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A fight fueled by loss

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Image: Jaron Ennis vs. Shakhram Giyasov a Strong Possibility for Next Fight, Despite No Formal Announcement

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.

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.

Last update: 13/10/2025

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Erik Morales Gives Fair Verdict on Mayweather vs Pacquiao 2: “Who Will Win”

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Erik Morales delivers honest verdict on Mayweather vs Pacquiao 2: “That’s who will win”

Mexican boxing legend Erik Morales, who is the same age as Floyd Mayweather, presented his version of the 49-year-old’s expected rematch with Manny Pacquiao.

The two pound-for-pound icons will face off in a professional competition on September 19, headlining the Netflix event at The Sphere in Las Vegas.

However, their second meeting seemed to be in jeopardy after Mayweather stated last month that it would be an exhibition match.

Pacquiao and his team have since stated that it will be a fully sanctioned fight, but we are still waiting for an official announcement.

Their first meeting took place in 2015 and earned Mayweather a unanimous decision victory in an event that quickly became known as the most lucrative boxing event of all time.

Shortly thereafter Pacquiao claimed he entered the welterweight fight with a shoulder injurybut he never had the opportunity to exact his revenge.

But now the 47-year-old hopes to break Mayweather’s 50-0 record after ending his nearly four-year hiatus from professional boxing last July.

But while the Filipino drew with Mario Barrios, the then-WBC welterweight champion, many suggested he and Mayweather shouldn’t be entering the ring at this stage of their lives.

One of them is Morales, who fought Pacquiao three times, winning the first meeting but losing the next two. He told Fight Hub TV that the rematch would be won by the Hall of Famer who turned down the fight the least.

“We’re not at the age to get into fights. But hey, it’ll be intriguing. Whoever arrives the least injured and a little faster, [will win]”

Ahead of any rematch with Pacquiao, Mayweather confirmed he would fight Greek kickboxer Mike Zambidis on June 27.

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Deontay Wilder Manager: Joshua’s fight ‘never was’

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Image: Deontay Wilder Manager: Joshua Fight ‘Never Was’

“You can’t be disappointed with something that never happened,” Finkel told Sky Sports. “Eddie never contacted us and Joshua obviously had no intention of fighting Deontay Wilder. Same venerable story, just novel date.”

The comments question Eddie Hearn’s recent suggestions that Anthony Joshua could face Wilder ahead of his planned clash with Tyson Fury in slow 2026.

Joshua is instead scheduled to face Kristian Prenga on July 25 in Riyad, ending any immediate speculation about the long-discussed clash with Wilder.

Just a few weeks ago, Eddie Hearn was here calling Wilder a warm-up fight for Joshua’s scheduled fight with Tyson Fury. This is a solemn marketing move. This keeps the fans engaged and gives the impression that AJ is willing to take on the most risky puncher in the league just to keep himself busy.

However, Shelly Finkel’s answer is fascinating. He firmly stated that there was “no reason” to be frustrated because no real approach was ever taken. If Hearn was solemn, the first step would have been to email or call Finkel. According to Wilder’s camp, such a thing never happened.

Instead of Wilder, Joshua is now officially scheduled to face the little-known Prenga. This move serves two purposes for Joshua’s camp: It is a much safer fight as Joshua rehabs from his car accident earlier this year. It also opens the door to a massive fight with Fury in slow 2026 without the risk of Wilder ruining a payday with one right hand.

This has been a pattern for years. We saw this in 2019 when uncontested talks failed, and again in 2023 when both were on the “Day of Reckoning” card but never actually paired up.

Wilder, who recently returned to the ring after a victory over Derek Chisora, also mentioned his interest in a future fight with unified champion Oleksandr Usyk.

Finkel’s comments suggest that Joshua’s fight remains in familiar territory, being discussed publicly but never formally pursued behind the scenes.

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Hall of Fame champion claims he would be the one to beat Terence Crawford: ‘I’m going to win’

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Hall of Fame champion says he would have been the man to beat Terence Crawford: “I’m going to win”

The star fighter, who has made an astonishing 15 defenses of his welterweight world title, supported himself in a fantastic showdown with Terence Crawford.

Many consider “Bud” to be one of the greatest welterweight champions of all time, considering his size undisputed triumph over Errol Spence Jr in 2023

He had previously won seven straight 147-pound world titles, all through stoppages, but he could only cement his position as top dog by dethroning Spence.

Not only did he defeat “The Truth” and win his three world titles, but Crawford secured a surprisingly one-sided defeat over nine rounds.

After that career-defining moment, the American became the undisputed three-division champion, moving up to 168 pounds to dethrone Canelo Alvarez.

However, at welterweight, Crawford managed to produce some of his best performances, perhaps striking the perfect balance between being vigorous and impressively fit.

Another man who has had considerable success at 147 pounds is, of course, Felix Trinidad, who reigned as the IBF world champion for almost seven years.

Two of his greatest victories came against Oscar De La Hoya and Pernell Whitaker, who both went on to create Hall of Fame careers in their own right.

It is therefore natural that “Tito” sees his chances in a direct fight with Crawford, saying: Fighting Hub TV that he would give “Bud” his only professional flaw.

“With all due respect to Crawford…Tito Trinidad – I will win.”

While no fighter has been able to answer Crawford’s mystery, it is equally safe and sound to say that the former five-division world champion has never faced someone like Trinidad.

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