Denzel Bentley named full WBO middleweight titleholder

British boxer Denzel Bentley has been promoted to undisputed WBO middleweight champion following the decision by Janibek Alimkhanuly to vacate the title. Alimkhanuly, who previously faced a one-year suspension following a positive test for a prohibited substance last December, has expressed his intention to transition into the super middleweight weight class. The World Boxing Organization noted that the middleweight division had lacked a mandatory title defense for over 24 months. Bentley, 31, secured his interim status in April by defeating Endry Saavedra on the undercard of the Deontay Wilder and Dereck Chisora event. His promoter, Frank Warren, praised the achievement as a well-earned milestone for the fighter and his management team. With a professional record of 22 victories, three losses, and one draw, Bentley now looks toward his next steps, while the WBO indicates that Cuban fighter Yoenli Hernandez is currently the mandatory challenger for the newly vacated position.