It appears the merry-go-round in the WBA welterweight title picture will continue. 

In January, the WBA named Manny Pacquiao as its welterweight "champion in recess" and promoted Yordenis Ugas to its "super" titlist. 

The move was made due to Pacquiao’s inactivity. 

The 42-year-old Pacquiao has not fought since July 2019, when he added to his WBA “regular” title by snatching Keith Thurman’s WBA “super” title as well in a spirited split decision win. 

Ugas (26-4, 12 KOs), meanwhile, has sat on the WBA title he was awarded without throwing a single punch. He’s not fought since scoring a split decision over Abel Ramos last September.

Pacquiao (62-7-2, 39 KOs), however, is ready to resume his legendary career against Errol Spence Jr. (27-0, 21 KOs) in their Aug. 21 FOX Sports pay-per-view showdown in Las Vegas.

Spence is the owner of the WBC and IBF welterweight crowns.

WBA president Gilberto Mendoza said that Pacquiao could be reinstated as it’s “super” titlist, and thus, making the bout a three-belt unification match in the division.  

“Initially, the plan was for Ugas to fight Pacquiao,” Mendoza told ThaBoxingVoice. “But now, the Spence fight was announced. [MP Promotions head] Sean Gibbons, who represents Manny, they’ve written a letter to be placed back in [as WBA “super” champion]. We’re working on it. There’s a high probability. It has to be run through a championship committee and voted before being taken to the president.”

Out of boxing’s four major sanctioning bodies, the WBA is most guilty for muddying the championship picture. 

Most of the weight classes have a WBA regular, super and interim champion.

The WBA reversing course on their irrational move from earlier this year and reinstating Pacquiao as its champion is the only scenario that should emerge from their current reconsideration. 

Manouk Akopyan is a sports journalist, writer and broadcast reporter. He’s also a member of the Boxing Writers Association of America and MMA Journalists Association. He can be reached on Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn and YouTube at @ManoukAkopyan, via email at manouk[dot]akopyan[at]gmail.com or on www.ManoukAkopyan.com