Billy Deniz has wanted an invite to boxing’s top table for some time.
He finally has one. The unbeaten light heavyweight fights Khalid Gradia on the undercard of the British and Commonwealth super middleweight title fight between Zak Chelli and Callum Simpson this weekend but although this will be his first time performing on such a large platform and in front of such a big crowd, don’t expect “The Turkish Tyson” to slope meekly into Barnsley’s Oakwell stadium, do his job, say his thank yous and disappear quietly back to the shadows.
The entertaining Deniz (11-0, 5 KOs) will do his level best to ensure he leaves a big impression on Saturday night.
“I’ve wanted something like this for a long time. A long, long time,” Droylsden’s Deniz told BoxingScene.
“I trust Kevin Maree. He’s a good manager who looks after Callum, Jack Massey and a lot of the people I know. I trust in [my trainer] Joe Gallagher too and, together, I trust them to know when the time’s right for me.
“I took this on two weeks’ notice but I always try to stay ready in the gym and keep my weight at a certain level just in case shit like this happens. We’re here now and I’m excited.
“Last year I matured a lot. I think it’s time to take the next step on television to show what I can produce and to start stepping up to these big fights.”
As Deniz says, Maree and Gallagher have waited for the right moment to unleash the aggressive 23-year-old on to television screens. The talent-laden light heavyweight division is full of dangerous fighters who are more than capable of punishing a reckless boxer for fighting with his heart rather than his head.
Deniz is an explosive, exciting fighter who puts his punches together well and uses his footwork to create angles and work around his opponent but he has shown a tendency to ruin his work by getting too involved, too quickly.
Gallagher has worked hard on honing those natural fighting instincts and making Deniz realize that he can be much more effective if he chooses the right moments to attack.
Last year, the British Boxing Board of Control hammered home Gallagher’s message. Deniz picked up a six-month suspension after getting involved in a post-fight melee following a disqualification victory over Perry Howe. The layoff may just end up being the making of him.
Deniz stayed in the gym throughout the enforced break, came straight back into a potentially volatile rematch with Howe and produced a professional performance which still had plenty of his trademark hostility.
Deniz has traveled to Canada to spar unified light heavyweight champion Artur Beterbiev in the past and has seen what it takes to reach the top. He can’t wait to get involved.
“The division’s very good domestically and it’s really strong at world level. You’ve got [Dmitry] Bivol and [Artur] Beterbiev and David Benevidez has just moved over. Domestically there’s Ben Whittaker, Dan Azeez, Joshua Buatsi, Willy Hutchinson, Leon Willings. There are so many,” he said.
“It’s a booming division and I’m really glad to be in a division like that. I don’t want to be one of those who comes through a rubbish, boring division and can easily take over it. It’s a dog eat dog world and a good division like that.
“There’s definitely a ladder to follow.”
With the possible exception of Willings – who will fight for the English title later this month – the fighters Deniz mentioned are all a level or two above him at the moment but should he get past the tried and tested Graidia in impressive fashion, he will climb a rung or two closer to domestic title level.
Deniz will never lose his element of unpredictability but as long as he continues to harness it correctly, he could become the wildcard in Britain’s strong light heavyweight division.
“There’s no one with my style. I’m a bit different,” Deniz said. “I come from a kickboxing background, so it’s a bit unorthodox, but I can do a bit of everything. I can fight, I can box. I can showboat. I can do all of it. It’s exciting. I can’t wait to see what it brings.”
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