Fans Question WBA Elevating Rolly Romero To Super Champion

Jack Catterall and Shakhram Giyasov will now fight for the vacant welterweight title in Egypt after Romero received Super Champion status

The WBA elevated Rolando Romero to Super Champion on Thursday despite Romero not defending his welterweight title since defeating Ryan Garcia last year, immediately drawing criticism from boxing fans online. The ruling leaves Jack Catterall and Shakhram Giyasov fighting for the vacant WBA welterweight title Saturday in Egypt.

Many fans questioned how Romero could be elevated without making a single defense while Giyasov spent months waiting for his mandatory title opportunity after the WBA ordered the fight last October.

The sanctioning body explained its decision in a statement released Thursday.

“The decision was made by the WBA Championships Committee following a formal request from Romero’s team and after reviewing his accomplished run as a three-division WBA champion,” the WBA stated on its official website.

The WBA also confirmed that Romero would still be required to fight the winner of Saturday’s clash between Giyasov and Catterall.

“The sanctioning body also established that Romero must face the winner of the Giyasov vs. Catterall showdown within a maximum period of 180 days after the fight takes place,” the WBA stated.

The ruling came days after Giyasov publicly questioned Romero’s willingness to fight him. Giyasov recently told Ring Magazine that he believed Romero was “scared” to defend the title against him after the WBA ordered the bout last year.

Saturday’s Giyasov-Catterall fight at the Pyramids of Giza will now determine the new WBA welterweight champion, with Romero remaining positioned above the division as the organization’s Super Champion.

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