren.

Pauls returns to the ring for the first time since he inflicted Nathan Heaney’s first career defeat back in July, stopping the Stoke fighter in the final round to get his hands on the British title, a belt many felt he had done enough to win in the first showdown between the two men, which ended in a draw. This marks another step up for the ‘Newquay Bomb’ as he faces Bentley, a former two-time British champion, who lost the title to Heaney last November in Manchester, but who has responded well with back-to-back second-round stoppage victories over Danny Dignum, in which he won the WBO International belt, and Derrick Osaze. Bentley has previously competed at world title level, losing a unanimous decision to Zhanibek Alimkhanuly back in 2022, and a place at the top table lies in wait for whoever comes out victorious in this one, with Frank Warren promising to deliver them a world title shot in 2025.

There is a clash for the British, Commonwealth and WBO International lightweight titles, as Sam Noakes (15-0) faces veteran Ryan Walsh (29-4-2) who earned this opportunity with a first-round demolition of Reece Mould in September. Noakes is one of the most exciting talents in British boxing, with a record of 15-0, including 14 KOs, the latest coming in September when he stopped Gianluca Ceglia. Walsh made his professional debut back in 2008, and at thirty-eight, the former British featherweight champion will need to put in a career-best performance if he is to produce an upset.

The highly anticipated heavyweight clash between reigning English champion Solomon Dacres (9-0) and David Adeleye (12-1) finally takes place after injury forced it to be cancelled in July. It’s Dacres’ third defence of the title he won against Rob Ismay last March and his toughest test so far, with Adeleye looking to bounce back after defeat to Fabio Wardley in Riyadh last October. It’s an intriguing showdown in which Adeleye will start as favourite, but the champion will know victory here could propel him to the next level.

Another English title showdown sees Sean Noakes (8-0) face Matthew Rennie (14-0-1) as he defends the welterweight belt that he won last time out against Inder Bassi. Noakes, the older brother of Sam, faces a tricky showdown with Rennie, who, by his admission, steps onto a big show for the first time looking to cause an upset.

The final title fight sees Aloys Junior (8-1) take on Lewis Oakford for the WBA Continental and Commonwealth Silver cruiserweight belts. Junior made his debut in 2021 when he stepped in against the big-punching Michal Soczynski at York Hall, narrowly losing 39-38 on the referee’s card but giving everyone a glimpse of what was to come. Since that defeat, Junior has fought seven times, winning the next six by knockout, before going the distance with Oronzo Biradi last time out as he won the IBO Continental cruiserweight title. It’s a big challenge for Oakford, who missed out on the Southern Area title when he lost a technical decision to John Hedges in July before defeating Deevorn Miller at the beginning of October.

The final two fights of the ‘Magnificent Seven’ sees Lawrence Okolie (20-1) take on Hussein Muhamed (18-1) over ten rounds while Pierce O’Leary (15-0) faces Jose Edgardo Perdomo (6-2) over eight.Okolie steps up to heavyweight on his Queensberry debut, having won the WBC bridgerweight belt against Lukasz Rozanski back in May, with O’Leary appearing to have a straightforward task following on from his one-sided win against Darragh Foley at the SSE Arena in June.

Outside of the ‘Magnificent Seven’ fights, Royston Barney-Smith (12-0) continues his development against Andres Navarrete (12-2) in an eight-round contest, with Billy Adams (4-0) facing Jonatas Rodrigo Gomes de Oliveira (6-16) over six rounds. The show also sees a professional debut as former Royal Marine and GB Boxer George Crotty meets Dylan Courtney (2-17-2) in the light heavyweight division. Crotty signed with Queensberry after he failed to qualify for the Paris Olympics, and the pro ranks on the back of 149 amateur fights.