WBO Denies Denzel Bentley's Appeal: Fight Yoenli Hernández Next or Lose the Middleweight Title

Denzel Bentley lost his fight with the WBO before he ever got to Shane Mosley Jr. The sanctioning body announced Thursday that its Complaint and Grievance Committee has denied the middleweight champion's appeal and affirmed the order that he defend his title against mandatory challenger Yoenli Hernández next, "without any intervening bouts."

W WBO@WorldBoxingOrg

OFFICIAL WBO NOTICE 🥊 The WBO Complaint and Grievance Committee has DENIED Denzel Bentley’s appeal and AFFIRMED the order requiring him to defend his WBO World Middleweight Championship against Official Mandatory Challenger Yoenli Hernández NEXT. Both parties have been ordered to confirm their intention to proceed within 24 hours of service of the Award. #BeltsMatter

The ruling, dated Oct. 22, also lifts the stay that had been in place while the appeal was pending. Both camps have been ordered to confirm within 24 hours of being served whether they will go ahead with the mandatory, and the case goes back to the WBO World Championships Committee. WBO lawyer Gustavo Olivieri put it plainly: "Bentley MUST fight Hernandez NEXT." Boxing News 24 also reported the ruling.

The Nov. 7 problem

Bentley (22-3-1, 18 KOs) is already booked. He signed a multi-fight deal with Zuffa Boxing and faces Mosley Jr. on Nov. 7 at London's Copper Box Arena, in the co-feature under Chris Billam-Smith vs. Chev Clarke, The Ring reported. Boxbid covered that matchup when it was announced, back when it wasn't clear whether the belt would be on the line. It now looks like it won't be.

From boxbid.ioPlay Fantasy Boxing, freePick every fight on the card. Win points and the weekly Ringside badge. Play

"No shock. Bentley will be stripped. He has a signed agreement for another fight," veteran reporter Dan Rafael posted after the ruling. The WBO hasn't announced a stripping. That would come only if Bentley doesn't commit to Hernández.

How we got here

Bentley won the WBO interim title in April by stopping Endry Saavedra in seven rounds and was elevated to full champion in July after Janibek Alimkhanuly moved up to 168 pounds. The WBO then ordered him to face Cuba's Hernández (11-0, 9 KOs). When the sides didn't make a deal, the fight went to a purse bid on Sept. 29. Warriors Boxing, Hernández's promoter, was the only bidder at the $200,000 minimum, per BoxingScene and The Ring. The Ring reported that Bentley's share would have been $150,000.

Bentley argued that he should get a voluntary defense against Mosley first. "I don't want to vacate and I don't want to be stripped of my title," he told Sky Sports. "But I have to move forward in my career and I cannot wait around for people to make decisions for me." The grievance committee has now rejected that argument.

The Ring reported that Bentley's purse for Mosley hasn't been revealed but is expected to be far bigger than the $150,000 Hernández deal. Think you can read fight money better than that? Try Guess the Purse on Boxbid.