The WBA Medical Committee has accepted Rolando Romero’s medical documents, allowing the fighter to keep his WBA 140 belt.
The news has been a long time coming after Oscar De La Hoya admitted that legal action was being considered as the delay impacted his fighter Ohara Davies‘ shot at the title as a mandatory. At the same time, there were talks over whether Ryan Garcia could fight for a potential vacant title if Romero had to pull out. With that being said, the news will come as a relief.
Rolly secured the belt after stopping Ismael Barroso in the ninth round, which came under scrutiny after claims that the referee (Tony Weeks) had stopped the fight too early. After all, Barroso was still firing back on the ropes, and he was ahead on all the scorecards. In contrast, Davies worked himself into a mandatory position after knocking out Lewis Ritson in the ninth round. That was the boxer’s seventh win in a row as he signed with Golden Boy Promotions soon after.
The purse bids for the fight were meant to go ahead on July 24th, 2023. However, the medical documents resulted in bids being scrapped. But now Romero will have to defend the title by March 20th, 2024, at the latest against the winner of Ohara Davies and Ismael Barroso. The WBA has ordered the Davies-Barroso fight, with a potential fight date of November 18th, 2023.
Social Media Reaction
Good for Barroso. Well done @WBABoxing for giving this man another chance
— Parkside_Classic (@VanSnaps) September 21, 2023
Rolly hoping Barroso don’t win.
— THEmadTAINO (@TheTainoLegend) September 22, 2023
I hope Barroso wins. He got unfinished business with Romero
— Dwayne Williams (@DwayneW59403581) September 22, 2023