WEIGHTS IN FROM LONDON: Endry Saavedra vs. Denzel Bentley Clash for WBO Interim Middleweight

Endry Saavedra vs. Denzel Bentley Clash for WBO Interim Middleweight

LONDON – The scales are set, and the tension is palpable in Greenwich. This Saturday, April 4, Ciudad Bolívar’s own Endry “El Chino” Saavedra steps back into the squared circle for the biggest test of his career. He is slated to challenge the formidable Brit, Denzel Bentley, for the WBO Interim World Middleweight Championship.

The 160-pound clash serves as the high-stakes co-feature for the heavyweight showdown between Deontay Wilder (44-4-1) and Derek Chisora (36-13) at the iconic O2 Arena. Global audiences can catch the action live on DAZN.

Both warriors cleared the first hurdle of fight week at today’s weigh-in. Saavedra tipped the scales at a lean 159.7 lbs, while Bentley looked championship-ready at 159.6 lbs.

The Local Favorite: Denzel Bentley

London’s Denzel Bentley returns to the ring following a seven-month layoff. We last saw him in December at Wembley, where he secured a gritty unanimous decision victory over compatriot Brad Pauls to retain his International title—a belt he subsequently vacated to pursue world honors.

Bentley enjoyed a clinical 2024 campaign, racking up back-to-back second-round stoppages against Danny Dignum and Derrick Osaze. Fighting under the moniker "2 Sharp," the 31-year-old (21-3-1, 17 KOs) boasts a lethal knockout ratio north of 80%. This marks his second crack at world glory; fans will recall his spirited 2022 effort in Las Vegas, where he dropped a competitive unanimous decision to the unbeaten Kazakh juggernaut, Zhanibek Alimkhanuly.

The Challenger: Endry Saavedra

Saavedra, born in Ciudad Bolívar and now honing his craft in the fighting mecca of Tijuana, Mexico, makes his second appearance of the year. The Venezuelan puncher is riding a wave of momentum after traveling to Australia to dismantle Denmark’s Mikkel Nielsen via an eighth-round TKO to claim the WBO International strap.

Saavedra’s 2024 was equally impressive. In March, he silenced the Australian crowd with a grueling eighth-round stoppage of Issac Hardman to seize the WBO Intercontinental title, followed by a hard-fought draw against the undefeated César Mateo Tapia in the United States last October.

A former Olympian and standout for the Caciques de Venezuela, “El Chino” (17-1-1, 14 KOs) brings veteran savvy and a matching 80% knockout rate to the O2. At 34, this represents his maiden shot at a world title—a "now or never" moment for the South American powerhouse.

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