London‑born middleweight Denzel Bentley has publicly appealed to the World Boxing Organization, urging the governing body to upgrade his status from interim champion to full world champion. Bentley secured the WBO interim middleweight belt earlier this month after a decisive stoppage win over Endry Saavedra at the O2 Arena. The interim designation stems from the fact that the current WBO middleweight champion, Zhanibek Alimkhanuly, is serving a twelve‑month suspension after testing positive for a prohibited substance.
Bentley believes that Alimkhanuly should be stripped of the title as part of his disciplinary package and that the vacant crown should automatically pass to him. Bentley’s frustration is understandable. In 2022 he traveled to Alimkhanuly’s corner and fought a full‑length world title bout, ultimately losing a decision after twelve grueling rounds. "I don’t think Janibek has any credibility or any sort of leg to stand on to hold that title," Bentley told Sky Sports.
"He hasn’t defended the WBO belt against a mandatory challenger since he won it – that’s three or four years now – and now he’s failed a PED test." Having just captured the interim belt, Bentley feels the title should be his in name as well as in practice. He explained, "Now I’ve won it, and it’s mine. But both for my sake and for my opponent’s, we need clarity.
If I had won the full title, I could call myself a world champion. As it stands, the WBO’s decision keeps me in a limbo that doesn’t reflect the reality in the division." He added that the current situation penalises every fighter in the middleweight ranks for the actions of a single individual.
"The fighters in the division are all being punished for someone else’s actions. The organization should move on, install a new face, and let the rest of us work our way back up," Bentley said. Bentley’s camp is actively lobbying the WBO for an official title upgrade, though they acknowledge the final decision rests with the sanctioning body. "I just hope the WBO sees what’s happening in the division and hears the noise from fans and media," Bentley remarked.
"We, the supporters, contribute to this sport, and we’re not happy seeing a champion who has failed a drug test still representing boxing." The interim champion’s recent performance against Saavedra was a clear statement of intent. After a hard‑fought contest, Bentley found his opening in the seventh round and delivered the finishing blow. "It feels great," he said, noting that the O2 was a new venue for him. "Endry is a tough, underrated guy.
He’s an Olympian, but he doesn’t get the recognition he deserves because he isn’t a household name. I had limited amateur experience, yet I stopped an Olympian." Bentley described the fight’s rhythm in detail.
He said he sensed Saavedra’s momentum shifting at the end of the fourth round, prompting him to stay aggressive. "I thought, ‘I’ve got you now,’ and the next round he came back with a flurry.
I knew I couldn’t let him recover, so I had to finish the job quickly," Bentley recounted. He observed that Saavedra grew more intense each round, forcing him to adjust his tactics on the fly.
"When I landed that decisive shot, I knew I couldn’t let him get away with it." Looking ahead, Bentley is eager for higher‑profile opportunities. "A unification bout would be an honour. If I can secure one, that would be fantastic," he said.
At the same time, he emphasized that simply being recognised as a full world champion would mean a great deal. "Even though I already see myself as a champion because of the circumstances, an official upgrade would validate everything I’ve worked for," Bentley concluded. Bentley’s call for the WBO to strip Alimkhanuly and promote him reflects a broader debate in boxing about how sanctioning bodies handle title vacancies after doping violations.
Many argue that an interim champion who has proven himself in the ring deserves the full title rather than remaining in a provisional status while the suspended champion’s fate hangs in the balance. Others contend that the organization must follow its own regulations and allow a formal elimination bout before awarding the belt.
Regardless of the outcome, Bentley’s stance underscores the frustration felt by fighters who are forced to navigate a landscape shaped by administrative decisions and disciplinary actions beyond their control. His recent victory, combined with his outspoken advocacy, positions him as a vocal representative for the division’s athletes, demanding clarity, fairness, and recognition from the sport’s governing institutions.