The World Boxing Association (WBA) Championships Committee ordered the mandatory bout between super lightweight champion Josh Taylor and top challenger Alberto Puello. In a communication sent to both parties, the WBA notified them they will have a 30-day period to negotiate, starting on March 8.
Taylor won his championship on October 26, 2019 and his mandatory defense was already due a year ago. WBA rules state that the champion cannot defend against an opponent other than the mandatory challenger within 60 days after the expiration of his mandatory defense period, so for that reason, the showdown between Taylor and Puello has been ordered. If no agreement is reached or if either party is unwilling to negotiate, the WBA Championships Committee may call for a purse bid for the fight.
Taylor’s already came out and said that he think he may be done with the division and even if he isn’t, I can’t imagine he’s sticking around for this one. Puello’s a pretty good fighter imo and it looks like he’ll get to fight 39 year Ismael Barroso for the vacant belt.
Taylor needs to stay at 140 and reign as champion as long as he can but come on WBA Puello has only fought once in the USA and has not yet fought anybody to make him the #1 ranked fighter for the WBA, make him fight Teaflimo or Haney(who will jump to 140 as soon as he is passed up on the Kambosos fight lol) or Ramirez before he gets a shot at the champ lets get back to the old school ways of Boxing earn it!!!!!! todays WWE circus is just completely making boxing a clown shit show
It’s hard to keep a hold on all of those belts as an undisputed champion for this very reason. Sometimes those organizations have unknowns for mandatories. Puello was interim champion [your laugh here] before they got rid of them so he gets his guaranteed shot at the full title.