The WBA has upgraded Rolando “Rolly” Romero to become the only welterweight world champion. The previous “Super Champion” in the limit, Jaron Ennis, moves to half-middleweight.
Alone at the top – this now applies to Rolando Romero (17-2-0, 13 knockouts). The reason for his promotion: the WBA elevated the US welterweight to full world champion at the limit after Jaron Ennis changed weight class. The former “Super Champion” of the world association will now fight at half-middleweight.
New WBA ranking
In May, “Rolly” Romero won the vacant “regular” WBA world championship belt in the Welter, defeating Ryan Garcia surprisingly and unanimously on points. At the time, Ennis was still the WBA’s main title holder. Just a few weeks earlier, “Boots” had been crowned IBF and WBA world champion with a T.K.O. against Eimantas Stanionis.
The latest WBA rankings, which were published at the beginning of August, also bear witness to Ennis’ departure to the 69.853 kilogram limit. The WBA has placed Ennis in 2nd place there. And the IBF welterweight title is now vacant. The other welterweight champions are Mario Barrios, who recently defended his WBC belt against returnee Manny Pacquiao, and Brian Norman Jr (WBO).
The WBA’s number one in the limit is Shakhram Giyasov. The “Wonder Boy” from Uzbekistan has 17 wins (10 knockouts) in 17 fights. Giyasov has held this position since October 2023, but stepped aside to make the fight between Ennis and Stanionis possible.
Text: Frank Schwantes