The Ring’s Mike Coppinger reported on Thursday that an agreement is in place for a title unification bout between McKenna and Bentley late this year. McKenna (21-0, 10 KOs) holds the IBF title, Bentley (22-3-1, 18 KOs) the WBO belt.

Coppinger wrote that the final obstacle to a final deal is approval from the sanctioning bodies.

McKenna, of Monaghan, Ireland, won the then-vacant IBF title with a unanimous decision over Etinosa Oliha on August 8 in Ireland. McKenna, 27, is The Ring’s No. 3-ranked fighter at 160 pounds.

Bentley, 31, was elevated to full champion in late July after former WBO titleholder Janibek Alimkhanuly vacated the title to move up to 168 pounds. The London native won the interim WBO title with a seventh-round stoppage of Endry Saavedra on April 4 in his hometown.