WBA Orders Josh Taylor to Face Top Contender Alberto Puello
It seems the sanctioning bodies are about to cash in their chips. The WBA has ordered undisputed junior welterweight champion Josh Taylor (19-0, 13 KO’s) to defend against number one contender Alberto Puello (20-0, 10 KO’s).
Taylor has barely recovered from a grueling controversial victory over WBO top contender Jack Catterall on February 28. The undisputed champion, after hearing the screams of foul play by the fans over social media, announced that Catterall is deserving of a rematch but at welterweight.
If there is a sliver of hope that Taylor will stay at the division, the WBA wants to make sure that their ranked fighter is next. This is common in boxing and one of the reasons why it’s hard to become undisputed. It is hard for a fighter to take a breather as the bill comes due and the sanctioning bodies come to collect.
HOW DID THIS HAPPEN?
Puello is in a Dominican fighter that turned professional with an impressive first round knockout in 2015. He continued to rise through the ranks, winning the WBA Interim title in the process back in 2019. In 2021, the WBA consolidated the belts, thereby abolishing the interim title, making him the mandatory challenger for then WBA Regular champion Gervonta Davis.
When Davis opted out of keeping the title, that move propelled the Dominican into the direct path of the WBA Super champion, Taylor. Moreover, he has been waiting for a long time to get a shot at the championship.
The WBA issued a statement breaking down the reason for ordering the fight.
“Taylor won his championship on October 6, 2019, and his mandatory defense period as super champion was 18 months. So, he had to fight the mandatory before April 25, 2021.”
WBA Championship Committee
Puello has been very vocal about wanting to fight Taylor to win the titles instead of fighting for a vacant title. If the undisputed champion follows through on moving up, then Puello will more than likely face the next willing participant.
3Kings Boxing will continue to follow this story as things progress.
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By: Garrisson Bland
