Yoenli Hernandez’s attention-grabbing stoppage of former title challenger Terrell Gausha in March has pushed him toward a WBO middleweight title shot against interim champion Denzel Bentley, BoxingScene has learned.
Cuba’s Hernandez, 10-0 (9KOs), was impressive in disposing of veteran Gausha on the March 28 Sebastian Fundora-Keith Thurman Prime Video pay-per-view card at MGM Grand in Las Vegas, stopping him for the first time in Gausha’s 31-fight career in the fourth round.
The 28-year-old Premier Boxing Champions product has since been elevated as mandatory contender to England’s Bentley, 22-3-1 (18KOs), as the WBO has suspended the full champion Janibek Alimkhanuly, who is sidelined because of a PED positive.
Alimkhanuly, 17-0 (12KOs), has been stripped of his IBF belt over the matter, but he has appealed his suspension to the WBO, and the sanctioning body has yet to hear and rule on the matter.
BoxingScene has learned that if Alimkhanuly’s suspension is reversed, terminated or modified, then Alimkhanuly will fight Bentley, with Hernandez next in line to fight the winner.
If Bentley, 31, fights Hernandez first, then Alimkhanuly is next in line, an official close to the situation told BoxingScene.
Hernandez has the look of someone poised to rule the glamour division that counts Erislandy Lara (WBA) and Carlos Adames (WBC) as champions. Adames has expressed an intent to move to super middleweight, with fellow PBC fighter Jesus Ramos standing as interim champion.
The IBF has ordered Aaron McKenna and Etinosa Oliha to fight for its vacant 160lbs belt.
