WBO orders Hernandez v Zerafa for vacant title Denzel Bentley was stripped of

Unbeaten Yoenli Hernandez and Michael Zerafa have 20 days from the formal order to agree terms for the WBO middleweight title, or face a purse bid.

The WBO has ordered Yoenli Hernandez and Michael Zerafa to negotiate for its vacant middleweight title, the belt Denzel Bentley was stripped of for not meeting his mandatory obligation against Hernandez.

WBO president Gustavo Olivieri said on X: "The parties shall have 20 days from the issuance of the formal negotiation order to reach terms, pursuant to WBO Regulations or purse bid proceedings." He said formal notice would follow. No date or venue has been set.

Hernandez is the WBO's No 1 contender and Zerafa its No 4. Zerafa gets the shot because the two men between them are out of the picture: No 2 Vito Mielnicki Jr is unavailable and No 3 Tim Tszyu is contracted to fight Erislandy Lara.

Hernandez, an unbeaten 29-year-old from Cuba, won his last fight in August by majority decision against Francisco Veron. Zerafa, 34, stopped Alejandro Ortiz in the eighth round that same month. The Australian was stopped in two rounds by Lara in a WBA middleweight title fight in March 2024.

The fight could also take Zerafa away from Chris Eubank Jr, who had been linked with him for a comeback fight. Zerafa is known to British fans for his 2018 defeat by Kell Brook.

Bentley is due to fight Shane Mosley Jnr in London on 7 November.

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