Denzel Bentley has called for his mandatory challenge to unified WBO and IBF middleweight champion, Janibek Alimkhanuly, to land on the undercard of the upcoming undisputed heavyweight title fight between Oleksandr Usyk and Daniel Dubois.

Ring Magazine and WBC, WBA and WBO champion, Usyk, and IBF title holder, Dubois, will meet at London’s Wembley Stadium on July 19th.

Last December, Bentley, 21-3-1 (17 KOs), unseated Brad Pauls to become a three-time British middleweight champion. The win also earned the Londoner the prestigious European title but, most importantly of all, it secured his sport at the top of the WBO world rankings.

Back in November 2022, Bentley was handed a surprise shot at Alimkhanuly’s WBO belt.

He grew in confidence over the course of his first foray into world class and whilst he may not have left Las Vegas with a world title belt after losing a decision, he flew home armed with the knowledge that he possess the qualities needed to eventually be successful at the highest level.

Bentley - ranked at number 10 by Ring Magazine - has steadily worked his way back into contention for a rematch with the Kazakh and is now patiently waiting for the WBO to call on Alimkhanuly, 17-0 (12 KOs), to make a mandatory defence of his title.

Bentley believes that, providing a deal can be agreed quickly, a spot on the July 19th show would suit everybody involved.

“I guess it's on the WBO to push forward and to call me mandatory or for Queensberry to get on to Janibek from now so he feels like he has enough time to get ready for that card,” he told The Ring.

“He's going to want a camp and he's not going to take an opportunity for me because he’s a unified world champion. So it's a conversation they have from now for July.

“I think he can get ready for that. He just boxed in April so he shouldn't really be out of shape. He hasn't had a long lay-off, has he? The hardest part of that fight was probably him making the weight because I heard he was struggling but, other than that, he performed well.”

Last month, Ring Magazine’s number one ranked middleweight, Alimkhanuly, made a triumphant return home to Kazakhstan and successfully defended his titles by taking apart the previously undefeated but overmatched Congolese fighter, Anauel Ngamissengue, in five one sided rounds.

Such a short turnaround between fights would be a change of tack for the 32 year-old but if he is intent on holding onto his WBO title, it is a matter of time before has has to honour his mandatory obligation and quickly agreeing to do so on such a high profile show may well appeal to him more than months of negotiations and a potential purse bid.

“He said he's willing to travel if it's a big fight. He would have come here for Chris Eubank Jr. Coming here for me on this show, on this platform, is big enough,” Bentley said.

“He gets to be seen and if the pay is big enough, I don't see why he wouldn't come. He's had his homecoming now in Kazakhstan so I don't see why he wouldn't travel.”

Bentley doesn’t want to limit his options.

In February, WBC champion and Ring Magazine’s number two ranked middleweight, Carlos Adames, 24-1-1 (18 KOs), retained his title by drawing with the highly rated Hamzah Sheeraz.

Adames was tagged as a sizeable underdog when the fight was first announced but prepared well and fought with aggression and confidence and appeared unfortunate not to have his hand raised after twelve rounds.

Bentley’s number 13 ranking with the WBC makes him viable challenger for the 30 year-old Dominican’s title and although he believes Adames looked good against Sheeraz, he believes that Sheeraz’s approach played into his hands.

Bentley would relish the opportunity to pit his own wits against Adames.

“I thought he won that fight. I thought Sheeraz was in his shell too long boxing too safe. They want to call it discipline, I think it was just too safe. There’s a slight difference.

“There’s being disciplined and not opening up, but, if you're not letting your shots go and you're covering up, then you're just boxing too safe. I thought that's what he did and he missed a perfect opportunity.

“If you’re just going to let him [Adames] walk on to you and move and have fun, he can do what he wants. Once you push him back, you take that away from him. Now he's got to think about his work rather than let it flow.”