Eddie Hearn wants Rolando “Rolly” Romero to fight Jack Catterall within 90 days rather than wait for the full 180 days set by the WBA for a mandatory defense, especially after Shakhram Giyasov has already spent months waiting for a title fight that never came.

Catterall (33-2, 14 KO) won the vacant WBA welterweight title last Saturday in Egypt with a 12-round unanimous decision over Giyasov (17-1, 10 KO). After the fight, Hearn made it clear that he wanted Romero to move quickly to fight the newly crowned champion.

“They’re two avoided guys and they were both mandatory governing bodies. Jack was mandatory for the WBO. Shakhram was mandatory for the WBA. They decided to just roll the dice and they deserve all the credit and respect for that,” Eddie Hearn said last Saturday of Catterall and Giyas.

“These are two avoided guys. Two of the top fighters at 140 pounds, and Jack was exceptional today. He started swift, he was aggressive, and now he has a share of the world championship, but we want the full portion.”

The WBA officially ordered Romero to defend against the winner of the Catterall-Giyasov fight within 180 days. Hearn believes there is no reason for the trial to drag on for another six months, after Giyasov has already waited around seven months for his mandatory shot at Romero under the WBA’s original order last October.

“And thank you [WBA president] Gilberto Mendoza, who yesterday gave an official order that the winner of this fight must fight [Super champion] Rolly Romero in 180 days. Why wait 180 days? We don’t need 180 days. 90 sounds better. I also thank Turki Alalshikh,” Hearn said.

Romero has not fought since May 2, 2025, when he defeated Ryan Garcia in Times Square. Despite the inaction, the WBA elevated him to “super” champion status while Catterall and Giyasov fought for a second belt in Egypt. Hearn now wants the WBA to move quickly towards a Romero-Catterall fight rather than allowing another long wait at welterweight.

Olly Campbell is a boxing journalist covering this sport since 2014, providing reports from the ring and technical analyzes of the most essential fights. His work focuses on fighter tendencies, tactical adjustments and the details that shape high-level competition.

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Last updated: 25/05/2026 at 1:28

Oleksandr Usyk retained his heavyweight title in Egypt, but his place at the top of the pound-for-pound rankings did not survive his fight with Rico Verhoeven intact.

Usyk was already on his way down most pound-for-pound charts due to his decision to face a kickboxer rather than a top heavyweight.

Despite DAZN’s insistence during the broadcast that Usyk remained number one, even in their own rankings Naoya Inoue was sitting above the Ukrainian before the blow was dealt at the Pyramids.

This alone suggested that Usyk was never going to retain his long-held number two position, regardless of the result.

The only real question was how far it would fall.

Usyk vs. Verhoeven fight

As detailed in WBN’s round-by-round live coverage, the performance itself only accelerated the slide.

Usyk fought for long stretches with Rico Verhoeven, a GLORY kickboxing legend taking part in only his second professional boxing competition.

Instead of controlling the fight with the dominance you’d expect from one of boxing’s elite pound-for-pound stars, Usyk looked uncomfortable, frustrated and at times truly defenseless against Verhoeven’s awkward movements and odd timing.

Even when the champion finally succeeded delayed and forced a dramatic stoppage, more damage had already been done to his aura.

Usyk’s pound-for-pound decline

After ten rounds of the fight with Verhoeven, WBN decided on number six for Usyk, just above Devin Haney.

Naoya Inoue currently remains number one, with Shakur Stevenson, Jesse Rodriguez, Dmitry Bivol and David Benavidez overtaking the heavyweight champion after the worst performance of Usyk’s career.

This leaves Usyk outside the sport’s true elite class for now, even as he insists on his top-flight status.

However, this is not about depriving Usyk of his achievements. It’s about recognizing the decisions made and the results achieved.

The Ukrainian remains undefeated, still holds the WBC, WBA and IBF heavyweight titles, and has won victories, among others. over Tyson Fury, Anthony Joshua and Daniel Dubois.

However, the pound-for-pound rankings are intended to reflect current form and dominance relative to expectations.

The heavyweight champion, widely considered one of the best fighters in the world, should not lose heavily in rounds to an opponent who is just emerging in professional boxing.

There is no escape from this reality, no matter how extraordinary Verhoeven’s boxing style and pedigree.

Usyk is no longer untouchable

The irony is that Usyk will likely win the rematch much easier if the two meet again.

The intrigue around the second fight had largely disappeared, as Usyk was now expected to prepare specifically for the unconventional attacks that had surprised him in Egypt.

However, the first impression cannot be erased, because for one night at the Pyramids, Oleksandr Usyk no longer looked untouchable.

And for a fighter at the very top of pound-for-pound boxing, that image will be challenging to erase from his legacy.

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. Read the full biography.

David Benavidez has been accused of making “excuses” to take a “different path,” seemingly distancing himself from the top 200-pound fight.

“The Mexican Monster” made his cruiserweight debut earlier this month, becoming a three-division world champion dethroning Gilberto Ramirez after the sixth round.

However, despite Ramirez winning the WBO and WBA titles, Benavidez expressed interest in returning to 175 pounds, where he still holds the WBC belt, and facing unified champion Dmitry Bivol.

It would be for the undisputed featherlight heavyweight crown, which Bivol won by majority decision in his February 2025 rematch with Artur Beterbiev.

Before he attempts to reclaim the WBC belt, however, Bivol must first defend two of his three major titles against mandatory challenger Michael Eifert on May 30.

After that, Benavidez will almost certainly target Bivol, even though cruiserweight rival Jai Opetaia accused him of taking a “smarter path.”

I’m talking to Ring Magazinethe former IBF champion assured that he would be ready to fight Benavidez, but only if the 29-year-old’s team was willing to show the same enthusiasm.

“This fight is effortless on our side. I was ready… All I hear is excuses. How bad you feel [Benavidez] do you want to fight?

“I heard he would choose a different path, and honestly, I think he would choose a wiser path.”

Although considered by many to be the No. 1 cruiserweight, Opetaia no longer has a world title to attract Benavidez. Instead, it means his potential fight with Benavidez would not be a three-belt unification fight.