Denzel Bentley vs. Endry Saavedra | DAZN - 4 April 2026

[Ruthless-RKO]

Queensberry will promote WBO eliminator bout between Bentley and Saavedra

Representatives of both London middleweight Denzel Bentley and Endry Saavedra have come to an agreement to stage the WBO middleweight eliminator between the pair.

Queensberry Promotions will stage the show in October, and WBO president Gustavo Olivieri said more news would be forthcoming.

The WBO had ordered Bentley, 21-3-1 (17 KOs), and Saavedra, a California-based Venezuelan who is 17-1-1 (14 KOs) to meet to determine the No. 1 challenger for Janibek Alimkhanuly, the champion who also holds the IBF belt.

Bentley lost a decision to Janibek in Las Vegas in November 2022.

[MPW]

This could be a good one, and I'm leaning toward Bentley. I think he's just a better all-around fighter who's faced and had success against better competition.

That being said, I believe Bentley runs kind of hot and cold, although he's been hot more often than not. When he's on his game, he's a handful for any of the top middleweights, including Alimkhanuly, but then he lost to Heaney and got stopped by Cash.

Saavedra has done well against domestic-level competition, with the exception of Etoundi Michel
William to whom he lost a UD in Mexico. He was unfortunate to have to settle for a draw against Tapia despite dropping him three times.

[Ruthless-RKO]

no update on this

[Ruthless-RKO]

On the Parker-Wardley card

[Ruthless-RKO]

Bentley vs. Saavedra now unlikely for Oct. 25, wait goes on for final eliminator

Denzel Bentley may be forced to wait even longer for his final eliminator with Endry Saavedra.

The pair have been instructed by the WBO to face each other with the winner then in line to fight the sanctioning body's middleweight champion Janibek Alimkhanuly next.

In July, the WBO confirmed that an agreement had been reached for the fight to take place on a Queensberry Promotions card at some point this month and it had initially been penciled in for a spot on the October 25 show headlined by Joseph Parker against Fabio Wardley.

At one point the fight was even listed on Boxrec.com. It seemed that Bentley (21-3-1, 17 KOs) had finally secured his first fight of the year having been meticulously training since January.

But with less than three weeks to go until that date, the fight between Bentley and Venezuelan puncher Saavedra (17-1-1, 14 KOs) is still yet to be formally announced.

Now Warren has confirmed that it might not land on that date after all.

“It may not be on that one, no” Warren told The Ring. “We are not sure yet but it may not be on October 25. It may get pushed back. We are working on that now.”

Bentley is No. 1 with the WBO while Saavedra occupies the No. 2 position. Janibek, meanwhile, currently holds both the WBO and IBF middleweight titles and it has been reported that a unification with WBA champion Erislandy Lara is on the verge of being finalised for December.

Janibek has already beaten Bentley once, when he secured a unanimous decision victory over the Londoner at Palms Casino, Las Vegas in November 2022. Since then, Bentley has stealthily climbed back up the WBO ranks and is now just one win away from a second crack at the undefeated Kazakh.

Warren added: “We've been trying to make that Janibek return for him for a long, long time now. We will see what happens. Janibek has a fight coming up now, so after that he’s going to have to fight his mandatory, and Denzel will be in a position where he's got to fight him.”

Bentley has not boxed since December 7, when he beat Brad Pauls on points to claim the British and European middleweight titles which he has since vacated in pursuit of a world title opportunity.

[2184653]

Bentley’s been stuck in limbo for too long, which can either make him sharp from all the training or rusty from inactivity. Saavedra’s dangerous early, but I’m not convinced he’s been in with anyone close to Bentley’s level yet...

[MPW]

So, it's just keeps dragging on and on and on. Bentley's now at ten months since his last bout, while Saavedra is at six months. Regardless of how professional they are, I suspect the worst part for both fighters is that there's no fight date to work toward.

