Frank Warren’s Queensberry Promotions are targeting a bout between newly crowned WBO interim middleweight champion Denzel Bentley and Liam Smith.
England’s Bentley collected the vacant interim title with a seventh-round stoppage of Endry Saavedra earlier in April, on the undercard of Deontay Wilder-Dereck Chisora. Bentley, 31, declared himself world champion following his win due to the full titlist Janibek Alimkhanuly being unable to defend his title after being suspended for a year having tested positive for a banned substance.
Bentley’s promoters, Queensberry, are looking at a suitable opponent for his first defense of his title, and BoxingScene understands that they are prioritising a bout with former junior-middleweight titleholder Smith. Smith, 37, held the WBO title from 2015-2016.
