Potential Candidates for Vacant WBO Lightweight Title Fight
The WBO could order a fight featuring three top lightweight contenders: Denys Berinchyk (18-0, 9KO), Isaac “Pitbull” Cruz (25-2-1, 17KO), or Angel “Tashiro” Fierro (22-1-2, 17KO), for the vacant title.
The lightweight division has undergone a reshuffling after two-division champion Devin Haney relinquished the titles. The WBC and WBA already have champions in place, and the IBF has lined up George Kambosos versus WBO #1 rated Vasyl Lomachenko for its title.
This leaves the WBO next in line to order a title fight, and depending on who picks up the phone, three guys are possible candidates.
POSSIBLE CANDIDATES FOR THE TITLE
Ranked #2 by the WBO, Berinchyk has been eager for a title shot. In 2022, he scored a big victory over veteran Yvan Mendy that caught the eye of the boxing community. He turned in another solid performance against veteran Anthony Yigit in 2023.
Next could be the #3 ranked and one-time title challenger, Cruz. Pitbull has been on a three-fight win streak since losing to multi-divisional champion Gervonta Davis in 2021. However, the Mexican has been trying to land a big fight in a rematch with Davis or top contender Ryan Garcia.
Tashiro could also get the call, ranked #4, putting him within eyesight of fighting for the vacant title. He hasn’t lost a fight since losing to Alex Martin in 2020. In addition, Fierro managed to narrowly win a war against Brayan Zamarripa in the second half of 2023.
Any of these fighters in any matchup you could think of is a possibility to take place in 2024. The boxing community awaits to see what the WBO will do in the upcoming weeks.