[Ruthless-RKO]

Gonna be purse bids

[2184653]

Honestly, it feels like this one has dragged on forever. Both guys deserve some clarity — especially Bentley, who’s been ticking over in the gym for almost a year now waiting for something concrete.
slope

[Ruthless-RKO]

Fight announcement for ‘frustrated’ Denzel Bentley imminent

Denzel Bentley will fight before the end of 2025, according to his promoter allegedly.

The middleweight had previously been on course to feature on the undercard of the heavyweight contest between Joseph Parker and Fabio Wardley at The O2 Arena in his home city of London, England.

Purse bids for an eliminator for the WBO title held by Janibek Alimkhanuly, against Endra Saavedra of Venezuela, are scheduled for Monday, and Queensberry Promotions’ Warren is optimistic about being able to confirm a fight date in December.

The WBO first ordered the eliminator in July. Queensberry had been confident of staging it on Saturday, 10 months after Bentley impressed in victory for the European and British titles against his fellow Englishman Brad Pauls, but after further delays Warren told BS: “He’s fighting in December – we’re announcing his fight next week.”

That Saavedra is promoted by the Australia-based No Limit means it remains possible that Bentley will be forced to travel to Australia to feature on the undercard of the middleweight fight No Limit hope to stage between Nikita Tszyu and Michael Zerafa before the year’s end, but Warren said: “I hope that’s not going to be the case. We’re still negotiating.”

Bentley previously challenged and lost to Alimkhanuly for the same title in 2022. Since the 30 year old’s victory over Pauls, Alimkhanuly has only fought once – when in April defeating Anauel Ngamissengue, contributing to Warren’s “frustrating” belief that the Kazakh has little interest in a rematch.

“Janibek doesn’t want to fight him,” he continued. “I thought [Bentley] done enough [during the first fight] – certainly if he had done a bit more in the earlier rounds he’d have beaten him. [Janibek] don’t want a rematch – they’ve done their best to avoid it.

“It’s been frustrating. Denzel’s there – he’s the number one – but sometimes you’ve got to bite the bullet and you’ve got to get on with it. Nothing you can do – you have to get on with it.

“He’s in a good position. I hope he gets the rematch. If he gets the rematch having shared the ring with him, he knows that he’s got the tools to beat him.

“He’s pissed off. He wants to fight – he’s a fighter. They all want to fight. They’re in the gym training – they want to fight. That’s what pro fighters want to do.”

[Ruthless-RKO]

Purse bids to be called soon.

[Taansend]

I'm gutted the way Denzel's career has stalled. I've enjoyed watching him.

[MPW]

I'm gutted the way Denzel's career has stalled. I've enjoyed watching him.

Yeah, it's difficult for both fighters, who had a lot of positive momentum months ago. Now, they're still waiting on a purse bid and then setting a time, date, and place. Although depending upon what happens to Alimkhanuly, they could be fighting for a title.

[Taansend]

I'm gutted the way Denzel's career has stalled. I've enjoyed watching him.

Yeah, it's difficult for both fighters, who had a lot of positive momentum months ago. Now, they're still waiting on a purse bid and then setting a time, date, and place. Although depending upon what happens to Alimkhanuly, they could be fighting for a title.

I would love for Denz to get another title shot. I think of him as a Primark Nigel Benn & that is not a diss in any way, shape or form.

[Ruthless-RKO]

Denzel Bentley ‘relieved’ and finally readying for Endry Saavedra

Denzel Bentley has revealed how “relieved” he is that his much delayed WBO interim middleweight title fight with Endry Saavedra has been confirmed for April 4.

He has also described as “mental” the fact that the champion Janibek Alimkhanuly is not being stripped of the full title but instead has been suspended from participating in any WBO-sanctioned bouts for a year after testing positive for performance-enhancing drugs.

Bentley, 31, is to finally fight Saavedra at London’s O2 Arena on the undercard of Deontay Wilder-Derek Chisora – 16 months after his British and European middleweight title victory over his fellow Englishman Brad Pauls, and nine after the WBO ordered the eliminator against Saavedra.

He had expected to do so on the undercard of Joseph Parker-Fabio Wardley at the same venue in October before another four months of delays, but after at one point appearing on course to travel to Australia to fight the No Limit-promoted Saavedra, confirmation of his contest with the Venezuelan has since refocused his mind.

