WBO reportedly set to strip Denzel Bentley over his mandatory challenger

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Denzel Bentley may be about to lose his world title without throwing a punch. Boxing News 24 reports that the WBO is set to strip Bentley after he let a deadline pass to commit to his mandatory challenger, Yoenli Hernández

Hernández is unbeaten at 11-0 with nine knockouts. WBO president Gustavo Olivieri told EverythingBoxing's Darshan Desai that no confirmation arrived within the 24 hour window. Desai reports that the WBO will strip Bentley, although nothing has been officially announced yet

Bentley is instead booked to face Shane Mosley Jr on 7 November in his Zuffa Boxing debut. That fight appears to have been his priority over the mandatory defence

If Bentley is stripped, the number two ranked Vito Mielnicki Jr could face Hernández for the vacant title. The second half of the article is opinion, criticising Bentley's choice

Losing a world title to sanctioning rules is frustrating for fans, but it happens often when fighters move to new promoters. Bentley clearly sees more value in the Zuffa deal. Hernández deserves his shot, so the WBO's position is understandable

Is Bentley making the right choice? And should sanctioning bodies be stricter about mandatory defences?

WBO Set To Strip Denzel Bentley Of Titlewww.boxingnews24.com