Power-punching British champion has deal in place to fight for unified crown.
Currently, the middleweight division is considered one of boxing’s least stacked when it comes to the overall talent within it. It has been thought of this way ever since the departure of 160-pound legends Canelo Álvarez and Gennady Golovkin.
But in the last few years, it was thought that Janibek Alimkhanuly had marked himself out as the division’s king, having become unified champion by going through his opposition with extremely minimal difficulty.
However, last December, he would fail a drug test ahead of a unification with WBC champion Erislandy Lara, and he has been out of action since. In that time, he has been stripped of his IBF title and relinquished his WBO belt when he made his move up to super-middleweight official.
The situation involving Janibek is a messy one, but his former titles have gone to separate fighters since he lost ownership of them.
Ireland’s Aaron McKenna would win the IBF trinket with a win over Etinosa Oliha, while England’s Denzel Bentley would be upgraded to full WBO champion from the interim status he obtained by stopping Endry Saavedra.
It is understood that Bentley and McKenna now have a deal in place to face each other in a middleweight unification match, the only obstacle being the blessing from both the IBF and WBO to sanction the bout (given that both men have mandatory challengers).
Should the fight take place, it would be a fascinating clash of styles between a pair of titlists who represent two of the most passionate sporting nations in the world.
Aaron McKenna and Denzel Bentley have a deal in place for an IBF/WBO middleweight title unification in late 2026, sources tell @ringmagazine. Sides waiting for sanctioning from the IBF and WBO. Should be an action-packed fight in a suddenly rejuvenated 160-pound division. pic.twitter.com/PSjK8vQGYL
— Mike Coppinger (@MikeCoppinger) September 4, 2026
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