Denzel Bentley appeals to WBO over Shane Mosley Jr title defence

Denzel Bentley is appealing to the WBO to allow his planned fight against Shane Mosley Jr to go ahead as a defence of his middleweight world title.

The Londoner is scheduled to face Mosley at the Copper Box Arena on 7 November, but the governing body has ordered him to meet mandatory challenger Yoenli Hernandez.

Speaking to Sky Sports in an interview published on Tuesday, Bentley said he wanted to retain the belt while pursuing the Mosley fight.

“I don’t want to vacate and I don’t want to be stripped of my title,” he said.

Denzel Bentley seeks approval for voluntary defence

Bentley said arrangements for a voluntary defence were already in place before the mandatory order complicated his plans.

He maintained that he was willing to face Hernandez and believed his appeal had a strong basis.

The Mosley bout was announced last week following Bentley’s agreement on a multi-fight deal with Zuffa Boxing.

It will be the co-main event on a card headlined by Chris Billam-Smith against Cheavon Clarke, with Sky Sports broadcasting the London show.

Mosley enters the contest following a stoppage victory over Serhii Bohachuk.

Bentley’s appeal remained ongoing in Tuesday’s report, leaving WBO sanctioning of the November fight as a title defence unresolved.