Boxing
Bentley elevated to WBO champion as Alimkhanuly exits division
Joshua vs. Prenga: Only on DAZN PPV - Saturday
Denzel Bentley has been elevated to the WBO middleweight crown after Janibek Alimkhanuly opted to relinquish his belt.
The Briton scored a seventh-round stoppage over Endry Saavedra in London this past April to earn the body's interim strap.
He subsequently had pushed to be recognised as the full title holder amid Alimkhanuly's suspension for an adverse VADA test.
Now however, his dreams will be realised, with WBO president Gustavo Olivieri confirming a change of division for the latter.
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"Janibek Alimkhanuly has informed me that he’s moving up [to super-middleweight]," he told The Ring on the Kazakh's move.
“He will now compete at super middleweight and Denzel Bentley is now elevated to full champion. A ruling is forthcoming."
Bentley will either be allowed to take a voluntary defence or face a mandatory challenge from Cuba's Yoenli Hernandez instead.
He joins the ranks of a current crop of British world champions, with Hamzah Sheeraz and Josh Kelly both also in action this week.
Joshua vs. Prenga - exclusively on DAZN PPV
Watch Anthony Joshua's hugely anticipated return to the ring versus Kristian Prenga on Saturday, July 25 only on DAZN PPV. Buy as a one-off PPV or included, along with Itauma vs. Hrgovic and Canelo vs. Mbilli PPVs, with a DAZN Ultimate Tier subscription.