Queensberry Promotions’ announcement of Bentley-Saavedra became low key when Floyd Mayweather’s comeback and Conor Benn signing for Zuffa Boxing were announced later on Friday, but Bentley told BS: “I can’t explain how relieved I am I’ve finally got a date. I’m just so happy – it got to the point where I felt like, ‘Forget this eliminator – let me just fight, man.’ I’m on the other side of 30 now so time ain’t particularly on my side – I just want to keep moving. I’ve got to keep my career flowing, and I wanna have as much fun as I can in my career before it’s over. It was just so frustrating – I missed out on a whole year of what could have been a good year. We’ve got this date locked in – I’m grateful, and ready to get cracking in April.

“It was really frustrating. I’d walk into the gym every other week complaining at Martin [Bowers, my trainer] about something, and he’d calm me down and say, ‘Look, man, at the position we’re in.’ It’s a glass half-full, as opposed to half-empty, mentality. ‘Oh my days, I need you to just get angry with me.’ But it’s cool, man – he’s kept my head cool, kept me in the gym working on stuff. I haven’t wasted a year. It felt like I was wasting it but I haven’t – I’ve improved so much being in the gym for a year straight working consistently on things and things are coming off ‘cause I’ve had more time to work on them. I feel good in that sense – I feel the improvements in myself when I’m sparring, so I don’t feel like I’ve wasted a year. It’s been a year of practice and learning.

“The date in October, they agreed a deal with Endry, but they hadn’t signed it, and when it came to signing it they started asking for more money and things in their favour. That might have been a way for them to stall – maybe Endry wasn’t ready. Then I was going to take an in-between fight against [one-time opponent Nathan] Heaney in December on the Magnificent Seven card. That fell through because [Derek] Chisora and Dillian Whyte didn’t happen on that card in Manchester. Then, coming into the new year, because we agreed that fight [with Saavedra], everything else didn’t make sense. Now it’s been officially signed.

“There was a point where they wanted to host the fight in Australia, but they didn’t wanna pay the money that needed to be paid to do that. It was getting long. I had conversations with myself. ‘If I get offered something else I’m just gonna take it.’ I’d been out over a year; I couldn’t care less where it had been; I wasn’t hellbent on it being here. If Australia was going to pay me more, you’d have seen me in Australia.”

Bentley and Saavedra, 34, will have little choice but to continue to wait to fight Janibek.

Janibek outpointed Bentley in 2022, and also holds the title of the IBF, which has yet to rule on his status as their champion.

“I think it’s mental,” Bentley said. “You’re not giving the division a chance to move on and keep rolling. He’s held the belt for three years and he’s actually never defended it against a mandatory opponent – only the IBF has enforced their mandatories. If you’re guilty you should be stripped of that title. Let the division move on. Let there be a new champion – a new face of the division. We’ve got to wait until his suspension is done to fight him, so why are we being punished and losing the opportunity to become a world champion, because he’s being punished? I don’t think it’s fair.”

[MightyWarrior]

That’s really f*cked up making Bentley hang around like this, wasting time at 30+, I hope to hell this goes through. Same thing happening with Moses, wasting time, it’s a Queensbury thing

And Janibek needs stripping of the title right now

[Ruthless-RKO]

Man I didn’t realise it was from
July

[MPW]

That’s really f*cked up making Bentley hang around like this, wasting time at 30+, I hope to hell this goes through. Same thing happening with Moses, wasting time, it’s a Queensbury thing

And Janibek needs stripping of the title right now

This fight has been "marinating" for way too long. I feel bad for both boxers, who had a lot of momentum but then sat on the sidelines for months on end. It will be almost 14 months for Bentley and right about a year for Saavedra since their last fights.

As far as failed drug tests go, I'd like to see severe consequences once appeals have been expeditiously handled and consistent enforcement of those penalties across the board. Right now, it seems the alphabet orgs handle these matters in a random manner, the various commissions take care of them however they wish, and high-profile fighters are given a wink and a nod.

