Denzel Bentley’s McKenna Plans Run Into Hernandez

WBO middleweight champion Denzel Bentley must defend his title against mandatory challenger Yoenli Hernandez before pursuing an all-British unification clash against IBF titleholder Aaron McKenna. WBO president Gustavo Olivieri announced that the purse bid for the Bentley-Hernandez mandatory defense is scheduled for September 29, temporarily halting Bentley's proposed fight with McKenna.

A loss to Hernandez would cost Bentley his WBO belt and derail his prospective unification plans with McKenna. While Bentley hopes to secure home advantage in the purse bid, facing Hernandez either domestically or abroad presents a high-risk defense against an aggressive Cuban contender.