Today, the WBA ordered welterweight champion Rolando “Rolly” Romero to enter into negotiations with his mandatory challenger, Shakhram Giasovto defend the title. They have until November 13 to negotiate an agreement before making an offer for the portfolio. This won’t make Rolly and Manny Pacquiao content.

Pacquiao shot for title in jeopardy

The WBA’s order puts Rolly’s scheduled January 24, 2026 fight against Manny Pacquio on shaky ground because the title is at stake. Pacquiao (62-8-3, 39 KO) fans were looking forward to his fight with Rolly (17-2, 13 KO) for the WBA title. They are rooting for Pacquiao to win the world title at the age of 47 against a defenseless champion.

This fight may still happen, but the WBA title will be at stake for Rolly. He will have to vacate the title as his mandatory title has been ruled against the Matchroom-promoted Giyasov.

A father’s promise to his dead daughter

Earlier this year, Giyasov revealed that he promised his dying 2-year-old daughter that he would win the world title. It would be a shame if he was passed over in favor of older fighter Pacquiao, who doesn’t deserve a shot at the world title. How could Pacquiao even take the fight knowing about Giyasov’s situation?

“I promised her I would be world champion! This is a fight for my daughter – I promised my daughter that I would become world champion. She believed me, I did it” Giyasov told DAZN about the promise he made to his dying 2-year-old daughter before she died in March 2025.

WBA orders Romero vs. Giyasovhttps://t.co/PUDT20gtg5

— WBA Boxing (@WBABoxing) October 13, 2025

Pacquiao could have waited for the winner

It wouldn’t be the end of the world for Pacquiao if he waited for Giyasov to get his title shot against Rolly. If the Filipino star’s goal in a world title fight is to win the title at the age of 47, he may try to do so against the winner of the Romero-Giyasov fight.

Of course, it would be much more arduous for Pacquiao to defeat Giyasov, as the 2016 Olympic silver medalist would be a nightmare for the older fighter. Rolly’s chances of beating Giyasov are slim. This fight is a mismatch on paper and that’s why Romero doesn’t want to fulfill his mandatory obligation. Giyasov is bad news for him.

If Giyasov did agree to step down, you can predict that the Pacquiao-Rolly winner would do the same in their next fight. Why would any of these fighters want to face Giyasov when his chances of winning would be slim and they would make less money than fighting a more popular fighter like Ryan Garcia, Conor Benn or Devin Haney?

With the WBA 147-pound belt on the line, it would likely take a seven-figure sum to No. 1 Giyasov to get him to step aside. The problem is that Giyasov agreed earlier this year, in April, to withdraw from the contract in order to allow then WBA champion Eimantas Stanionis to fight IBF champion Jaron “Boots” Ennis in a unification fight.

Shortly after Ennis defeated Stanionis to win the WBA title, he vacated the belt. The WBA allowed Rolly Romero and Ryan Garcia to fight for the vacant title instead of Giyasov. So he was bypassed a second time. If he agrees to opt out of his contract, it will be the third time he has failed to earn a title shot.