The WBA recently announced that unbeaten WBA ranked #1 super lightweight contender Alberto Puello (20-0, 10 KOs) of the Dominican Republic and WBA #6 ranked super lightweight contender Botirzhon Akhmedo (9-1, 8 KOs) will fight for the WBA super lightweight world title. Akhmedo is said to be moved to the #2 world ranking when the next rankings come out. An issue is that the current #2 world ranking is being held by former world title challenger Ismael Barroso (23-3-2, 21 KOs) of Venezuela. Barroso´s co-manager Osmiri Fernandez was very displeased by the WBA’S ruling and vows to pursue immediate legal channels to get justice for Barroso.
“This is an injustice for Barroso. We have all of our paperwork documented and in order showing that Barroso was supposed to be fighting Puello next for the WBA super lightweight world title instead of Puello fighting Akhmedo next. How is it possible that the #6 world ranked fighter can replace the current WBA #2 world ranked fighter? Our Legal team is ready and will pursue action immediately,” said Fernandez.
Sook, if you remain inactive holding on the the #2 spot then bad luck.
This is how boxing is anymore, nobody fights. Barroso hasn’t fought since January 2021
They should be outraged, they have every reason to be. The WBA has a vacancy. When you have a vacant belt you go to your rankings and you start seeing who is available to fight for it and you start from the top. He’s ranked #2, so unless he wasn’t interested or he was injured or something, he should be fighting.
I think the WBA looked it at it and said he’s 39, he hasn’t fought in a year and a half and he’s only fought once in the last 2 and a half years so it looks HORRIBLE for us to strip an undisputed champion so this guy can fight for his title. But who cares? If you were silly enough to rank him that highly and not demote him for pretty much never fighting, you should have the conviction to stick with him.
And btw, Puello – Akhmedov should be a really good fight and I think they promised Akhmedov a rematch after the Barrios fight and that was three years ago.
Botirzhon Akhmedov stopped Barroso with a body shot in round 9, about 3.5 years ago. Barrisos floored him in the early rounds and the guy ran to survive a round. Barroso won some gold wba belt after that feeling he should be in line for a title fight. Guess Barroso should get 1 more payday before he retires.
Too bad. Barosso and his shit bag manager do not accept any opportunities. Hanging on to a position from a good win for years to get a bigger money fight isn’t how it works. Fighters need to fight. This is what you get. Good.
That is kind of bizarre that a latin american-based sanctioning body would drop one of their own in favor of a fighter from the other side of the world.