Denzel Bentley world title — Denzel Bentley knows all about hardship. The Battersea middleweight was stripped of his WBO world title outside the ring, yet he must now concentrate on a risky assignment against Shane Mosley Jr at the Copper Box Arena on Saturday, live on Sky Sports. The bout features on the Zuffa Boxing 12 card, which is headlined by Chris Billam-Smith versus Cheavon Clarke.
Title Turmoil
The WBO wanted Bentley to face his mandatory challenger, Yoenli Hernandez. Bentley was open to that fight, but he had already agreed to meet Mosley Jr and hoped to keep that bout as a voluntary defence or even a non-title contest. Instead, the sanctioning body removed his belt.
Bentley told Sky Sports that his team presented a strong case, but their arguments were dismissed. He pointed out that WBC middleweight champion Carlos Adames can take non-title fights, and insisted he was willing to box Hernandez next year. In Bentley’s view, the WBO’s decision was more about appearance than fairness.
Mosley Jr: A Serious Threat
Mosley Jr, the son of boxing legend Shane Mosley, is not a soft touch. He is ranked No 6 by the WBO and is coming off an impressive stoppage win over Serhii Bohachuk. Bentley acknowledged that if the fight were for a world title, it would be seen as a credible defence. He even suggested Mosley Jr deserves a title shot based on his record and the calibre of opponents he has faced.
Bentley also addressed criticism of his decision to take this fight, arguing that much of it stems from narratives aimed at undermining Zuffa as a promotional company. He described himself as caught in the crossfire.
Adversity as Motivation
The 31-year-old has faced setbacks before. He became a three-time British middleweight champion, lost his first world title fight, and later won the WBO interim belt, which was eventually upgraded to the full championship. A 16-month layoff preceded his crucial victory over Endry Saavedra, a period during which he had no income from boxing.
During that downtime, Bentley tried to find work outside the sport. He applied for delivery jobs through an app-based zero-hours contract but found no opportunities in his area. He had to wait for a fight date.
Reflecting on his journey, Bentley admitted he rarely pauses to consider how much he has overcome. When it is laid out, he said, it is quite remarkable.
Focus on Saturday
Now Bentley is channelling the frustration of losing his title into his preparation for Mosley Jr. He expects a hard, competitive fight and is excited by the challenge. He believes that with the outside distractions cleared, he can perform as he wants to.
On Saturday, Bentley will step into the ring with plenty to prove and a point to make.
