WBA does right thing in junior welterweight title ruling
With Romero sidelined for several months due to injury, organization will sanction an interim belt again, but for the right reason
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The status of the WBA junior welterweight title has finally been determined after months of the organization going through its process, which included receiving and evaluating the medical report from titleholder Rolando Romero.
In the end, and under the circumstances, the WBA seems to have made the best possible decision it could have — even if it means the brief (hopefully) return of an interim title.
Remember, it was during the summer of 2021 that the WBA terminated all of its interim title recognition on the same day when it faced the existential crisis of no longer being able to do business in the United States under threat from the Association of Boxing Commissions if it didn’t clean up its act after years of grossly overusing interim titles simply as a means of drumming up additional sanctioning fees.
I hammered the WBA regularly about it along with its use of “regular” and “super” titles that meant three titleholders in most divisions.
There is, however, a legitimate reason to use an interim title: when there is an injury that will keep titleholder sidelined for an extended period. The next two contenders are allowed to fight for the interim title, the division does not stagnate, the boxers get their opportunities, and the injured fighter is mandated to face whoever claims the interim belt upon his return.
That is what the WBA has determined in the case of Romero after receiving his medical report and having it reviewed by Dr. Joseph Estwanik, the chairman of the WBA’s medical committee.
The WBA has issued its official ruling on the matter. Read on for more details and to read to the full WBA ruling, a copy of which was obtained by Fight Freaks Unite:
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