Denzel Bentley says WBO took his title "for no reason" after he left Queensberry for Zuffa

He told Ariel Helwani he had been promised a voluntary defence before the belt went, and he still fights Shane Mosley Jr at the Copper Box Arena on 7 November.

Denzel Bentley thinks the WBO took his middleweight title because he left Queensberry for Zuffa Boxing, and he told The Ariel Helwani Show the sanctioning body had taken it off him "for no reason".

Helwani asked whether the WBO changed its mind the moment it found out he was going to Zuffa, which Helwani said has openly said it does not want to work with the sanctioning bodies. Bentley said: "I can't say for certain, but that's what I think. Honestly, that's what I think." He added that "there was no other reason for that statement he put out to be retracted".

Bentley said he made the move to Zuffa based on a post from the WBO president acknowledging that he would get a voluntary defence before facing the mandatory challenger next year. He said: "When everyone caught whispers and it was rumoured that I'm leaving Queensberry and maybe signing with Zuffa at the time, that's when things changed, and it changed very quickly." He said he did not even have time to decide what he wanted to do, and added: "I just kind of got caught in the middle of the politics of boxing, but it's all good."

He said the fight he has now could have been that voluntary defence. Bentley said: "Shane Mosley Jr's ranked number 6 with the WBO, and that could have been a solid defence." He said mandatory challenger Yoenli Hernandez "can't fight for it till next year anyway", and added: "So you've just taken the title off me for no reason." He said: "I didn't feel like I was treated like the champion."

The WBO's statement said it withdrew his recognition as champion and declared the title vacant "following his failure to comply with mandatory championship obligations". A purse bid for Bentley against Hernandez was won by Warriors Boxing with an offer of $200,000, of which Bentley was entitled to 75 per cent, or $150,000. The WBO has since ordered Hernandez and Michael Zerafa to negotiate for the vacant title, with 20 days to reach terms from the formal order. No date or venue has been set.

Bentley still fights Mosley at London's Copper Box Arena on 7 November, the first of a six-fight deal with Zuffa. Eddie Hearn has said Bentley "could have had big nights defending his world title" and called the Mosley fight a night "in front of 1,200 people at the Copper Box".

READ NEXTSupply teacher Zak Chelli joins Zuffa Boxing after Morrell KO: "anyone, anytime, anywhere"Read the next story →

Every UK fight result and what's next, every Friday. Get the free UK fight briefing

Add Combat Sports UK as a preferred source on Google