Ex-unified middleweight titlist Janibek Alimkhanuly and his team have taken formal action in an effort to expedite his return to the ring, filing a direct appeal to the World Boxing Organization seeking either a reduction or full removal of his current suspension.
Alimkhanuly, who still holds the WBO middleweight title, is currently serving a suspension that runs through December following a positive test for a banned substance that emerged just days before his scheduled unification bout against WBA world champion Erislandy Lara last December.
“Janibek and his team have filed an appeal against the suspension, and it is currently being reviewed. They are not satisfied with the suspension and they have the legal right to appeal it,” said Gustavo Olivieri to Cesar Seda “ Boxeo Urbano Network”
That development led to the cancellation of the fight and ultimately resulted in him being stripped of his International Boxing Federation world title, ending his status as unified champion despite retaining recognition under the WBO.
“We have an internal administrative appeal process, a panel composed of lawyers and licensed professionals who act as judges and determine the final resolution,” explained Olivier
Now operating under that complex backdrop, Alimkhanuly’s camp is pushing for a review that could significantly alter the landscape of the 160 pound division. According to WBO president Olivieri the complaints and grievances committee is actively reviewing the appeal while maintaining its interim championship structure to keep the division in motion.
“We have to wait to see what the final determination will be. It could be to uphold the suspension, modify it, or dismiss it entirely,” Olivieri added.
In response to that development, the WBO instituted an interim title to ensure the division remained active. Denzel Bentley seized that opportunity in emphatic fashion, stopping Endry Saavedra to capture the interim WBO middleweight championship and insert himself firmly into the title picture.
The sanctioning body is now prepared to order a bout between Bentley and highly ranked Cuban contender Yoenlis Hernández, currently No. 2 in the WBO rankings. However, before that mandatory assignment is enforced, Bentley is expected to be granted a voluntary defense an option requested by his promoter and now under consideration.
“On the other hand, I am going to recommend to the organization’s Championship Committee that Hernández be designated as Bentley’s mandatory challenger. Since there has not been a mandatory defense in more than two years while the suspension is being served, Bentley would have to fulfill this mandatory obligation,” Olivieri argued.
Should Alimkhanuly succeed in his appeal either reducing or overturning his suspension the WBO could quickly pivot toward a direct showdown between the Kazakh champion and Bentley. In that scenario, Hernández would remain firmly positioned as the next mandatory level challenger, awaiting the outcome of the championship picture.
For now, the appeal represents the key variable in a division carefully structured to remain active, competitive, and aligned despite the ongoing regulatory uncertainty surrounding its reigning champion.
