Boxing
Bentley sees McKenna hopes dashed as WBO order Hernandez
Garcia vs. Benn live on DAZN PPV - Saturday
Denzel Bentley's hopes of a middleweight unification bout with Aaron McKenna are off the table following mandatory orders.
The WBO champion's plans to face the IBF kingpin in his first title defence have been foiled following a sanctioning body call.
Having installed number-one contender Yoenli Hernandez as his challenger, the latter has now been confirmed as a fixed pick.
Speaking to The Ring, WBO president Gustavo Olivieri stated that the "mandatory was long overdue" in staking their claim.
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"When Bentley was elevated to champion, Hernandez was designated mandatory," he stated on the Briton's impending bout.
"Bentley inherited the mandatory obligations of the division. A determination was made prior to the proposed unification agreement."
It is a blow to both Bentley and McKenna, who had hoped to make a major domestic encounter after preliminary discussions.
The former and Hernandez will now have just under three weeks to reach an agreement, or the WBO will call for purse bids.
Bentley iced out as WBO flexes muscle
DAZN News correspondent Andrew Steel
How much to be a fly on the wall for Denzel Bentley's team as they wrestle with the news that they must pass on Aaron McKenna?
The former has been forced to wait until Janibek Alimkhanuly vacated his full belt to gain recognition from the WBO's powerbrokers.
Now, he is subjected to their whims again, with news he must tackle Yoenli Hernandez instead for his first battle as champion too.
It will be frustrating for the Briton, even as the WBO tells him he can pursue any other option at middleweight should he prevail here.
It will surely serve as a strong incentive to redouble his efforts - and with it, prove he is one of the division's toughest operators to boot.
Watch Garcia vs. Benn in the UK only on DAZN
Britain's Conor Benn looks to become a world champion for the first time against US superstar Ryan Garcia on Saturday, September 12. Watch the fight exclusively in the UK & Ireland on DAZN PPV or included in our Ultimate Tier subscription.