[Taansend]

I watched this Venezuelan/Mexican bloke fight the Aussie/Mexican bloke a couple of years ago. i thought he won the fight. Tough bloke, good bout.

I really really hope 2Sharp can win. We used to chat a bit back in the Twitter days. Nice bloke.

I'll be very chuffed if he becomes a Champion. I wonder if they'll try to build up a fight between him & Shakiel Thompson.

[MPW]

I watched this Venezuelan/Mexican bloke fight the Aussie/Mexican bloke a couple of years ago. i thought he won the fight. Tough bloke, good bout.

I really really hope 2Sharp can win. We used to chat a bit back in the Twitter days. Nice bloke.

I'll be very chuffed if he becomes a Champion. I wonder if they'll try to build up a fight between him & Shakiel Thompson.

Saavedra's bout with Tapia was, indeed, a very good fight, and I also thought he edged it but didn't complain too loudly about the draw.

I believe Bentley's fight with Saavedra is for the interim title and considered the final eliminator for the WBO title, with the winner getting a shot at Alimkhanuly's full title once his suspension is over. However, Thompson has been named as a possible challenger to Oliha for the now vacant IBF belt.

[Ruthless-RKO]

Fight Week!!

[Ruthless-RKO]

allegedly: ‘Janibek Alimkhanuly should have been stripped of WBO title’

allegedly insists that Janibek Alimkhanuly should have been stripped of the WBO middleweight title and that Denzel Bentley and Endry Saavedra should instead be contesting it on Saturday evening.

Bentley and Saavedra fight for the WBO interim title despite Janibek testing positive for the banned substance meldonium and being stripped of the IBF title and suspended by the WBO.

It was in late February when the WBO issued their year-long suspension and March when the IBF intervened. England’s Bentley and his Venezuelan opponent – who fight on the undercard of Deontay Wilder-Derek Chisora at London’s O2 Arena – could now find their careers stalling despite what would prove their most significant win.

The 31-year-old Bentley has been inactive since December 2024 – when he defeated Brad Pauls – and partly on account of his pursuit of a rematch with Janibek. Saavedra, 34, most recently fought in April 2025 when he defeated Mikkel Nielsen; the vacant IBF title will be contested by Aaron McKenna and Etinosa Oliha on a date to be confirmed.

“Obviously he should have been stripped,” said Warren, Bentley’s promoter. “I’m hoping Janibek will have to fight the winner.

“He was unlucky against Janibek, the first fight he had [in 2022]. It’s just that those four rounds slid by, and I think that was ‘cause he didn’t have the confidence – he grew into the fight, and in the end was well winning it.

“We’ve kept him there. We’ve kept him in that position.

“I remember Frank Bruno, years ago, when he came with us – he’d had three attempts for a world title, we finally got him into the position, and he had to wait nearly 18 months before he got the shot, and that happens sometimes. That’s the business we’re in.”

[Ruthless-RKO]

Denzel Bentley back to boxing again, after approaching Amazon job

Denzel Bentley had been waiting so long for a fight that he applied for delivery jobs to make ends meet for his young family.

The 31-year-old middleweight contender has not boxed since December 7, 2024, when he beat Brad Pauls to become British and European champion but has been waiting around ever since.

Bentley (21-3, 17 KOs) is currently No. 1 with the WBO and back in July the sanctioning body ordered him to face No. 2-rated contender Endry Saavedra but the pair have waited until this week to finally meet for the first time.

They will box for the WBO interim middleweight title Saturday night on the undercard of the MF Pro show at London's 02 Arena, topped by Deontay Wilder's showdown with Derek Chisora.

It has been a long time coming for Bentley, who has struggled financially due to the layoff.

He said: "It's hard. You don't get paid unless you fight and I’m not fortunate enough to have loads of sponsors like some others do. I’ve got a kid and live with my family so I have bills to pay.

"I've struggled 100 per cent. I've been applying for Amazon jobs to do delivery stuff. It came very close but then I got a fight date and thought that I can't really do it now I'm in camp. Then that date fell through anyway.

