Josh Taylor vs. Alberto Puello - WBA Ordered

[Ruthless-RKO]

WBA orders Josh Taylor to face Alberto Puello

Puello held the “interim” title before the WBA abolished them

The work of an undisputed champion is never done. Less than two weeks after Josh Taylor controversially retained his welterweight titles with a decision over WBO mandatory challenger Jack Catterall, the WBA has ordered him to former interim champion Alberto Puello. The pair have 30 days to negotiate.

Per the press release, Taylor (19-0, 13 KO) hasn’t actually faced a WBA mandatory challenger since taking the title from Regis Prograis in October 2019, making this more than a bit overdue.

The Dominican Republic’s Puello (20-0, 10 KO) has done well for himself in his career, though there really was no reason for the WBA to unearth its interim title after four years in storage for his 2019 clash with fellow unbeaten Jonathan Alonso. His reign has been a quiet one built on substandard opposition; there were multiple attempts to pit him against Rances Barthelemy in the most meaningful fight of his career, but none ever panned out.

Despite being a much easier out than Catterall on paper, I’ll be surprised if this happens. Taylor has been clear that his days at 147 are numbered and I doubt Puello is the sort of blockbuster opportunity that’ll entice him to make one more cut. As Scott pointed out, odds are Puello will face Ismael Barroso for the title once it’s vacant. Barroso’s on a nice little career resurgence for the moment, so while it’s not a world championship level fight, it could be fun.

[margaret thatcher]

another southpaw.....though from watching clips of him seems to have a style more up jt's ally than cat does

https://boxrec.com/en/proboxer/713680

[Ruthless-RKO]

another southpaw.....though from watching clips of him seems to have a style more up jt's ally than cat does

https://boxrec.com/en/proboxer/713680

and he's another undefeated. 20-0 (10 KOs)

[margaret thatcher]

ah yes, dat awesome streak


will jt even stay at 140 though?

[Ruthless-RKO]

ah yes, dat awesome streak


will jt even stay at 140 though?

No idea.. if he moves up. Then Puello will fight Ismail Barroso.

You know the guy Crolla KO’d 6 years ago or so.

Way to recycle WBA.

[maverick23]

Purse bids have now been called.

I can’t see it getting that far as Taylor will almost certainly vacate but if it does then the split is 55/45 in favour of Taylor due to Puello being a former interim champ.

[Ruthless-RKO]

Purse bids have now been called.

I can’t see it getting that far as Taylor will almost certainly vacate but if it does then the split is 55/45 in favour of Taylor due to Puello being a former interim champ.

Why has be hot vacated already?

You reckon he’ll do one final match?

[maverick23]

Purse bids have now been called.

I can’t see it getting that far as Taylor will almost certainly vacate but if it does then the split is 55/45 in favour of Taylor due to Puello being a former interim champ.

Why has be hot vacated already?

You reckon he’ll do one final match?

If he does have one final fight at 140 then it’s not going to be against Puello. I think he’ll almost certainly move up.

[KiwiRider]

ah yes, dat awesome streak


will jt even stay at 140 though?

I hope he does stay at 140, no good can come from moving up.

[gregregegg]

No way this happens. If he stays 140 it has to be cateral. But I think he moves up.

[Ruthless-RKO]

No way this happens. If he stays 140 it has to be cateral. But I think he moves up.

Yeh , he doesn't need meaningless fights, like that other crap IBF mando he had..

[Ruthless-RKO]

[Ruthless-RKO]

Safe to say Taylor is moving up.

[margaret thatcher]

so the weak ass vacant title fights begin......

[whiskey]

Taylor gets his sh*t pushed in by any of the top guns at 147.

[Ruthless-RKO]

Taylor gets his sh*t pushed in by any of the top guns at 147.

Haha!!

[KiwiRider]

Taylor gets his sh*t pushed in by any of the top guns at 147.

100% it's a bad move up. He thought he had a tough night with Prograis and Ramirez, then lost to Catterall.
I hate to think what Crawford or Spence will do to him if he wants a belt.
I back him against Benn though, but I don't know if they risk Benn against Taylor. Good money in it I expect.

[whiskey]

Taylor gets his sh*t pushed in by any of the top guns at 147.

Haha!!

Harsh but true innit RKO

[Ruthless-RKO]

Taylor gets his sh*t pushed in by any of the top guns at 147.

Haha!!

Harsh but true innit RKO

It’s a good one oryt..

[Ruthless-RKO]

Puello, Team Await Decision From WBA As Deadline Passes For Josh Taylor Fight

Alberto Puello has patiently waited through an interim title reign and his current placement as mandatory challenger to receive his overdue title shot.

