Imagine waiting years for your shot at a world title, only to have someone try to cut in line! That's the situation Shakhram Giyasov, the WBA's #1 ranked welterweight contender, finds himself in. He's been patiently waiting for his opportunity, but now Rolly Romero is trying to jump ahead and face Manny Pacquiao instead. Is this fair play, or a blatant attempt to dodge a dangerous opponent?
Giyasov, a talented fighter from Uzbekistan, has earned his place. He even agreed to step aside to allow a unification bout between Jaron "Boots" Ennis and Eimantas Stanionis for the WBA and IBF welterweight titles. The understanding was clear: Giyasov gets the winner. Ennis emerged victorious, putting on a dominant performance against Stanionis. Since both Ennis and Giyasov are under the Matchroom Boxing banner, promoted by Eddie Hearn, it seemed like a sure thing.
But here's where it gets controversial... Ennis decided to vacate the title and move up to the 154-pound division. This turn of events led to Rolando "Rolly" Romero, who held the lesser WBA "regular" title, being elevated to full world champion status. Giyasov, despite the title change, remained the mandatory challenger – meaning Romero should be obligated to fight him next.
However, Romero seems to have other plans. Instead of facing the highly skilled Giyasov, he's been actively pursuing a fight with boxing legend Manny Pacquiao, who, despite his age, is still a major draw and hungry for another shot at a welterweight title. Pacquiao recently fought Mario Barrios back in July, in what ended as a draw. Romero, therefore, is seeking an exemption from his mandatory obligation to fight Giyasov in order to face Pacquiao.
And this is the part most people miss... This isn't just about one fighter avoiding another. It raises serious questions about the integrity of title defenses and the fairness of the sport. Should a champion be allowed to cherry-pick opponents, especially when a deserving contender has waited their turn?
Eddie Hearn, Giyasov's promoter, didn't mince words. He revealed that Romero's team has officially requested an exemption from the WBA to bypass Giyasov and fight Pacquiao. "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," Hearn told BoxingScene. "Shakhram Giyasov has been waiting and waiting, and we believe the WBA should not allow that special exemption to take place.”
This request follows a formal objection from Giyasov's team, who sent a letter to the WBA last week vehemently opposing any special permit that would excuse Romero from his mandatory obligation. Frank Smith, CEO of Matchroom Boxing, echoed this sentiment, stating that the promotion will be pushing the WBA to ensure Giyasov gets his deserved title shot.
"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. Romero, there’s talks of him fighting Manny Pacquiao, I believe. 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.”
Now, let's consider this from a different angle. Pacquiao is a huge name, and a fight against him would generate significantly more revenue than a fight against Giyasov. Is the WBA likely to prioritize the financial benefits of a Pacquiao fight over the fairness of their own ranking system? That's the million-dollar question. What do you think? Should Romero be granted his exemption to fight Pacquiao, or should Giyasov finally get the title shot he's earned? Share your thoughts in the comments below! Another story to note, Paulie Malignaggi is not convinced that Eddie Hearn would actually move forward with a Devin Haney vs. Conor Benn fight.