"So I've just been in the gym really, perfecting my craft and feel like I've got better over that time as well. I don't feel like it's a waste. Now I've got the date, I'm seeing the positive side of it. I've had a year-and-a-half to gather myself, learn about myself and mature.

"If I did get the job and was working, I would have been missing out on time in the gym and I wouldn't feel as sharp going into this fight. It's difficult, you've got to find a balance. My team helped me out and looked after me, which I appreciate."

Bentley's promoters at Queensberry had been pushing hard to secure a straight shot at WBO champion Janibek Alimkhanuly last year before the order to face Saavedra (17-1-1, 14 KOs). The Mexico-based Venezuelan has also proved elusive, according to Bentley.

Then, with that fight pending, it meant securing a different encounter in the interim became difficult, although Bentley would have happily boxed anyone.

"It was hard to get a deal with this guy but it's finally done now," he added.

"It has been hard, everyone is trying and everyone is working but come on, we’re dying out here. The annoying thing is there are all these shows and it's the same fighters on every one. It's ridiculous really, but I'm not here to hate on anyone. Everyone has to get their career moving but I also want my shot."

Now victory over Saavedra will put Bentley in line for a second crack at Janibek, who beat him on points when they met in Las Vegas in November 2022.

Saavedra rose to No. 2 after winning regional and international 160-pound WBO trinket titles. Saturday night marks his first-ever 12-round fight and his only two 10-rounders going the distance ended in a draw and defeat.

Bentley said: "I've never seen or met him and was wondering if this guy is even real. But then I mentioned him on Instagram and he replied so I realised he wants to fight, it's just that our teams had not made it happen. It's here now, so I'm happy."

[Ruthless-RKO]

Denzel Bentley claims WBO interim 160lbs title and takes aim at champion

Denzel Bentley claimed the WBO interim middleweight title with a seventh-round finish of Venezuela’s Endry Saavedra at London’s O2 Arena.

The ‘interim’ strap was on the line due to IBF and WBO champion Janibek Alimkhanuly testing positive for the banned substance meldonium in December. Janibek was stripped of his IBF strap but the WBO chose to suspend the champion for one year. Both men fought like they were fighting for the full-version of the world title, and in many people’s eyes they were. Saavedra pushed Bentley all the way and was probably up on the cards heading into the seventh. It was then that a sharp right hand buckled the legs of Saavedra with his back against the ropes. Bentley, 31, followed up his attack by sending in a barrage of straight shots which forced the referee Darren Sarginson to wave off the contest at 1:38 of Round 7.

“Let’s get one thing straight, I’m a world champion,” said Bentley, now 22-3-1 (18 KOs), following the contest. “[Janibek] is a world champion, but he ain’t even allowed to fight right now. No disrespect to anyone, but I don’t respect PED cheats round here. Do you see ‘interim’ on this [my belt]? No. This is going to my house, where my son can say his dad is a world champion.”

Despite Bentley’s emphatic finish, it was Saavedra that started the brighter of the two. The 34-year-old was aggressive from the off, and was able to land heavy blows on Bentley when pressing Bentley back. Bentley’s jab continued to keep Saavedra honest, but Saavedra was turning out to be a handful for the Londoner. Round by round Bentley became more comfortable with Saavedra's aggressive style, and started to pick him off in the fourth. Saavedra was not deterred either and although he was getting caught by Bentley’s long levers, he was landing the more eye-catching work.

The bout was a close one after six completed rounds, with the hard shots by Saavedra probably edging the contest in his favour. Bentley came out for Round 7 with more intent, snapping the head back of Saavedra with a jab. Bentley continued to turn up the heat, with a right hand stunning Saavedra when his back was against the ropes. Bentley smelled blood and sensed an opportunity to stop Saavedra. He fired in a barrage of straight punches that all landed on Saavedra. His head bounced around from the punches coming his way, and with the ropes only holding Saavedra up, the referee Sarginson rescued the now 17-2-1 (14 KOs) Saavedra.

[Coco]

Really pleased to see Bentley win this, good fighter without much luck.

Hopefully he can push on and be financially secure