Denzel Bentley Questions WBO Over Voluntary Defense Reversal

Denzel Bentley is challenging WBO president Gustavo Olivieri over the sanctioning body's refusal to approve a voluntary title defense. Bentley claims Olivieri previously agreed to let him make a voluntary defense before facing mandatory challenger Yoenli Hernandez in 2027. However, the WBO rejected his appeal to fight Shane Mosley Jr. on November 7 in London, ordering him instead to face Hernandez.

Olivieri stated that the WBO championship committee never received a formal petition from Bentley, Mosley, or promoter Zuffa for the bout. While Bentley maintains that an agreement was already reached via public statements, Hernandez's team successfully petitioned for immediate enforcement of his mandatory title shot.