Denzel Bentley Elevated to Full WBO Middleweight Champion After Alimkhanuly Relinquishes Title

Denzel Bentley has been promoted to full WBO middleweight champion after Janibek Alimkhanuly voluntarily relinquished the title on Monday. The British fighter had held the interim version of the belt since April.

Bentley earned the interim title by stopping Venezuela's Endry Saavedra in seven rounds on the undercard of the Derek Chisora vs Deontay Wilder event. The fight was originally contested under controversial circumstances, as Alimkhanuly retained the full championship while serving a suspension for a failed drug test.

Alimkhanuly tested positive for meldonium, a banned metabolic modulator, less than a week before a planned unification bout with Erislandy Lara. The IBF stripped him of their belt, while the WBO handed down a one-year suspension but allowed him to keep the championship. Now, with Alimkhanuly moving up to 168lbs, the WBO has upgraded Bentley to full champion.

Long-awaited upgrade

Bentley had previously voiced frustration over the WBO's decision, arguing that a suspended champion should not retain the title. After receiving official confirmation, he wrote on Instagram: "Got the email. WORLD CHAMPION." Promoter Frank Warren was among those to congratulate him, praising the effort from Bentley and his team.

• Denzel Bentley is now the full WBO middleweight champion
• Janibek Alimkhanuly relinquished the belt to campaign at super middleweight
• Alimkhanuly was suspended for a year after testing positive for meldonium
• Bentley won the interim title by stopping Endry Saavedra in April

The newly crowned champion will now look to make his first full title defence, with potential opponents likely to emerge in the competitive middleweight division. Alimkhanuly, meanwhile, will aim to make an impact at 168lbs once his suspension is served.