Hernandez (11-0, 9 KOs) was installed as mandatory challenger for WBO middleweight champion Bentley (22-3-1, 18 KOs) earlier this month and the two sides are currently in talks about a clash before the end of the year.

But Bentley, who was elevated from interim champion in the summer, was surprised that a man with such limited professional experience has been granted a crack at the world title already.

“It’s mental how he’s mandatory when he’s never had a 12-rounder,” Bentley told The Ring. “In fact, he’s never fought an eliminator and has only had 11 fights. It sometimes happens with the Cubans, they seem to get this reputation before they've really done anything, then they're in these big fights.”

Hernandez, who is The Ring's No. 2-rated 160-pounder, is said to have had around 300 bouts as an amateur and hung up his Cuba vest after winning back-to-back World Championships as a 75kg middleweight.

He made his professional debut in May 2022 but has managed just more 10 outings in the paid code and is yet to put a foot wrong. The 29-year-old, nicknamed “El Diablo," has been tipped by many to be a future star of the middleweight division.

Bentley, however, is not convinced, pointing out that Cuban amateur standouts like Andy Cruz and David Morrell were both similarly rated before coming unstuck early on in the pros.

“These Cubans, they live and breathe boxing,” he added. “We know the kind of stature they have as a nation as amateur fighters, but how many of them turn out to be great professional fighters? Not many.

They live their life in that system, they box there, and they're fully equipped. Their style is accustomed to that amateur kind of boxing, and then they get moved forward quickly if they turn professional. Look at Andy Cruz. He got fast-tracked but then he falls short for a world title against Raymond Muratalla. It's a different sport, it's a different game.”

Cruz is considered one of the greatest Cuban amateurs ever, having won three World Championships and Olympic gold at Tokyo 2020. He won his first six fights as a professional but then dropped a decision to Muratalla (25-0, 17 KOs) when they fought for the IBF lightweight title in January.

Then, four months later, Cuban ace Morrell, who was positioning himself for a second world title attempt, was beaten by the unheralded Zak Chelli in one of the upsets of the year.

Bentley, 31, added: “All the movement and the way they box so explosively and burn energy isn't sufficient for the later rounds. So you might get a good four, five or six rounds from them but if they can't sustain that kind of style then they start falling behind.

“They're great amateur boxers and they achieve everything in the amateurs but how many of them become world champions or household names in the professional ranks? That's why they have to do everything early. In the amateurs, you box to be cute, and you box to look good and flashy and stuff. In the professionals, we're boxing to hurt.

"Just look at Zak Chelli. He's nowhere near David Morrell's technical level, but he had other things like physicality, heart and a big punch. So he just didn't quit. He kept going and ended up knocking him out.”

Despite not being convinced of Hernandez’s credentials as a mandatory challenger, Bentley knows he must face him next or vacate his belt.

The Londoner had hoped to face IBF champion Aaron McKenna in a world title unification or even someone like Conor Benn in a money-spinning voluntary but the WBO have now confirmed that it is Hernandez or relinquish for Bentley.

“Our teams are communicating right now," he said.

“I don't know how it will turn out, if I'm being honest. If they can get something done, they get something done. If not, then, obviously, the WBO will force the purse bids. It can only go one or two ways from here.”