Denzel Bentley has signed a multi-fight agreement with Zuffa Boxing and is scheduled to face American middleweight Shane Mosley Jr at London’s Copper Box Arena on 7 November.
Sky Sports reported that Bentley’s bout with Mosley Jr will form part of the Zuffa Boxing 12 card, which is due to be televised live by the broadcaster. The event is scheduled to be headlined by the meeting between Chris Billam-Smith and Cheavon Clarke.
For Bentley, the announcement establishes both a new promotional arrangement and a substantial next assignment at middleweight. Bentley said becoming a world champion had fulfilled one of his goals, but that he wanted to achieve more.
A London date against a ranked opponent
Sky Sports described Bentley as the WBO middleweight champion after his victory over Venezuela’s Endry Saavedra at London’s O2 Arena in April. The broadcaster reported that Bentley won the WBO interim title in that contest before it was upgraded to the full championship.
However, Bentley said his position was subject to an appeal. Bentley acknowledged online discussion and rumours about the belt and said his team had submitted an appeal. He said he hoped the process would allow him to defend the WBO title against Mosley Jr.
The distinction is important for the November contest. Sky Sports reported that Mosley Jr is ranked sixth with the WBO but is not Bentley’s mandatory challenger. Bentley’s title status, as he described it, is therefore an issue separate from the confirmation of the fight itself.
Bentley said he was willing to take on a ranked opponent and expected a forceful contest. He said Mosley Jr, as the son of Shane Mosley, would have strong motivation to demonstrate his own standing in the sport, and characterised that as a source of danger.
The American arrives after stopping Ukrainian fighter Serhii Bohachuk in the sixth round in Las Vegas, according to Sky Sports. The broadcaster also reported that Mosley Jr had beaten former world champion Daniel Jacobs and had previously fallen short in a bout for the WBC interim title against Jesus Alejandro Ramos.
Bentley looks beyond a first title achievement
Bentley told Sky Sports that becoming world champion had fulfilled one of his personal objectives, but said he wanted to achieve more. His route to the Saavedra bout had included setbacks as well as victories: Sky Sports reported that he had lost his first world-title challenge against Zhanibek Alimkhanuly and suffered a surprise defeat to Nathan Heaney.
According to the broadcaster, Bentley rebuilt by beating Danny Dignum, Derrick Osaze and Brad Pauls before facing Saavedra. It reported that Bentley recovered during the Saavedra fight to secure a seventh-round finish.
That background helps explain why the Mosley Jr booking carries competitive weight even though it is not presented as a mandatory defence. Bentley is seeking to continue from a title-winning performance against an opponent Sky Sports identified as being within the WBO’s top six. He said he hoped the appeal would allow him to defend the WBO title against Mosley Jr.
Bentley also identified IBF champion Aaron McKenna as a possible future target if he comes through the London contest. He said a meeting with McKenna could establish a leading figure in the weight class, but that remains conditional on the outcome against Mosley Jr and on Bentley’s own championship situation.
The 7 November bill will also include London-born cruiserweight Lucas Roehrig against Scotland’s Connal McDonald, while Sky Sports reported that Scottish middleweight Sam Hickey will meet Troy Coleman. American heavyweight Da’Mazion Vanhouter is also scheduled to make his UK debut against Ivan Balaz.
For Bentley, though, the immediate focus is narrower: a first fight under his new Zuffa Boxing agreement, against an established American opponent, with Bentley saying he hoped an appeal would allow him to defend the WBO title.