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. Earlier this month, Bentley secured the WBO interim middleweight belt by stopping Endry Saavedra at the O2 Arena, a victory that has intensified his demand for recognition as the division’s legitimate champion. The backdrop to Bentley’s request is the ongoing suspension of Zhanibek Alimkhanuly, the reigning WBO middleweight champion. Alimkhanuly is currently serving a one‑year ban after testing positive for a prohibited substance, a sanction that has left the title in a state of limbo.
While the WBO has designated Bentley as the interim titleholder, the organization has not yet stripped Alimkhanuly of his world crown. Bentley argues that the champion’s penalty should include the forfeiture of the belt, thereby elevating the interim champion to full status.
Bentley’s frustration is understandable. In 2022 he travelled to Alimkhanuly’s home country for a world‑title bout and endured the full twelve rounds, ultimately losing a close decision.
That experience, combined with his recent interim triumph, fuels his belief that he deserves to be acknowledged as the true champion of the division. "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." Bentley’s comments went beyond personal grievance; he framed the issue as a matter of fairness for the entire weight class. He explained that the current situation punishes every fighter in the division for the missteps of a single individual.
"Now I’ve won the interim belt and it’s mine, but if Alimkhanuly were stripped, I could legitimately say I’m a world champion," he said. "The fighters in the division are all being punished for someone else’s actions. The WBO should let the division move forward and allow a new face to rise without being held back by a suspended champion." His camp is actively lobbying the WBO for an official title upgrade, though Bentley admits the outcome remains uncertain.
"I just hope the WBO sees what’s happening in the division and listens to the people making noise. It’s also up to the media and the fans to keep the pressure on," he added. "We’re not happy that someone who has failed a drug test is still representing this sport as a champion.
Maybe the organization will look at it from that perspective." Bentley’s performance against Saavedra was a compelling showcase of his skill and determination. The bout proved to be a hard‑fought contest, with both men exchanging heavy blows before Bentley found the decisive opening in the seventh round. "It feels great.
It was my first time fighting at the O2, and I managed to stop a very tough opponent," Bentley reflected. He praised Saavedra’s toughness, noting that the Colombian fighter, an Olympian, had been overlooked because he lacks the name‑recognition of a marquee star. "He’s a strong, physically gifted boxer who can punch well.
I had to stay relaxed, wait for the right moment, and then capitalize on it. If I’d given him a chance to recover, the night could have gone very differently." Describing the pivotal moments of the fight, Bentley recounted, "I caught him at the end of the fourth round and thought I had him.
The next round he came back aggressively, so I knew I couldn’t let him recover. I could feel the intensity rising each round, and I realized I needed to adjust my strategy or he would take control. When I landed that decisive shot, I knew I couldn’t let him slip away." Looking ahead, Bentley is eager for higher‑profile opportunities.
He expressed a desire to compete 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." Yet he also emphasized that an official upgrade to full champion status would be a significant achievement in its own right. "Even though I already see myself as a world champion because of the circumstances, having the WBO formally recognize it would be fantastic." The broader boxing community is watching the situation closely.
Many observers argue that a champion who has breached anti‑doping regulations should be stripped of the title to preserve the sport’s integrity. Others contend that the interim champion should be automatically promoted, as is customary in many sanctioning bodies when a champion is unable to defend.
Bentley’s case highlights the complexities of title governance and the impact of doping violations on the competitive landscape. If the WBO decides to elevate Bentley, it would set a precedent for how interim titles are handled in similar scenarios.
It would also provide a clear pathway for fighters like Bentley, who have earned their place through hard work and perseverance, to receive the recognition they deserve without being held hostage by a suspended champion’s status. Regardless of the final decision, Bentley’s advocacy underscores a larger conversation about fairness, accountability, and the role of governing bodies in maintaining a clean and competitive sport.
His call for change reflects not only personal ambition but also a genuine concern for the future of the middleweight division and the credibility of boxing as a whole. In the meantime, Bentley continues to train, preparing for his next challenge, whether that be a mandatory defense, a unification bout, or a fight that finally cements his place as the undisputed WBO middleweight champion. The boxing world awaits the WBO’s ruling, and the outcome will undoubtedly shape the trajectory of Bentley’s career and the middleweight landscape for months to come.