Enough is enough.
That is the mentality carried by Shakhram Giyasov and his team, who’ve collectively grown tired of waiting for the boxer’s overdue title shot.
As previously reported by BoxingScene, Uzbekistan’s Giyasov, 17-0 (10 KOs) is the mandatory challenger in waiting for WBA 147lbs titlist Rolando Romero. Their fight was ordered months ago, only for the sanctioning body to slow the process to a crawl and even allow TGB Promotions to submit an exemption request for a voluntary fight that never materialized.
“We are expecting [a] purse bid, as this has dragged on long enough,” Vadim Kornilov, Giyasov’s career-long manager, told BoxingScene.
Las Vegas’ Romero, 17-2 (13 KOs) claimed a secondary version of the WBA welterweight title with an upset, unanimous decision over Ryan Garcia on May 2 in New York City. He was upgraded to full titleholder upon the divisional departure of unified WBA/IBF titlist Jaron “Boots” Ennis, who is now campaigning at 154lbs.
Giyasov was elevated to the top spot in the WBA 147lbs rankings in October 2023, once it was clear that Vergil Ortiz Jnr was done with the division. The move came four months after Giyasov’s 12-round, unanimous decision win over unbeaten Harold Calderon in their June 2023 title eliminator.
He stepped aside to allow Ennis to first unify with then-unbeaten WBA titltist Eimantas Stanionis. Ennis won their April 12 clash via one-sided, 6th round stoppage to unify two titles and inherit Giyasov as a mandatory. Giyasov was granted an undercard slot and maximized the opportunity with a 4th round knockout of Franco Ocampo.
“My last fight, I went into the ring determined to send a message,” Giyasov stated. “The winner of the main event was supposed to fight me. I wanted to give that person something to think about, and I feel like I gave one of my best performances that night.
“But it wasn’t my best – I am saving that for my title fight.”
Shortly thereafter, Romero and Garcia were permitted to fight for a WBA “Regular” welterweight title despite neither having ever officially fought at the weight.
Romero has not fought since that night, instead going through at least two separate rounds of ultimately failed talks with former eight-division titlist Manny Pacquiao, 62-8-3 (39 KOs).
The fight was previously teased for two separate PBC dates. However, BoxingScene has learned that - in addition to talks never advancing – the demand for the fight is dramatically inferior to the cost of getting both in the ring, never mind piecing together an enticing undercard.
Theoretically, that should put Romero back in a position where he can no longer hold the title hostage. That would require WBA officials to get off their asses and actually do their job.
Meanwhile, Giyasov and his team have no plans of backing down.
“Romero has to follow the rules and fight his mandatory,” demanded Kornilov. “It can be a big fight, there are many fans that know Giyasov very well, but are yet to see Romero fight.”
