FORMER world middleweight title challenger Denzel Bentley will return to the ring in October.
The WBO confirmed today that an agreement has been reached between Bentley and Endry Saavedra to contest a world title eliminator.
WBO President Gustavo Olivieri posted on X:
“WBO Middleweight Division – Elimination Bentley/Saavedra. Please be advised that the parties, Team Bentley & Team Saavedra, have reached an agreement as ordered by the WBO Championship Committee. Bout to be promoted by Queensberry & conducted in October. News forthcoming.”
The announcement comes as welcome news for Bentley, who has been out of the ring since December 2024, when he outpointed Brad Pauls to win the vacant European middleweight title and reclaim the British belt for a third time.
The 29-year-old has long campaigned for another shot at world level following his valiant but unsuccessful challenge against WBO champion Zhanibek Alimkhanuly in November 2022. Bentley pushed the Kazakh hard, but ultimately lost on points. Since then, Alimkhanuly has added the IBF title to his collection.
Bentley and Saavedra currently occupy the top two positions in the WBO middleweight rankings.
Saavedra, 34, will be fighting in the UK for the first time. The Venezuelan, based in Mexico, has previously competed in Mexico, Australia, and the United States. Last time out, “El Chino” scored an eighth-round stoppage of Denmark’s Mikkel Nielsen on the Tim Tszyu–Joseph Spencer undercard three months ago, notching up the 17th win of his career.
Further details on date and venue are expected soon.
