The August 15th edition of Showtime Championship Boxing will feature Rolando "Rolly" Romero taking on fellow unbeaten Jackson Maríñez in a twelve-round battle for the interim WBA lightweight title. [The WBA already recognizes Vasiliy Lomachenko as super champion, Gervonta Davis as regular champion and Yvan Mendy as gold champion. Romero has never gone more than six rounds and has never been in a fight scheduled for ten rounds].
The WBA rates Jackson Maríñez in 6th place and Rolando "Rolly" Romero is rated 7th. Both fighters are unbeaten, but neither man has defeated anyone of any note.
The president of the World Boxing Association, Gilberto Mendoza, previously admitted that it was difficult to reduce the number of titles that his organization sanctions.
“They tell me that there must be only one champion, but they don't give me solid arguments. They tell me that [the titles] are devalued, but when we talk about making a tournament to set a single champion, not everyone wants to enter it. When we talk about accepting a champion versus champion fight - not everyone is willing to take part," Mendoza told ESPN Deportes.
"And on the other hand... a boxer with a title does better, a boxer who gets himself a title fight does better, a network that broadcasts a title fight does better, a promoter who has a title fight does better. The same fan [who complains], if he knows there is a title at stake, they are more attentive [to the fight]."
"We would love to have a balance in terms of titles, but what is the balance that we could we offer?" Mendoza said.
Thoughts?
