Last week, Denzel Bentley took the opportunity to escape to America for a quick New Year break before he gets his teeth into an important twelve months.

The Ring’s No.10 ranked middleweight returned home to hear his name being called. As that isn’t a common occurrence, the Londoner’s ears immediately pricked up.

During an interview with The Ring, Kalle Sauerland laid out his plans for his fighter, Josh Kelly, and refused to rule out a move to 160lbs for the WBO’s No.3 ranked junior middleweight. He reeled off the names of a number of British fighters and spent a good amount of time talking about Bentley and praising his progress.

Although it wasn’t a blatant call out, talk of a potential fight soon made its way onto social media. Such is the modern way. The Ring called Bentley to get his reaction.

“I was a bit surprised. ‘Oh wow, where did that come from?’ You know me. I don’t give a damn. You say my name, I'll test you. See if you really mean it or not,” said Bentley, 21-3-1 (17 KOs), who is the number one challenger for the WBO title currently held by unified WBO & IBF champion, Janibek Alimkhanuly, 16-0 (11 KOs).

“But when I think about it, it kind of makes sense. As in, you call out the guy that's sitting there waiting for a world title shot. I might bite because obviously Janibek is having a voluntary. If he wins then he gets a world title shot.

“It's the easiest way to get a world title shot at this weight. Do you know what I mean? To them, it's like they're making a smart move.

“Don't call out the champion because they’re going to say, ‘What have you done?’ but if you call out Denzel, who’s willing to fight anyone, he might have a chance.”

Kelly might well have a chance.

Last December, Bentley outpointed Brad Pauls to win the British middleweight title for the third time. The unanimous decision also earned him the European title and cemented his position as the number one challenger for Alimkhanuly.

Just over two years ago, 30 year-old Bentley took a shot to nothing trip to Las Vegas to challenge Alimkhanuly for the WBO belt. Although he lost a decision, Bentley visibly grew in confidence as the fight wore and fought the champion on even terms over the second half of the bout. He has longed for an opportunity to even the score ever since and although his path has taken a detour or two more than he would have liked, it has finally led him back to the Kazakh’s door.

In April, Alimkhanuly will box at home in Kazakhstan for the first time since his second professional fight, way back in September 2017. He will make a voluntary defence of his belts against an as yet unnamed opponent.

Bentley won’t sit idly on the shelf for months waiting for Alimkhanuly to conclude his business. Experience has taught him that he is at his best when he is active and he will box again before getting his second title shot.

As Bentley sees it, if he is going to fight before meeting Alimkhanuly, he might as well take on the most high profile, lucrative opponent he can find.

“Josh Kelly is someone I’d definitely fight,” he continued.

“I'm in such a good position, I don't need to fight this guy but, hey, whatever innit?

“If the money's there, why would I turn down a nice payday?

“It's not like I'm fighting for a world title next. I've still got to have a fight in between. I mean, I don't have to, but I still want to fight in between and whoever I fight in between, it’s going to be dangerous anyway.

“If it makes sense, let's do it and then it’s going to put me in good form, a good routine, a good mindset for the world title fight rather than fighting someone easy, flapping about in camp or whatever and then [having to] switch on. Switch on from now.”

Kelly, 16-1-1 (8 KOs), hasn’t boxed since surviving a late charge from last minute substitute, Ishmael Davis, to record a twelve round majority decision victory at Wembley Stadium last September.

Kelly had been due to make his official 160lb debut against former WBO junior middleweight champion, Liam Smith, on the undercard of the heavyweight title fight between IBF champion, Daniel Dubois, and Anthony Joshua but the Liverpudlian’s late withdrawal with a virus gave Davis the chance to jump up from 154lbs and step in on a few days notice.

Bentley actually received the call to fight Kelly himself but his pre-fight medicals weren’t in place and he had to turn down the opportunity.

He would present Kelly with an altogether different challenge to the slick but inexperienced Davis.

Bentley is a big middleweight with true knockout power. He has also learned from his defeats and knows just how far a defeat can set a fighter back. He would enter the fight motivated and expecting to win.

Those are pretty convincing reasons to risk his position and take Kelly on. If the biggest reason - the money - is right, we could have a fight.

“100%. Say my name and I think, ‘Yeah, is that what you think?’” Bentley said.

“Don’t try me.”