Will the fairy story proceed for perennial underdog Tyler Denny?

By Oscar Choose

MIDDLEWEIGHT underdog Tyler Denny has overcome devastating setbacks to earn residence benefit for his first European title defence in opposition to Felix Money this Saturday.

The 32-year-old is not any stranger to the away nook, however having lately reignited his profession, he’ll deal with his followers to a 3rd consecutive showdown within the Black Nation.

Whereas he returns to the Resorts World Area, Birmingham, because the champion, Denny finds himself, nonetheless, occupying a considerably acquainted place.

Earlier than his unimaginable run of type over the previous two years, the West Midlands southpaw was susceptible to fading into obscurity following two early defeats in English title fights.

Reece Cartwright handed him the primary blemish again in 2018 when Denny was stopped within the eighth spherical after struggling harm to his proper eye.

It was then Linus Udofia – one other stable operator – who, simply over a 12 months later, edged a slender majority determination by 10 rounds, coming away from the York Corridor because the newly-crowned English champion at 160 lbs.

By this level, it was troublesome to examine a world by which Denny may earn a dwelling from the game, not to mention one by which he would problem for and in the end win a European title.

Not like in every other sport, a defeat in boxing might be catastrophic to a fighter’s profession.

The results of that are instantaneous, as no promoter – nor broadcaster, for that matter – needs to rebuild a fighter off the again of a loss.

For them, the method is time-consuming and costly, that means the fighter will, most of the time, be swiftly forgotten as soon as their contract expires.

In Denny’s case, it was essential to rebound from his second skilled loss instantly, and he did so by outpointing Derrick Osaze earlier than, as soon as once more, being offered with a possibility to grab the vacant English title.

Standing within the reverse nook was River Wilson-Bent, who suffered a lower over his left eye, bringing the bout to a detailed midway by the seventh spherical.

Nonetheless, as a substitute of awarding Denny a stoppage victory, the referee dominated that the lower was attributable to an unintentional conflict of heads when, in truth, it was attributable to a punch.

So, when it went to the judges’ scorecards, and the struggle resulted in a draw, Denny was left with two choices: to both return to his former job as a plumber and quit on any sporting ambitions or to chase a rematch with Wilson-Bent and declare the belt that has at all times remained simply past his attain.

Fortunately, he selected the latter and, after popping out on high in an enthralling 10-round contest, was lastly capable of resume his development as a fighter.

Denny then made his mark on the home scene – beating Bradley Rea, Brad Pauls and Macaulay McGowan – earlier than skipping a shot on the British title in a bid to tackle the vastly skilled European champion, Matteo Signani.

The competition headlined a present in November final 12 months on the Civic Corridor, Wolverhampton. Denny placed on a scintillating show en path to stopping his opponent within the eighth spherical, shining brighter than ever in entrance of his hometown supporters.

In a means, regardless of the enhancements he has made and the resolve it has taken for him to make it this far, there isn’t a lot that has modified for Denny.

When he faces his subsequent opponent, he’ll nonetheless be the perceived underdog on an away present, albeit one that’s nearer to the place he lives.

No matter Felix Money’s inactivity lately, there’s each probability that he’s not to this point faraway from the formidable puncher who dispatched Denzel Bentley in three rounds again in 2021.

Furthermore, Adam Sales space’s appointment as his new coach means that his capability for enchancment remains to be very a lot there.

For Denny, then, Money represents yet one more troublesome task.

However, with a behavior of proving individuals unsuitable, there would possibly simply be a fairytale ending to his large story in spite of everything.