Yoenli Hernández could have to go through a second purse bid just to get his first WBO title fight. The WBO has authorized negotiations between Hernández and Michael Zerafa for its vacant middleweight belt after stripping Denzel Bentley, whose mandatory defense against Hernández had already gone to bid.

Zerafa, ranked fourth by the WBO, moves ahead of two contenders who are unavailable. No. 2 Vito Mielnicki Jr. is unavailable, and No. 3 Tim Tszyu is under contract to face Erislandy Lara. WBO president Gustavo Olivieri said formal notice would follow. The fighters’ teams will have 20 days from the issuance of that order to reach a deal.

Hernández Has Already Been Through One Purse Bid

“The parties shall have 20 days from the issuance of the formal negotiation order to reach terms, pursuant to WBO Regulations or purse bid proceedings,” Olivieri said on X.

Warriors Boxing was the only bidder for Bentley’s mandatory defense and secured the promotional rights with a $200,000 offer on September 29. Bentley stood to receive $150,000, with the remaining $50,000 going to Hernández. Bentley had asked to fight Shane Mosley Jr. first and defend against Hernández afterward, but the WBO denied his appeal on October 22. He kept the Mosley fight, scheduled for November 7 in London as his Zuffa Boxing debut, and the WBO stripped him.

That first bid shows why the next 20 days matter. Hernández’s promoter did what the WBO process required and put up the money to stage the defense. Bentley still had a fight he preferred to take, and Hernández came out of the process with the same No. 1 ranking he had going in. A deal with Zerafa would spare him another round of bidding and give both camps a chance to settle where the fight takes place and what they’ll be paid.

Hernández (11-0, 9 KOs) brings the bigger punch, but his last fight gave Zerafa something to study. Francisco Verón took him the distance in August and held him to a majority decision. For all the talk about why Bentley took the Mosley fight, that result matters more to Zerafa. There are rounds to win against Hernández if Zerafa can keep him from setting his feet and make him work to close the distance.

The opening for Zerafa came from the two names above him being unavailable. What he can do with it is another matter. Hernández has the power to make this a short night if Zerafa stands in front of him, but the Cuban still has to show he can take charge when an opponent makes him work deep into a fight. That’s what makes the pairing worth seeing once the teams get it signed.