River ring return is unlikely says coach

River Wilson-Bent…12 months away from the ring

IT’S been a year since River Wilson-Bent, one of the game’s true warriors, fought.

And with each month the possibility of the middleweight boxing again becomes more remote, his trainer Brendan Norman admitted. “I can’t see it,” he said, while stressing he’ll support River whatever he decides to do.

The 31-year-old former Midlands champ has fought the best in the business, including world ranked dangerman Hamzah Sheeraz, former European champ Tyler Denny twice and former American amateur star Ammo Williams.

His 24 bout career is studded with breath-taking battles. He has earned, through blood, the right to decide his own destiny.

Father-of-two River last fought in September last year and was beaten in three by big punching Shakiel Thompson for the IBF European and WBO Global belts.

“I talk to him almost every day, but we don’t talk about boxing,” Norman said. “He has his house, he has his family and I can’t envisage him boxing again.

“He has earned the right to do what he wants and I’ll support him in whatever he does. I would’ve liked him to have a goodbye win, ‘one for the road’ fight. But he never enjoyed boxing journeymen back in the day, even as an amateur he wanted to fight the best. The thought of getting in the ring and going through the motions and getting a 60-54 decision over someone who was two stone heavier than him, he wouldn’t be up for that.

“After the first Denny fight (a technical draw for the English title), people were saying’ he’s an awkward southpaw, you don’t want to face him again’. River said, ‘he deserves to fight me again, I can’t do that to him’.”

Denny won the 2022 rematch by split decision.

“He’s just a warrior,” Brendan said, ‘he’s not interested in an easy night. He would’ve fought Hamzah Sheeraz for the Midlands title, that’s the kind of man he is.

“All I want is for him to be happy and healthy. He’s got two kids, just bought a house, has a good job and works with a good gang. I’ll support him in whatever he wants to and if it’s just moving forward as best mates, I’ll be happy with that.”