The Sky Sports cameras were in Sheffield on Saturday night as Boxxer got their 2025 schedule underway.

British and Commonwealth super-middleweight champion Callum Simpson, got the year off to an explosive start with a second-round knockout of Steed Woodall whilst WBC lightweight champion Caroline Dubois, provided a brief but exciting cameo until a head clash brought an unfortunate and unsatisfactory end to her title defence against Canada’s Jessica Camara, settling for a frustrating technical draw.

It may not have made the televised portion of the show but on the undercard, unbeaten light heavyweight prospect Billy Deniz and tough, experienced former Area champion Mickey Ellison put on an entertaining eight-round battle for fans who tuned into the YouTube section of the broadcast.

Both fighters had their moments but the younger Deniz’s heavier, busier hands eventually earned him a close decision victory.

Deniz (13-0, 5 KOs) was just moments removed from notching up the best win of his career when The Ring caught up with him and the exciting light-heavyweight had a realistic outlook on what the victory meant.

“Do you know what? I think that was my first fight. I’ve had 13, but it was my first fight,” Deniz said. “Mickey came to win. He wants to go back to title level and challenge for the English and stuff like that, so it was my first fight. I’ve fought tough journeymen - the last guy [Khalid Graidia] was a very tough guy - but I was on another level to him.

“Mickey wanted it. He’s gunning for me. He’s a UK fighter as well. He wants to be back up there.

“I even said to myself, ‘I'm probably not going to stop him’ but a good eight-round win against Mickey is top. It makes my stock go up.”

Britain’s light-heavyweight division has been top heavy for a number of years but a new crop of fighters are beginning to emerge.

Rumours are swirling around about an attractive, English title fight taking place between unbeaten title holder, Troy Jones, and Manchester’s Bradley Rea.

Last August, Deniz made easy work of his Boxxer debut and breezed past renowned journeyman Graidia but will have learned lots more from sharing the ring with an ambitious former Area champion like Ellison and, from the outside, a fight with the winner of a potential Jones-Rea matchup appears to be a perfectly logical and sensible next step.

That is exactly where he sees himself.

“English title, definitely. That wasn't my best performance. I think it was probably one of my worst performances to date. I wish I had my last outing on Sky tonight because I really flew in that one,” he said.

“A few things accounted for tonight. I'm not making no excuses but that's my own doing and we'll just have to move forward from here but I'm definitely past Central Area level. I want straps, I want English, British, Commonwealth titles and I just want a first TV show. Let’s just go, just keep progressing. I'm going straight back in the gym on Monday and we'll go back to work.”

There are plenty of fighters who don’t suit their ring nicknames but Deniz’s ‘Turkish Tyson’ moniker is extremely accurate.

Part of Deniz’s problem is that he enjoys fighting a little too much. Although still only 24, he was a highly decorated kickboxer before deciding upon a switch over to professional boxing four years ago and at times, happily slips back into the frantic, give-and-take mindset kickboxing drilled into him.

Time is on his side. Deniz clearly has ability and it is much easier for a trainer to teach somebody to tone down the aggression than instil the fighting desire into someone who just doesn't have it within them.

He also clearly understands what is needed to be successful.

“Listen, I enjoy it,” he said. “Anyone who knows kickboxing or K-1, it's a very entertaining sport. It’s five, three minute rounds championship. We’ve got 12 threes in championships. Imagine how much more explosive fights would be if they were five threes? I'm just used to that explosiveness and trying to fight, fight, fight but it is what it is.

“I’m 24, I'm young and I've got another 8-9 years in this game. I've just got to listen to the corner and take on board what I've been told. I’m happy, but not happy at the same time.”