British world champion announces free agency.
The United Kingdom currently has six reigning world boxing champions, most of whom are signed to either Matchroom Boxing and Queensberry Promotions.
It used to be that all of them were signed to either Matchroom or Queensberry. However, one of the world titlists from the Queensberry stable has now announced that he is officially a free agent.
And what’s more, he has also revealed who he would like to face in his next fight.
Denzel Bentley is a 31-year-old Londoner who has been British titlist on three-separate occasions. A power-punching middleweight, he previously challenged Janibek Alimkhanuly for the WBO championship in 2022, still holding the distinction of being the only man to last the full 12-round distance with the feared Kazakhstani fighter.
Bentley has overcome a few setbacks throughout his career, but most recently bounced back from a loss to Nathan Heaney to go on a four-fight win streak that includes the best work of his career.
Brutal demolitions of Danny Dignum and Derrick Osaze led to an entertaining war with Brad Pauls. And after being out for over a year, Bentley would stop Endry Saavedra this April to win the WBO interim title.
When Janibek Alimkhanuly chose to leave the middleweight division recently, Bentley was upgraded to full WBO champion at 160 pounds.
In an interview with BoxingScene, Bentley revealed that he is currently a free agent, stating his intentions to keep working with Queensberry, but also stating he is open to working with other promoters.
“If they want to offer me some money, then yeah [I’m open to fighting elsewhere]”, Bentley commented.
Additionally, Bentley has revealed his desire to next face former super-welterweight world champion Liam Smith, who is set to make his return after consecutive losses to Chris Eubank Jr. and Aaron McKenna against the unbeaten Ilari Kujala on a low-key card in Finland.
It should be noted that the 38-year-old Smith does currently not possess a world ranking in the WBO’s top 15 at middleweight.
Want to get the latest boxing news direct to your phone? Join our WhatsApp community by clicking here.
