Denzel Bentley Stripped of WBO Middleweight Title After Appeal Rejected

Denzel Bentley has been stripped of the WBO middleweight title after his attempt to delay a mandatory defense against Yoenli Hernandez was rejected, BoxingScene reported Saturday. The withdrawal of recognition took effect October 30.

The WBO statement quoted in the report said its executive committee unanimously ratified the decision and declared the championship vacant because Bentley had not fulfilled his mandatory obligations. Bentley had instead agreed to face Shane Mosley Jr. on November 7 in London.

The dispute had been building before the final ruling. On October 23, BoxingScene reported that the WBO had refused Bentley’s request to make the Mosley fight a voluntary defense and required him to confirm negotiations with Hernandez if he wanted to retain the title.

A purse bid for Bentley against Hernandez had already taken place. Hernandez’s promoters won with a $200,000 offer, of which Bentley was entitled to 75%, or $150,000, under the purse split, after which Bentley’s move to Zuffa Boxing and the Mosley matchup were announced. The sanctioning decision concerned his championship obligations rather than whether that separate contest could be held.

Bentley’s championship run began in April, when he stopped Endry Saavedra in the seventh round to win the interim belt. He was elevated to full champion in July after Janibek Alimkhanuly relinquished the title to move up in weight, according to the WBO’s published title history.

Before the appeal was resolved, Bentley told Sky Sports that he was willing to face Hernandez but had already made plans for a voluntary defense before the end of the year. His position did not secure approval for the Mosley fight to carry the WBO championship.

The October 30 ruling removes that recognition. Bentley’s November 7 contest remains a separate scheduled bout; the withdrawn WBO belt cannot be described as part of his defense.