The lack of response from undisputed junior welterweight champion Josh Taylor is the one neglected deadline where the unbeaten contender and his team draw the line.

A purse bid hearing won by TGB Promotions to secure the rights to the Taylor-Puello WBA mandatory title fight came with a 20-day deadline to secure final contracts, which expires Thursday. Puello’s side has complied with all terms but now await next steps as Scotland’s Taylor (19-0, 13KOs) has failed to commit to his ordered title defense.

“The term has already expired and our team delivered everything required,” Belgica Pena, Puello’s promoter and head of Shuan Boxing, told BS.com. “Taylor’s team never responded to the call.

“According to WBA rules, what corresponds is that they strip him of the title.”

Efforts by BS.com to contact WBA representatives seeking clarification or comment went unreturned as this goes to publish. BS.com has learned, however, that Taylor—who last fought in a twelve-round split decision win over England’s Jack Catterall on February 26—will keep the title until the WBA officially declares the belt vacant. Taylor will remain the lineal/WBC/IBF/WBO champ even under that scenario.

TGB Promotions’ Tom Brown was the lone bidder for the April 22 purse bid hearing conducted by the WBA, placing the minimum acceptable $200,000 bid to serve as promoter of record for the ordered fight. Because of Puello’s former status as an interim titleholder—with the belts removed from circulation last August—the unbeaten Dominican was entitled to 45 percent ($90,000) of the purse bid, with Taylor due $110,000 (55%) as the defending champ.

It was strongly speculated at the time that Taylor would ultimately vacate at least his WBA belt, with rumors of his potentially ditching all the titles to move up to the welterweight division. The reigning champion has yet to make that decision, although he is forced to either commit to his ordered mandatory title defenses or relinquish such titles.

Taylor was also ordered on April 28 to enter negotiations for a mandatory title defense versus WBC number-one contender and former title challenger Jose ‘Chon’ Zepeda (35-2, 27KOs). The WBC set aside a May 24 purse bid hearing should the two sides fail to reach terms.

The order clearly overlaps with the WBA title fight, which TGB hoped to stage on July 16 in Las Vegas if Taylor agreed. The belief was that it would be enough to get Taylor to relinquish his title, at which point Puello would be ordered to face the next highest-ranked available contender for the vacant title.

Venezuela’s Ismael Barroso (23-3-2, 21KOs) is the current number contender in the latest WBA rankings.

Puello was always willing to accept a fight with anyone as so ordered by the WBA. The 27-year-old Dominican southpaw claimed the now-defunct interim WBA junior welterweight title in a twelve-round win over Jonathan Alonso in July 2019. Two defenses of the secondary belt followed while waiting out fights with Taylor or for the WBA ‘World’ junior welterweight title held by Mario Barrios and then Gervonta ‘Tank’ Davis.

None of the fights materialized prior to Puello landing among several interim titlists to have their status removed upon the WBA’s aggressive—and forced—title reduction campaign. Puello was able to retain the same rights previously afforded an interim titlist as he was installed as the mandatory challenger.

The unbeaten boxer spent the rest of the year calling for a fight with Davis (26-0, 24KOs), who instead dropped back down lightweight where he also held a secondary WBA title. Davis was able to retain both belts through his December 5 win over Mexico City’s Isaac Cruz (23-2-1, 16KOs) before agreeing to relinquish the WBA 140-pound title.

That left Puello to call for a fight with Taylor, who was already committed to an overdue WBO mandatory title defense versus Catterall. The undefeated Scotsman is now on the hook for two mandatory title defenses, though with the likely scenario of having his WBA belt removed and with Puello negotiation with Barroso or whoever else winds up next.

“We wanted the Taylor fight,” notes Pena. “But the important thing is that our fighter receives what he deserves.”

[NoScoutingReports]

Taylor too busy arguing pointlessly on Twitter with Catterall..really like Josh as a fighter but he's not helping himself going on post-fight like he won v Jack. Just accept you got the rub of the green and move on instead of mocking the bloke who most people thought beat you, not ideal but there you go. Going to be plenty of title shots available at 140 once he moves up.

[Ruthless-RKO]

Taylor is No LONGER undisputed.

WBA have stripped him.

Who’s the next challenger after Puello?

[Ruthless-RKO]

Great. I forgot. It’s Ismael Barroso, he’s like the super lightweight Fres Oquendo.


Remember watching Crolla knock him out.

[Ruthless-RKO]

[margaret thatcher]

well, that makes him more of a man doesn't it