DENZEL BENTLEY says rival Janibek Alimkhanuly should be punished for the failed drug test that has paved the way for his world title shot.
Janibek tested positive for banned substance Meldonium – known to boost oxygen intake – in December before facing Erislandy Lara.
The WBO and IBF champion was pulled out of the unification bout against Lara – whose WBA belt was on the line.
And Janibek has since received a six-month suspension – backdated from the failed December test – making him eligible to fight again in May.
But the unbeaten Kazakh – who defeated Bentley on points in their 2022 WBO title fight – has been allowed to keep his titles despite the ban.
So Bentley has to instead settle for a WBO interim title bout against Venezuelan Endry Saavedra on April 4 at the O2 Arena.
But he feels Janibek, 32, has escaped without being stripped of his belt.
Bentley, 31, said: “If he’s going to serve a suspension, I think he should be stripped and when his suspension is done, he can get the first shot at whoever the new champion is.
“So it is what it is. WBO have tried their best to make everything work out and wait for the interim title, but God willing, get my hands on that.
“After that, we’ll see where we can go.Winning the interim title would mean a lot.
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Tyson Fury will make his return in April against Arslanbek Makhmudov, Conor Benn is closing in on a world title shot and Fabio Wardley will defend his newly won heavyweight crown.
Canelo Alvarez will be hoping to return after his defeat to Terence Crawford and heavyweight king Oleksandr Usyk will also need to defend his straps.
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February
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March
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April
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“It means I’m right there, doesn’t it? It means I’m right there, but the job’s not done. I’ve still got that one more step, one more hurdle.
“It’s just annoying that I’ve got to wait until his suspension is done to get my shot at a world title.
“As much as I appreciate what the WBO have done, allowing me to box for the interim, I feel like I’m still being punished for what he’s done.
“But it is what it is. It’s one of those wild situations where they’ve got someone doping, but they still don’t really know what to do with it.
“But it’s something to do with whoever he’s licenced with have to find him guilty before the WBO can actually take action and strip him
“So the interim is good enough for now.”
As much as I appreciate what the WBO have done, allowing me to box for the interim, I feel like I’m still being punished for what he’s done.
Denzel Bentley on Janibek Alimkhanuly
Bentley’s countryman Fabio Wardley, 31, won the WBO interim heavyweight world title by stopping Joseph Parker, 34, in 11 rounds in October.
But it proved to be his crowning night after Oleksandr Usyk, 39, vacated the WBO title – with Wardley elevated to the full world title.
But Bentley said: “It’s different because they could have fought Usyk in their next fight but I can’t fight the champion in my next fight.
“I’ve still got to wait for December until his ban is done, he’s going to have to have a camp so I could be fighting him next year in April. Who knows
“In my next fight I’ll be defending the interim and still not getting a shot at the world title until he’s served his ban and we move on.”
Victory for Bentley – on the night of Derek Chisora’s 50th and final fight against Deontay Wilder – will see him in line to rematch Janibek.
Or, he receives the world title in the post like Wardley, something he is equally happy to celebrate.
Bentley grinned: “I don’t mind being email champion. That’s all right, man. You know, I’ve waited this long. I couldn’t mind that.”
