{{Short description|British boxer (born 1994)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=November 2024}} {{Infobox boxer|stance=orthodox|weight_class=Middleweigjt|total=24|name=River Wilson-Bent|wins=17|losses=5|draws=2|KO=41.18%|height=6' 2"}}
'''River Omari Wilson-Bent''' (born 15 January 1994) is a British former middleweight boxer who made his professional debut in 2018 and was known as "the Coventry Crusader".<ref>{{Cite web |last=Eccleston |first=Ben |date=2021-09-11 |title=Coventry fighter River Wilson-Bent wins in hometown bout |url=https://www.coventrytelegraph.net/sport/other-sport/boxing/coventry-fighter-river-wilson-bent-21542481 |access-date=2024-11-10 |website=Coventry Live }}</ref>
==Personal life== Wilson-Bent was born in Coventry in 1994.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-10-26 |title=River Wilson Bent pays tribute to "The Specials" ahead of return |url=https://www.worldboxingnews.com/river-wilson-bent-pays-tribute-specials-ahead-return/ |access-date=2024-11-10 |website=World Boxing News }}</ref> He is a supporter of Coventry City F.C..<ref>{{Cite web |last=Brown |first=Shaun |date=2021-10-21 |title=River Wilson-Bent: A Sky Blue Horizon |url=https://boxing-social.com/features/river-wilson-bent-a-sky-blue-horizon/ |access-date=2024-11-10 |website=Boxing Social}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Parekh |first=Anish |date=2021-11-08 |title=River Wilson-Bent boosted by Coventry City FC ahead of Tyler Denny championship clash, who have invited him to parade English title on the pitch |url=https://britishboxingnews.co.uk/blogs/river-wilson-bent-boosted-by-coventry-city-fc-ahead-of-tyler-denny-championship-clash-who-have-invited-him-to-parade-english-title-on-the-pitch/ |access-date=2024-11-10 |website=British Boxing News}}</ref>
==Career== Wilson-Bent started boxing while a pupil at Nicholas Chamberlain School in Bedworth.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Thompson |first=Danny |date=2020-12-12 |title=Exhall professional boxer prepares for first title fight |url=https://www.coventrytelegraph.net/news/coventry-news/meet-professional-boxer-preparing-first-19432555 |access-date=2024-11-10 |website=Coventry Live }}</ref> He was trained by Brendan Norman and managed by Jon Pegg.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |last=Lockley |first=Mike |date=28 September 2024 |title=Wilson-Bent’s thirst for a tear-up proves so costly in title fight |url=https://www.fightcity.uk/news/wilson-bents-thirst-for-a-tear-up-proves-so-costly-in-title-fight |access-date=2024-12-08 |website=Fight City |language=en-GB}}</ref> He signed with promoter Mick Hennessy in 2021,<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |date=2021-06-05 |title=River Wilson-Bent Signs With Mick Hennessy |url=https://www.hennessysports.com/news/river-wilson-bent-signs-with-mick-hennessy/ |access-date=2024-11-10 |website=Hennessy Sports |language=en-GB}}</ref> and also works as a roofer.<ref name=":0" />
Wilson-Bent won the vacant Midlands Area middleweigjt title in 2020, fighting against previously undefeated Troy Coleman.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Thompson |first=Danny |date=2020-12-23 |title=Coventry boxer wins first title with stunning 3rd round knockout |url=https://www.coventrytelegraph.net/news/coventry-news/coventry-boxer-wins-first-title-19503552 |access-date=2024-11-10 |website=Coventry Live }}</ref> He defended his title against George Farrell in 2021, winning in the seventh round.<ref name=":1" /> 2021 also saw a draw in the English middleweight title fight against Tyler Denny.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-11-17 |title=Tyler Denny Devastated Over Controversial Draw With River Wilson-Bent |url=https://www.boxingscene.com/tyler-denny-devastated-over-controversial-draw-with-river-wilson-bent--162073 |access-date=2024-11-10 |website=Boxing Scene}}</ref> He lost a rematch against Denny on 25 June 2022, via split decision with two judges giving the bout in his opponent's favour 97–93 and 96–93 respectively, while the third scored it 96–94 for Wilson-Bent.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.boxingscene.com/tyler-denny-gets-revenge-decisions-river-wilson-bent-english-title--167229|title=Tyler Denny Gets Revenge, Decisions River Wilson-Bent For English Title|publisher=Boxing Scene|accessdate=9 February 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.expressandstar.com/sport/football/wolverhampton-wanderers-fc/2022/07/16/the-school-run-is-far-more-fun-for-champion-for-rowley-regis-tyler-denny/|title=The school run is far more fun for champion for Rowley Regis' Tyler Denny|publisher=Express and Star|accessdate=9 February 2025}}</ref>
He was beaten by Hamzah Sheeraz in a second-round stoppage when fighting for the Commonwealth title and WBC silver belt in 2022.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Donovan |first=Jake |date=2022-11-26 |title=Hamzah Sheeraz Drops, Stops River Wilson-Bent In 2nd Round On Parker-Ryder Undercard |url=https://www.boxingscene.com/hamzah-sheeraz-drops-stops-river-wilson-bent-2nd-round-on-parker-ryder-undercard--170735 |access-date=2024-11-10 |website=BoxingScene.com }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Lockley |first=Mike |date=25 February 2023 |title=River is flowing with confidence for future |url=https://www.fightcity.uk/news/river-is-flowing-with-confidence-for-future |access-date=2024-12-08 |website=Fight City |language=en-GB}}</ref> He beat Pavol Garaj, then was defeated by American boxer Austin Williams in 2023 by TKO.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Austin Williams Drops, Batters River Wilson-Bent On Way To 8th-Round TKO Win |url=https://www.boxingscene.com/austin-williams-drops-batters-river-wilson-bent-on-way-8th-round-tko-win--173538 |access-date=2025-03-01 |website=Boxing Scene |language=en}}</ref> He challenged IBF European and WBO Global middleweight champion Shakiel Thompson at Park Community Arena in Sheffield on 27 September 2024, losing by stoppage in the third round.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://boxingnewsonline.net/shakiel-thompson-knocks-out-river-wilson-bent-in-three-rounds/|title=Shakiel Thompson knocks out River Wilson-Bent in three rounds|publisher=Boxing News Online|accessdate=28 May 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.boxingscene.com/articles/hughie-fury-shakiel-thompson-gather-further-momentum|title=Hughie Fury and Shakiel Thompson gather further momentum|publisher=Boxing Scene|accessdate=28 May 2025}}</ref> He also fought Tomasz Felsz and Matt McCallum in 2024, winning both fights.<ref>{{Cite web |title=River Wilson-Bent |url=https://boxrec.com/en/box-pro/855314 |access-date=2025-03-01 |website=BoxRec |language=en}}</ref>
Wilson-Bent announced his retirement from professional boxing in September 2025.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.fightcity.uk/news/no-regrets-as-river-calls-end-to-career|title=No regrets as River calls end to career|publisher=Fight City|accessdate=15 October 2025}}</ref>
== References == {{Reflist}}
==External links== * {{Boxrec|855314}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Wilson-Bent, River}} Category:1994 births Category:Living people Category:Boxers from Coventry Category:English male boxers Category:Sportspeople from Warwickshire Category:Middleweight boxers