Following his stoppage victory over Endry Saavedra at the O2, Denzel Bentley is urging the WBO to recognize him as the full world champion. Bentley's call comes as the current middleweight world champion, Zhanibek Alimkhanuly, serves a one-year suspension for failing a drug test.
The Briton believes Alimkhanuly should be stripped of his title, citing his own victory as justification for the elevation. Bentley expressed his frustration, stating that Alimkhanuly's actions have negatively impacted the division and its fighters.
He emphasized the need for the WBO to allow the division to move forward with a new champion. Bentley's team is pushing for the title upgrade, but the outcome remains uncertain. The Londoner reflected on his impressive performance against Saavedra, highlighting the toughness of his opponent and the significance of his victory.
With his sights set on future high-level fights, Bentley hopes to be officially recognized as a world champion, either through a unification fight or an official title upgrade.