Tyler Denny is hoping to put an 18-month-long “nightmare” behind him when on Saturday he challenges George Liddard for the British and Commonwealth middleweight titles.
They fight at London’s Copper Box Arena in the main event of a contest that represents the promising Liddard’s biggest test, and potentially Denny’s last chance of reviving his career.
When he fought Hamzah Sheeraz in September 2024, Denny was the defending European champion and one of Britain’s most in-form fighters, having defeated, among others, Liddard’s former gym-mate Felix Cash, Brad Pauls, Brad Rea, and River Wilson-Bent.
Defeat that night instead left him struggling for a fight. It took Liddard’s emergence and Matchroom’s attempts to further the 23-year-old’s profile for Denny to be rescued from what felt to him like the abyss; he had become another to represent collateral as a consequence of Boxxer’s separation from Sky Sports.
“With the whole thing with Boxxer and Sky, it’s been a nightmare,” he told BoxingScene. “I couldn’t get an answer out of them as to when I was fighting, so in the end it come to fighting on a small-hall show, just to keep active. I’m glad it did now – that was December [in victory over Grant Dennis]. Otherwise it would have been a year – April ‘till March, basically – since I’d had a fight.
“It’s been really frustrating. It’s sponsorships and stuff. ‘What am I sponsoring you for – you’re not fighting?’ You lose out on certain things like that as well. But I’ve been in the gym all the time, and I feel like I’m getting me rewards now, for being disciplined throughout a frustrating year.
“I thought I’d get another opportunity at least. I fought Elvis Ahorgah [in victory in May 2025], and that was a bit of a nothing fight, and I wanted a better fight then. But you can’t take nothing personal in boxing. Otherwise it’d eat you alive. It was tough. It was tough. I’ve still got a lot to offer. Obviously I was gutted losing to Sheeraz, but it’s not embarrassing losing to someone at that level – he’ll be world champion soon in the super-middleweight division. But it’s keeping on it.
“Keep fighting. Keep training. It’s hard when you’ve not got a date, or even a potential date. I was just getting blanked, really, so that was the toughest part. If they’d said ‘Maybe you’ve got a fight date in September’ or something, it’d at least give you a bit of hope. But when you’ve got no hope – that’s hard to get going.
“I just want to fight for the money. I’m not ashamed to say it – I’m nearly 35 now. I want to get as much out of this game as I can – even more so now I’ve not had a decent fight for a while. It’s alright saying you’ve earned money in the past but you don’t want to earn that just to spend it on bills the whole time when you’ve got nothing else coming in. But I get it – the money fights come with big wins and if you’ve got something to offer. I had nothing to offer for a bit. But I’ve got the opportunity now to become British and Commonwealth champion. Then I’ve got something to offer.”
It was as the underdog that the 34-year-old Denny recorded his finest victories. He will again be the underdog on Saturday against Liddard, who was largely unproven until, in October, he so impressively stopped Kieron Conway in 10 rounds.
“Yeah, definitely – and not just by him,” Denny responded when asked if he believes he is being underestimated. “Even the bookies – I looked the other day. It’s crazy odds. You’d think I’d never thrown a punch in my life or something. I’ve been the underdog – Brad Rea, Brad Pauls, Felix Cash, I was underdog. It’s nothing new to me. I don’t believe I’m the underdog, but it is what it is – and I get it, because he’s a Matchroom guy. The future. Eddie Hearn’s saying he thinks he’s world level already. Which is good. I like that they build him up, because when I beat him they’ll have to say the same about me.
“Obviously he’s a good fighter. British, Commonwealth champion at his age as well. I don’t wanna take nothing away from him but I think the Conway win flattered him as well. I know Conway was struggling at the weight and I think that showed in the fight. But I’ve got to give him credit – his best win was Derrick Osaze. I fought him myself, and he brings a lot of pressure and work-rate, and he got through that fight, so fair play to him.
“I do rate him. I think he’s a good fighter. He’s got a bit of everything. But I asked for this fight – this is the one I’ve been calling for, so I’m buzzing for it. I just can’t wait to get in there.
“You look at his amateur background – four national titles. Good hand speed. Good feet. He can mix it on the inside as well when he needs to. I watched [former opponent Derrick] Osaze [fight Liddard], more for Osaze, ‘cause I’ve got a mutual respect with him, and I watched the Conway fight – he’s a good fighter. But I’m not going to blow too much smoke up his arse – I’m coming to beat him.
“I’m not sure he’s showed much [in the way of weaknesses]. I’m looking to find out.
“If you’re good enough, you’re good enough. People were saying the same with the Conway fight [by asking if it was too soon] and he come through that quite easily. He was clearly winning.
“I don’t read much into [the youth-versus-experience element]. I feel better than ever. It’s not like in my previous fights or my sparring I’ve slowed down or anything. If anything I’m better – I’m beating records on my running. It’s an easy assumption to make, because I’m 34; he’s 23. But if you look at my fighting style and my fights I don’t fight like I’m ageing, and I’d be the first to admit if I was. One of my best attributes is my engine, so if I started losing that, maybe I’d need to have a look at myself. But I feel great.
“I still fought twice last year. I’ve stayed in the gym, ready and waiting, so I couldn’t have done much more. If they’d have said ‘Do you want to fight in two weeks’… I might have even been on the Frazer Clarke [versus Jeamie Tshikeva, in October] undercard. I’ve always been ready; doing my sparring; doing the same sort of stuff. Hopefully I’m right, and everything will go in my favour.
“But it’s massive, really. I don’t think Eddie Hearn would be my best mate either, ‘cause I’d have beaten Cash and Liddard recently. I’m just grateful for the opportunity ‘cause a lot of things get talked about – they don’t necessarily happen. When I finally see the poster out there it gave me a big uplift – I was buzzing.”
