The 31-year-old middleweight contender has not boxed since December 7, 2024, when he beat Brad Pauls to become British and European champion but has been waiting around ever since.

Bentley (21-3, 17 KOs) is currently No. 1 with the WBO and back in July the sanctioning body ordered him to face No. 2-rated contender Endry Saavedra but the pair have waited until this week to finally meet for the first time.

They will box for the WBO interim middleweight title Saturday night on the undercard of the MF Pro show at London's 02 Arena, topped by Deontay Wilder's showdown with Derek Chisora.

It has been a long time coming for Bentley, who has struggled financially due to the layoff.

He said: "It's hard. You don't get paid unless you fight and I’m not fortunate enough to have loads of sponsors like some others do. I’ve got a kid and live with my family so I have bills to pay.

"I've struggled 100 per cent. I've been applying for Amazon jobs to do delivery stuff. It came very close but then I got a fight date and thought that I can't really do it now I'm in camp. Then that date fell through anyway.

"So I've just been in the gym really, perfecting my craft and feel like I've got better over that time as well. I don't feel like it's a waste. Now I've got the date, I'm seeing the positive side of it. I've had a year-and-a-half to gather myself, learn about myself and mature.

"If I did get the job and was working, I would have been missing out on time in the gym and I wouldn't feel as sharp going into this fight. It's difficult, you've got to find a balance. My team helped me out and looked after me, which I appreciate."

Bentley's promoters at Queensberry had been pushing hard to secure a straight shot at WBO champion Janibek Alimkhanuly last year before the order to face Saavedra (17-1-1, 14 KOs). The Mexico-based Venezuelan has also proved elusive, according to Bentley.

Then, with that fight pending, it meant securing a different encounter in the interim became difficult, although Bentley would have happily boxed anyone.

"It was hard to get a deal with this guy but it's finally done now," he added.

"It has been hard, everyone is trying and everyone is working but come on, we’re dying out here. The annoying thing is there are all these shows and it's the same fighters on every one. It's ridiculous really, but I'm not here to hate on anyone. Everyone has to get their career moving but I also want my shot."

Now victory over Saavedra will put Bentley in line for a second crack at Janibek, who beat him on points when they met in Las Vegas in November 2022.

Saavedra rose to No. 2 after winning regional and international 160-pound WBO trinket titles. Saturday night marks his first-ever 12-round fight and his only two 10-rounders going the distance ended in a draw and defeat.

Bentley said: "I've never seen or met him and was wondering if this guy is even real. But then I mentioned him on Instagram and he replied so I realised he wants to fight, it's just that our teams had not made it happen. It's here now, so I'm happy."