The World Boxing Association (WBA) Championships Committee has given a 10-day extension as of August 18 for the negotiations of the bouts of Hiroto Kyoguchi vs. Esteban Bermudez and David Morrell vs. John Ryder.
In the case of the Japanese super flyweight super champion Kyoguchi and the champion and mandatory challenger, Mexican Bermudez, the negotiations for their fight were ordered last June 10, so the deadline expired last July 11; however, the WBA has not received any notification of an agreement. With the 10-day period granted, they should reach an agreement before August 28.
Initially, Kyoguchi’s team had said they were negotiating a unification fight against WBO champion Elwin Soto, for which the WBA had granted a special permit, but they were unable to reach an agreement for that bout. For that reason, the WBA asked the Kyoguchi and Bermudez teams to resume negotiations for the mandatory fight.
WBA rule C.13, bout limitations, states that the champion cannot fight an opponent who is not the official challenger within 60 days after the expiration of his mandatory defense period.
If the agreements for both fights are not received before the date indicated, both fights will be called for purse bid under the conditions established in the WBA rules.
David Morrell has usurped Edgar Berlanga as my favorite young fighter to watch. He holds an illegitimate title, and hasn’t really faced world class competition, but has an extremely advanced skill set. His fight style and the way he carries himself in the ring remind me a lot of Paul Williams, but he’s probably a better boxer; time will tell. Berlanga is a beast as well, but remains too inactive. I heard he just signed some kind of deal with ESPN and plans to be busy this coming year, but that remains to be seen. I fear he may be one of those perpetual prospects that never really make a serious move in the sport. He’s been boxing profesionally for over 5 years and still has only 17 fights, and of course 16 of them were 1st round KO’s! No need to wait 4, 5 months in between fights at that stage. There has always been a curse for fighters that achieved too much fame and notoriety before they really earned it in the ring. Chilling with Fat Joe and Snoop may have gone to his head. He’s still only 24 and has plenty of time to show and prove, but I dont think he’s on a good pace now.