Denzel Bentley, the London‑based middleweight, has publicly appealed to the World Boxing Organization (WBO) to upgrade his current interim title to a full world championship. Bentley secured the WBO Interim middleweight belt earlier this month after delivering a stoppage win over Endry Saavedra at the O2 Arena. The interim status exists because the division’s recognized champion, Zhanibek Alimkhanuly, is serving a one‑year suspension imposed by the WBO after testing positive for a prohibited substance. Bentley believes that Alimkhanuly’s title should be stripped as part of his disciplinary sanction, arguing that the vacant crown should automatically pass to him.
He points out that the Kazakh fighter has not defended the WBO belt against a mandatory challenger since winning it, a period that stretches to three or four years, and now the champion has also failed a performance‑enhancing drug test. "I don’t think Janibek has any credibility or any sort of leg to stand on to hold that title," Bentley told Sky Sports, emphasizing that the champion’s inactivity and recent doping violation undermine his legitimacy.
The British boxer’s frustration is amplified by the fact that he previously faced Alimkhanuly in a 2022 world title bout, where he went the distance but ultimately lost. "He hasn’t defended the WBO title against a mandatory opponent since he won it, which is about three or four years now and now he’s failed a PED test," Bentley continued, underscoring the inconsistency of allowing a suspended fighter to retain the championship. Having now captured the interim belt, Bentley feels the title should be recognized as a full world title.
He explained, "Now I’ve won it [the interim belt] and it’s mine. But on both our behalf, even with my opponent, in the future he [should be able to] say he’s fought for a world title, he’s a former world title challenger.
He can’t say that and if he had won he could say that he’s a world champion. He can’t say that because of the decisions the WBO have made." Bentley argues that the entire division is being penalized for the actions of a single individual.
"The fighters in the division are all being punished for someone else’s actions. They should allow it to move on and allow there to be a new face and make him work his way back up," he said, urging the governing body to restore normalcy and give the interim champion the recognition he believes he deserves.
His team is actively lobbying the WBO for the title upgrade, though Bentley admits the outcome remains uncertain. "I just hope the WBO sees what’s going on in the division and the people that are making noise.
I feel like it’s also up to the media and the fans to make noise as well. We are not happy.
We are the fans that contribute to the sport," he added, highlighting the broader community’s role in pressuring the organization. Bentley also voiced his displeasure at the notion of a fighter who has failed a drug test continuing to represent boxing as a champion. "We’re not happy that someone that has failed a drug test is representing this sport as a champion. Maybe they can see it from that side," he said, calling for a stricter stance on integrity within the sport.
The victory over Saavedra was a hard‑fought affair that showcased Bentley’s skill and determination. He stopped the Colombian contender in the seventh round after a grueling battle. "It feels good. I’d never boxed at the O2, that was my first time as well," Bentley reflected.
He praised Saavedra, noting, "Endry is a tough, tough man. He doesn’t get the credit he deserves because he’s not a big name, he doesn’t shout about, he hasn’t really been seen much.
But that’s an Olympian. I had limited amateur experience and I just stopped an Olympian." Bentley described Saavedra’s physical strength and punching power, explaining his tactical approach: stay relaxed, wait for the opening, and then capitalize. "He was strong physically, he could punch as well. So I knew I had to stay relaxed and bide my time and when I found the opening, I had to step on it!
Because if he had recovered it would have been a long night," he said. He recounted a pivotal moment in the fourth round when he landed a decisive blow, fearing the opponent might recover and turn the tide. "I caught him at the end of the fourth and I thought I’ve got you and the next round he put a beating on me and I thought: ‘Alright cool, I can’t let him recover next time I hurt him.’" Bentley observed that Saavedra grew more aggressive as the fight progressed.
"I knew it was close," he added. "I just knew that he was getting more intense every round and I thought okay I’ve got to change something here because he’s going to take over. I felt him trying to change the momentum of the fight.
So when I caught him with that shot I thought I can’t let him go now." Looking ahead, Bentley is eager for higher‑profile matchups. He expressed interest in a unification bout, saying, "It would be an honour to be in a unification fight.
If I can get one of those, it’ll be great." However, his immediate priority remains the official recognition of his status. "But it would also be an honour to just be upgraded officially to a world champion, even though I see myself as that now because of the circumstances. Just to be officially one, that would be great," he concluded. In summary, Denzel Bentley’s campaign for the WBO to convert his interim title into a full world championship is rooted in both personal ambition and a broader concern for fairness within the middleweight division.
His arguments draw on the champion’s inactivity, the recent doping violation, and the impact on other contenders. As the boxing community watches, the WBO’s decision will have significant implications for the legitimacy of the title and the future trajectory of Bentley’s career.