Boxing

A fight fueled by loss

Published

10 months ago

October 13, 2025

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.

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.

Ken Woods was a senior writer in Boxing News 24 since 2013, covering sports from every angle. With years of reporting from the ring, he delivers fight news, results and analysis that cuts through the noise. Ken’s work consistently focuses on champions, challengers and prospects, giving fans a piercing and well-informed view of the global boxing scene.

Last update: 13/10/2025

Boxing

Usyk Analyzes Anthony Joshuas Performance Against Kristian Prenga After Overcoming Two Knockdowns

Published

1 day ago

July 25, 2026

The Punch Junkie™ News

"Usyk Analyzes Anthony Joshua's Performance Against Kristian Prenga After Overcoming Two Knockdowns"

Oleksandr Usyk has shared his reaction to Anthony Joshua‘s dramatic knockout victory against Kristian Prenga.

Usyk nearly suffered his own shock defeat in May when he was pushed to the limit by kickboxing star Rico Verhoevenand two months on it was nrw teammate Joshua’s turn to come close to a massive upset loss that would have stunned the heavyweight division.

The Brit was dropped twice by massive underdog Prenga in the opening round of their clash in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia on Saturday, but ‘AJ’ managed to recover and record a big knockdown of his own in the second round that resulted in the stoppage victory.

Joshua and Usyk now train together, having famously had two battles for the unified world heavyweight title in 2021 and 2022, and the Ukrainian has had his say on his stablemate’s victory over Prenga.

Speaking to TalkSporttwo-time undisputed champion Usyk praised Joshua, insisting ‘AJ is back’ before predicting that Joshua will now claim a knockout win over long-term rival Tyson Fury in his next bout.

“Anthony Joshua is next undisputed champion. First round it’s a test but AJ is back.

It’s boxing, [the] big upper cut is good, it’s a knockdown. AJ [come] back and win.

“Greedy Belly [Fury] will speak now and say weak chin, Greedy Belly get out. AJ wins [against Fury], [he will] knock him out.”

Fury was victorious on Friday as he earned a seventh round retirement win against Mariusz Wach in Thailand, paving the way for the showdown against Joshua later this year.

Boxing

Jake Paul Reacts to Anthony Joshuas Stunning Victory Over Kristian Prenga After Two Early Knockdowns

Published

1 day ago

July 25, 2026

The Punch Junkie™ News

"Jake Paul Reacts to Anthony Joshua's Stunning Victory Over Kristian Prenga After Two Early Knockdowns"

Jake Paul was the last man to fight Anthony Joshua and he has now revealed his verdict on AJ’s chaotic victory over Kristian Prenga.

Joshua went up against Prenga in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia on Saturdayin a clash that was expected to be a comfortable win for the former world heavyweight champion in order to set up the long overdue battle against Tyson Fury.

Any hopes of seeing that clash were nearly ended after AJ was dropped twice in the opening round of the bout, though he was able to recover and claim the second round knockout to come out on top and prevent a stunning shock upset from taking place.

Saturday’s outing saw Joshua back in the ring for the first time since his sixth round triumph over YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul back in Decemberand now ‘The Problem Child’ himself has shared his reaction to his former rival’s victory over Prenga.

Posting on social mediaPaul praised AJ for earning the win, after returning to action following the tragic car crash he was involved in at the end of last year which took the lives of his two close friends.

“Happy for Joshua with that win after all he’s been through. Remembering Sina and Latz with this one.”

Happy for Joshua with that win after all he’s been through.

Remembering Sina and Latz with this one.

— Jake Paul (@jakepaul) July 25, 2026

The win for Joshua should now tee up for meeting with Fury later this year, after ‘The Gypsy King’ held up his end of the bargain by also securing a win in his warm-up bout on Friday, securing a seventh round retirement win against Mariusz Wach.

Boxing

Tony Bellew Reviews Anthony Joshuas Comeback Victory Over Kristian Prenga After Knockdown Drama

Published

1 day ago

July 25, 2026

The Punch Junkie™ News

Tony Bellew Reviews Anthony Joshua's Comeback Victory Over Kristian Prenga After Knockdown Drama

Anthony Joshua may have earned a knockout win over Kristian Prenga but the fight certainly didn’t unfold as most people expected.

Joshua was facing the Albanian in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia on Saturday, and it looked like a massive upset could be on the cards when he was dropped twice in the opening round.

‘AJ’ was able to recover and went on to secure a second round knockout victory to prevent the shock lossseemingly paving the way for the battle against Tyson Fury later this year.

One man who was ringside to witness the battle was former cruiserweight world champion Tony Bellewand he praised Joshua’s ability to turn things around in the fight after describing it as ‘chaos’.

“We predicted round two but I don’t think we foresaw that. That was chaos. He doesn’t see the uppercut coming and finds himself on the floor without knowing how he got there.

“The second one he did see it coming and he was able to clench down on the jaw. He got up and then the experience that he has he used tonight because he tied him up. Against Andy Ruiz he didn’t know what he was doing and didn’t know how to do that, but tonight he did.

“He showed once again there is no quit. To be that hurt in the first round and get up, that’s the recoveries of power. People talk about your chin, but it’s not, it’s the level of fitness that gets you up from the floor.

“When Joshua gets a fighter hurt he’s the best finisher in the division. Whenever he hurts someone they’re gone. I haven’t seen him drop anybody and they survive, only Andy Ruiz. He’s a ruthless finisher.”

The clash between Joshua and Fury is now expected to be announced soon for later this year, after Fury won his own interim fight on Friday by defeating Mariusz Wach.