WBA creates another title mess, this time at 122 pounds

By Scott Shaffer

05/07/2020

WBA creates another title mess, this time at 122 pounds

The WBA recognizes Murodjon Akhmadaliev as its super champion at 122 pounds. (Akhmadaliev also has the IBF championship). The WBA also recognizes Brandon Figueroa as its regular champion at 122 pounds. The WBA also recognizes Ronny Rios as its gold champion at 122 pounds, which means, according to the WBA, Rios is supposed to get the next title challenge. However, the WBA Championship Committee seemed to reneg on its obligation to Rios by approving Figueroa for a very soft defense against Damien Vazquez instead of Rios. Vazquez is hardly worthy: his last two fights were a draw with a boxer who was 9-10-3 at the time, then a win over someone whose record was 24-43-3. The WBA tried to placate Rios, but in doing so will muddy the title picture by allowing Rios to fight TBA for the newly created the interim belt. So that's multiple belts, with none of the four beltholders fighting each other.