Denzel Bentley is urging the WBO to grant him full world championship status after winning the interim middleweight title. Bentley's victory came with a stoppage win over Endry Saavedra at the O2, but his title is interim due to Zhanibek Alimkhanuly's one-year suspension for failing a drug test. Bentley believes Alimkhanuly should be stripped of his title, citing his own close fight against the champion in 2022 and Alimkhanuly's failure to defend his title against a mandatory opponent in over three years. Bentley argues that the WBO's decision is unfairly punishing other fighters in the division and is calling for a title upgrade, with his team pressing the issue.
The Londoner's impressive win over Saavedra has set him up for potential unification fights, but he is eager to be officially recognized as a world champion.