A WBA Tournament Could Crown a New Junior Welterweight Champion
The WBA has decisions to make about the upcoming vacant Super junior welterweight championship. Unified junior welterweight champion Josh “The Tartan Tornado” Taylor (19-0, 13KOs) is no longer the division’s undisputed champion after informing the sanctioning body he is vacating the title.
In March, the WBA ordered Taylor to fight mandatory challenger Alberto Puello. When both sides could not reach an agreement, the next move by the organization was ordering a purse bid for April 22. Unfortunately, Taylor issued some bad news to the organization that he would be unable to fight Puello due to his wedding and honeymoon plans.
There was some confusion upon first reporting news that Taylor got stripped. However, he swiftly took to social media to correct those reports claiming that he vacated the title instead.
THE WBA NEEDS TO MAKE A DECISION
In a situation like this, it is customary for the organization to elevate the Regular champion. However, three-divisional champion Gervonta Davis vacated the title after defeating Mario Barrios in 2021. Furthermore, the WBA has been consolidating belts by eliminating the interim title, which often lead to a fighter’s elevation in a situation like this.
Earlier in May, the WBA held a hearing to address the vacancy of the world (Regular) title with the top six contenders. However, they must now deal with the situation of the Super title, which could lead to a tournament of the top six fighters: Puello, Ismael Barroso, O’hara Davies, Sandor Martin, former WBA champion Regis Prograis, and Batyr Akhmedov.
It will be interesting to see what the organization will due once Taylor is officially removed as the super champion. Will they crown only one champion for the division or hold a tournament for both vacant titles?
3Kings Boxing will continue to follow this situation for further development.
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By: Garrisson Bland
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