The World Boxing Association says it wants fewer champions. Boxing heard the same thing in 2013.

More than a decade later, the organization is making the same commitment again, with 43 champions on its books.

The WBA announced this week that it remains committed to reducing the number of world champions while also seeking to tighten the championship structure.

The statement reads:

“The WBA remains committed to its goal of reducing the number of world champions and our recent decisions continue to move in that direction.

“In this context, it should be noted that the three recently announced fights have not yet been approved by the WBA.

“Following recent media reports regarding bantamweight, minimum and airy flyweight world title fights, the WBA clarifies that these fights have not yet received official approval.

“We will receive an official statement from the Championship Committee soon.”

Fourth time

To longtime observers, the announcement sounded familiar.

In 2013, WBA vice president Gilberto Mendoza told World Boxing News that the organization was considering the future of its controversial super and interim championships and considering ways to simplify its title structure.

The same conversation resurfaced in 2021 when the WBN removed WBA recognition from its championship lists amid concerns about multiple champions and title designations.

The recognition was later restored after improvements were made.

By 2024, the number of champions has increased again. Now, in 2026, the WBA is once again promising fewer champions.

The number is 43

This is where the latest commitment faces its biggest challenge after growing by 55 percent in recent years.

The WBA currently recognizes 43 titleholders in its divisions, including the super, regular, interim, recessionary and WBA Gold titles.

Just a few weeks ago, WBN documented how, despite repeated reform efforts, the number has increased from 27 champions in June 2024 to 43 in June 2026.

Former WBO president Paco Valcarcel recently described the WBA championship structure as a “joke” after bantamweight titleholder Seiya Tsutsumi publicly admitted he wasn’t sure where he was in the title picture.

The timing is intriguing because proposed changes to the Muhammad Ali Act would limit sanctioning bodies to one world title per division in the United States. If this ever happens, the days of multiple champions in the same weight class will be numbered.

Boxing heard this promise in 2013, heard it again in 2021, and heard it again in 2024.

Now, with 43 champions on the books, this is the fourth time he’s heard it.

After thirteen years, four reform drives and 43 WBA champions, she has reached the point where only results matter.

About the author

Phil Jay is the editor-in-chief of World Boxing News (WBN) and a boxing veteran with over 15 years of experience. Since 2010, he has been interviewing world champions, breaking down international titles exclusively and reporting from the ring. His work is distributed on major platforms including Apple News. Read the full biography.

Manny Pacquiao reflected on the sedate punching skills of one of his former rivals.

Pacquiao has faced every challenge throughout his long professional career, which began in 1995 as a 16-year-old. continues to this day.

His first appearance was at delicate flyweight, but the Filipino icon competed all the way up to super welterweight on his way to an eight-division world title, meaning he has shared the ring with several hefty hitters over the years.

That list includes celebrated heavyweights like Antonio Margarito, Shane Mosley, Brandon Rios and Lucas Matthysse, while Pacquiao has also faced legends of the sport like Floyd Mayweather, Oscar De La Hoya and Juan Manuel Marquez.

It was Marquez who arguably landed the biggest shot in Pacquiao’s history when he knocked out his rival in 2012, but neither Marquez nor any of the previously mentioned names come to mind for “Pac Man” when discussing the biggest punch he’s ever faced.

Instead, Pacquiao said Ring that four-time world champion Miguel Cotto receives this honor.

“I can still feel some of the punches he threw at me. Holding on to the ropes isn’t the best place to be when you’re fighting him. He’s also correct. He’s amazing.”

Pacquiao defeated Cotto by 12th round TKO to win the WBO welterweight title in November 2009 but the fight will be fondly remembered as one of the best of the year, with non-stop action from start to finish.

Cotto won world titles ranging from super lightweight to middleweight throughout his career, finishing with a record of 41 wins and six losses, 33 of which were by knockout, showing the great strength Pacquiao spoke of.

Sylve used his youth, speed and movement to control most of the fight. Diaz, who entered the fight having lost eight of his previous ten fights, pushed forward and had his moments, but Sylve consistently landed the cleaner punches and controlled the distance. Diaz remained competitive throughout, although Sylve finished strongly to secure the decision.

In the joint video, undefeated Devin Cushing improved to 19-0 with a 10-round unanimous decision victory over J’Hon Ingram.

Cushing outworked Ingram in the opening rounds and hurt him with a right hook delayed in the second. Ingram rebounded well in the third and fourth rounds, stunning Cushing with a lead right hand in the fourth. The fight remained close throughout and both fighters were successful, but Cushing’s better work in the later rounds helped him secure the victory by a score of 97-93 on all three scorecards.

WBO international super lightweight champion Ernesto “Tito” Mercado improved to 19-0 with 18 knockouts by defeating veteran Juan Carlos Burgos in the second round.

Mercado dominated from the opening bell, landing piercing combinations and hitting his target multiple times. By the start of the second round, Burgos’ combination had dropped to eight. Less than a minute later, Mercado scored a second knockdown with a right hand, ending the fight at 2:40 of the round. The stoppage was the first knockout defeat of Burgos’ professional career.

Middleweight Amir “Cashman” Anderson remained undefeated, improving to 8-0 with a 10-round unanimous decision over Jonas Sylvain and winning the vacant WBC Silver middleweight title.

Sylvain had early success with body shots before Anderson switched to southpaw and began to take control of the fight. Anderson outscored Sylvain for most of the middle rounds and finished the fight robust after surviving a solid right hand in the ninth. All three judges scored the fight 100-90 in Anderson’s favor.

Welterweight prospect David Lopez improved his record to 9-0 with a first-round stoppage of Joey Borrero.

Lopez dropped Borrero less than a minute into the contest with a combination of left-hand and body shots. After being knocked down, Lopez landed a series of punches, forcing the referee to stop the fight at 1:41 of the opening round.

Women’s super flyweight Kayla “The Truth” Gomez made her professional debut with a four-round unanimous decision over Shayntain Creer.

Gomez controlled the fight from the start, displaying the skills that made her a respected amateur. Creer showed durability and improved as the fight progressed, but Gomez landed the cleaner shots throughout and finished the fight strongly. All three judges scored the fight 40-36 in Gomez’s favor.

Ethan Smith, Daniel Mercado and Kevin Gudino also saw action on the card.