Roman Gonzales Elevated to Super Champion
The WBA has struck again. Boxing’s oldest governing sanction body has just elevated four-divisional champion/WBA Super Flyweight champion Roman “Chocolatito” Gonzalez (49-2, 41ko) to the Super champion status.
This move came shortly after the Nicaraguan fighter dethroned British champion Khalid “Kal” Yafai (26-1, 15ko) in devastating fashion on February 29. Now if you have been following the moves of the organization, this isn’t much of a surprise. The WBA is notorious for elevating fighters and passing out belts like they were Skittles.
However, what makes this so egregious is the fact that Yafai has been champion since 2016 and was never elevated even after four successful title defenses.
So this begs to ask the question “why now”.
Furthermore, this also means that top-rated contender Andrew Moloney (21-0, 14ko) has been elevated to “regular” champion status without even stepping in the ring. In addition, the WBA “Gold” Champion is left out again as if it was just window dressing. He is being skipped over like it has happened in all the other divisions in the sport.
This has always been a confusing topic. When it comes to figuring out what is the criteria, concerning how this process works, it continues to be mind-boggling. They are the only organization that has two champions.
Gonzalez deserves to be the “super” champion. Moreover, when looking at a possible rematch from 2012 with rival foe WBC champion “El Gallo” Juan Francisco Estrada (40-3, 27ko), this would have eventually needed to have been done for the fight to be a unification bout. However, it is still something that shouldn’t have taken this long.
All the other organizations have only one top guy. When will the WBA finally decide to end the sport of this agony?
By: Garrisson Bland
