WBA upgrades Regis Prograis to ‘super’ champ, orders Barrios-Akhmedov for ‘world’ belt

[Ruthless-RKO]

Barrios and Akhmedov are undefeated and the top two WBA contenders

The WBA are cretins, news at 11:00.

According to The Athletic, the sanctioning body has upgraded super lightweight champion Regis Prograis to “super” champion and ordered #1 Mario Barrios to fight #2 Batyr Akhmedov for the regular title. This is despite them having a “gold” champion in Yves Ulysse Jr.

Barrios (24-0, 16 KO), a 24-year-old PBC regular who’s gone from freakishly lanky 130-pounder to reasonably sized 140-pounder, is in the midst of a seven-fight knockout streak, including a two-round stoppage of Juan Jose Velasco last month on the Jarrett Hurd-Julian Williams undercard. He’s been inching towards welterweight in recent years, fighting between 141 and 143, but I’d imagine even a pretend title is sufficient incentive to stay put.

Akhmedov (7-0, 6 KO) reached the Rio quarterfinals at super lightweight, representing Turkey under the name Batuhan Gözgeç. Though he’s only been a professional for just over two years, his 2018 knockout of Ismael Barroso is arguably more significant than any of Barrios’ victories.

Like Coppinger says in that tweet: more nonsense from the WBA, but at least we’re getting a genuinely interesting fight out of it.

[Ruthless-RKO]

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAND....

They've done it again.

140 had one champion for ages.

Now they have a Gold/Interim champion.. and soon they will have a Regular champion.

I understand Prog is tied up in the WBSS..

But as the 2 top contenders, arent they just supposed to fight each other in a FINAL ELIMINATOR???

What's the need..

[keirw]

Shouldn't the WBA regular only become active if the full title is unified?

If they had waited until after the Prograis/Taylor fight at least it would have made a modicum of sense.

They can't even be arsed to follow their own rules anyomore.

[Ruthless-RKO]

Shouldn't the WBA regular only become active if the full title is unified?

Even then it's only the WBA that do that as well.

[Onetimeonly]

I couldn't care less about belts, that's an intriguing fight that probably wouldn't happen without a trinket.

[Ruthless-RKO]

I couldn't care less about belts, that's an intriguing fight that probably wouldn't happen without a trinket.

Have to admit, it is a very good fight we’re getting.

[KiwiRider]

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAND....

They've done it again.

140 had one champion for ages.

Now they have a Gold/Interim champion.. and soon they will have a Regular champion.

I understand Prog is tied up in the WBSS..

But as the 2 top contenders, arent they just supposed to fight each other in a FINAL ELIMINATOR???

What's the need..

The need is greed. More scantioning fees.
It's actually a good fight, but not deserving of any championship status.

[jamamb]

reeg is a total beast