WBO Orders Janibek vs Bank For Vacant Title

The WBO has ordered undefeated middleweight Janibek Alimkhanuly to negotiate with Jacob Bank for the vacant super middleweight title, per a Bad Left Hook report.

The sanctioning body gave the pair 15 days to reach terms after current beltholder Hamzah Sheeraz vacated rather than face Alimkhanuly. Bank, ranked third by the WBO, knocked out William Scull earlier in his career and posted three wins in 2026 alone, including stoppages of Paulinus Ndjolonimu and a shutout decision over Pawel Augustynik.

Bentley Heads To Purse Bid Against Hernandez

At middleweight, the WBO scheduled a purse bid for next week between newly elevated champion Denzel Bentley and mandatory challenger Yoenli Hernandez. Bentley stopped Endry Saavedra in seven rounds last April to claim an interim strap that was later upgraded, his third finish across four straight wins since dropping a decision to Nathan Heaney.

Hernandez, who carries an 11-0 record with nine knockouts, beat Francisco Veron in his most recent outing last month. The Cuban showed flashes of vulnerability in that fight that a puncher of Bentley's caliber could exploit, according to the report.

The Alimkhanuly-Bank bout would mark the Kazakh's first fight at 168 pounds after holding the WBO middleweight title. Bank has carried a WBO regional belt and remains unbeaten in 20 fights.

The purse bid for Bentley-Hernandez is set for next week, with the winner expected to defend the WBO middleweight strap later this year.

Reported via:

• Bad Left Hook — WBO orders Janibek Alimkhanuly vs Jacob Bank, Denzel Bentley vs Yoenli Hernandez purse bid