WBA Sets Josh Taylor Vs. Alberto Puello Purse Bid For April 22

Josh Taylor’s future in the junior welterweight division is still uncertain.

But it seems the WBA is banking on the undisputed champion to stick around for one more fight. The WBA called a purse bid hearing for an ordered title fight between Taylor and Alberto Puello on April 22 via Zoom conference call.

“The negotiation period between [Taylor and Puello] expired without reaching an agreement and that is why the bidding was ordered under the terms indicated in the WBA rules,” Carlos Chavez, chairman of the WBA Championship Committee wrote in a statement.

“This Monday, the communication was sent to the parties with all the conditions of the bidding.”

The purse bid hearing is open to all WBA-registered promoters, who must pay a participation fee. The winning bid must surpass the $200,000 minimum that has been established for the fight. The final amount will be a 55/45 split in favor of Taylor.

Puello’s 45% cut is due because he was a WBA interim junior welterweight champion, but due to the WBA’s clean-up of its belts, he had the title taken away.

Still, the Dominican Republic boxer has been owed a title shot for nearly a year.

Taylor, meanwhile, was busy with a WBO mandatory title defense where he controversially won against England’s Jack Catterall via split decision on February 26 in Glasgow, Scotland.

If Taylor chooses to vacate his titles and move up to welterweight, Puello would then be ordered to face the next top rank contender for the vacant WBA title.