The 25-year-old Danish fighter has won all three fights this year, with WBO titlist Hamzah Sheeraz in his crosshairs.<\/p>\n
However, the WBO recently reinstated previously banned former IBF, WBO middleweight champion Janibek Alimkhanuly as their No. 2 ranked fighter and mandatory challenger to Sheeraz<\/a>.Canelo Alvarez, who fights WBC titlist Christian Mbilli on October 31<\/a>, is the top-ranked contender but will depart the rankings after contesting another sanctioning body title. Diego Pacheco<\/a> sits at No. 3, while Bank is No. 4. The move doesn’t sit well with Bank<\/a> for many reasons.”It’s actually not even the shortened suspension that bothers me the most \u2014 although that decision is completely impossible to understand in itself,” Bank (20-0, 11 KOs) told The Ring<\/a>. <\/p>\n “Either you receive a suspension for a doping violation, or you don’t. Changing the length of that suspension halfway through is extremely unusual and raises a lot of questions.<\/p>\n “The bigger issue is that the WBO has effectively rewarded him. They’ve put him straight back at the top of the rankings and immediately made him the mandatory challenger. That’s where this becomes completely wrong, it isn’t just about me or Hamzah … it affects every fighter who worked their way up the rankings fairly.”<\/p>\n “Let Janibek<\/a> come back, one or two fights, and prove that he’s back \u2014 as a clean athlete after serving his punishment. That’s how sport is supposed to work. Instead, he serves a reduced suspension and is rewarded with the division’s biggest opportunity. That sends a terrible message to fighters worldwide who believe in a clean sport.<\/p>\n “What surprises me most is that none of the major boxing media outlets have really questioned this decision.”<\/p>\n While the decision is frustrating for Bank and his team, they are moving forward and will close out their breakout year with one more fight hinting it’ll be another overseas assignment.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n “I’ve had some very positive discussions with Primetime Boxing, who’ve had productive talks with Spencer Brown and Gold Star Promotions,” he said. “It’s a good plan, but not something I’m ready to reveal publicly just yet.”<\/p>\n Meanwhile, Bank’s promoter Kasper Holgersen of Primetime Boxing is also disappointed with how he perceived his fighter has been treated after remaining loyal to the sanctioning body.<\/p>\n “It’s incredibly frustrating because this isn’t the first time,” he said. “When Hamzah Sheeraz was fighting for the vacant WBO world title, the WBO also found a way to avoid Jacob Bank. Just two days after Jacob stopped William Scull on January 31<\/a>, they suddenly announced the Sheeraz vs. [Alem] Begic fight.<\/p>\n “The explanation was that the fight had to be finalized before Jacob faced Scull because it supposedly needed to happen as quickly as possible. It didn’t take place until May 23, people can draw their own conclusions from that.<\/p>\n “And now this happens. So yes, we’re both frustrated and deeply disappointed by the WBO’s actions. Jacob has been incredibly loyal to the WBO throughout his career, winning several youth and regional titles, following their path and climbing the rankings the right way … this is the reward he gets.<\/p>\n “Our position in the Janibek case is very clear: the WBO is making a serious mistake. Bringing a fighter back after a suspension is one thing. But reducing a doping suspension they imposed itself, and then immediately rewarding that fighter with mandatory status, sends exactly the wrong message.<\/p>\n “It tells fighters around the world that a doping violation doesn’t just have limited consequences \u2014 it can actually be followed by a shortcut to a world title opportunity. That is not the message any sanctioning body should be sending if it truly stands for fairness and a clean sport.”<\/p>\n