British promoter Eddie Hearn expressed hope that the World Boxing Association (WBA) will not change its decision and will mandate a compulsory defense fight between the American Rolando Romero (17-2, 13 KOs), the welterweight (up to 66.7 kg) champion, and the undefeated Uzbek boxer Shahram Giyosov (17-0, 10 KOs). This was reported by Kazakhstan’s “Sports.kz” sports portal, citing vRINGe.com.
It is known that earlier, Pacquiao announced that his next fight would be held on January 24, 2026, and according to rumors, Romero was expected to be his opponent. However, following this statement, the WBA officially ordered Rolando Romero to fight against Giyosov.
Promoter Hearn previously stated he had been disappointed by the situation regarding Shahram Giyosov, and expressed satisfaction that the WBA made the right decision. According to him, this decision designates the Uzbek boxer as Romero’s mandatory challenger.
Despite rumors, Giyosov had been waiting for his opportunity for a long time. Representatives of the Uzbek boxer expect the WBA to confirm its position and that Shahram Giyosov will fight for the WBA championship title at the beginning of 2026.
