Imagine waiting years for your shot at a world title, only to see it potentially snatched away by a boxing legend. That's the situation Shakhram Giyasov, the WBA's top-ranked welterweight contender, finds himself in right now. He's been patiently waiting for his chance to fight for the belt, but now Rolly Romero is trying to jump the line for a fight with Manny Pacquiao.
Giyasov, a talented fighter from Uzbekistan, has earned his mandatory title shot. He even agreed to step aside and allow Jaron "Boots" Ennis and Eimantas Stanionis to unify the WBA and IBF welterweight titles, with the promise that he would face the winner. Ennis impressively defeated Stanionis, and since both Ennis and Giyasov are promoted by Eddie Hearn's Matchroom Boxing, it seemed like a done deal.
But here's where it gets controversial... Ennis decided to move up to 154 pounds, which meant that Rolando "Rolly" Romero, the holder of the lesser WBA "regular" title, was elevated to full world titleholder. Now, Giyasov is still owed his shot, even though the title changed hands. He remains the mandatory challenger. But it appears Romero isn't keen on facing Giyasov anytime soon. Instead, Romero has been in discussions for a fight with boxing icon Manny Pacquiao, who, despite his legendary status and recent draw with Mario Barrios, is eager for another shot at a welterweight title. This has raised eyebrows across the boxing world. Is it fair for a fighter to bypass their mandatory challenger for a more lucrative, albeit potentially less deserving, opponent?
And this is the part most people miss... It's not just about Romero's desire; he's officially requested an exemption from the WBA to avoid the mandatory fight with Giyasov and pursue the Pacquiao bout. Eddie Hearn, Giyasov's promoter, revealed this news, stating, "We’ve been mandated to fight Rolly Romero, [Romero’s team] put in an exemption request to face Manny Pacquiao, which I don’t believe is even done. Shakhram Giyasov has been waiting and waiting, and we believe the WBA should not allow that special exemption to take place."
Adding fuel to the fire, Giyasov's team sent a formal letter to the WBA, vehemently objecting to any special permit that would excuse Romero from his mandatory obligation. Frank Smith, CEO of Matchroom Boxing, echoed this sentiment, assuring that they would be pushing the WBA hard to ensure Giyasov gets his deserved opportunity. "It’s frustrating for Shakhram; we obviously had the fight in April where he agreed to step aside to allow the Ennis [versus Stanionis unification] fight to happen for the WBA and IBF," Smith explained. "Giyasov was then due to fight for the WBA next… The focus for us – and Shakhram has always said – it doesn't matter who the opponent is; he just wants to fight for the world title. Now it’s our job to deliver that, and we’ll be pushing the WBA very hard and we’re hopeful that we can get him this opportunity because he truly deserves it."
The WBA now faces a tough decision. Granting Romero's request would likely generate significant revenue and media attention due to Pacquiao's involvement. However, it would also set a precedent that could undermine the integrity of the mandatory challenger system and potentially discourage fighters from agreeing to step-aside deals in the future. Denying the request would uphold the rules and ensure Giyasov gets his deserved title shot, but it could also mean missing out on a potentially massive payday. What do you think the WBA should do? Should merit prevail, or does the allure of a Pacquiao fight outweigh the established rules? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
