The recent update of the WBA’s rankings showed few surprises as Rolando Romero (17-2, 13 KO’s) was shown to have been elevated from his position as the WBA “regular champion” to world champion.
Now acknowledged as the legitimate WBA 147-pound champion following the WBA’s most recent rankings update on July 31st, Romero’s promotion follows after the previous holder of the belt, American former unified welterweight champ Jaron Ennis (34-0, 30 KO’s), moved up to super welterweight and was therefore bound to relinquish both of his titles as the unified [WBA & IBF] champion.
Ennis first won the WBA title in a unification bout against then-WBA champion Eimantas Stanionis earlier this year, claiming the WBA belt alongside his own IBF title to unify for the first time of his career.
Not long after, the WBA “regular” welterweight title became available for Rolando Romero’s May 2nd fight against Ryan Garcia, culminating in Ennis being elevated to WBA “super champion” after Romero won the contest to become the division’s WBA “regular champion”.
The promotion appears to be the latest blatant show of favoritism by the WBA who seems to have had a vested interest in Rolando Romero since he was competing as a lightweight (135 lbs). First becoming an interim champion at 135 pounds in 2020, Romero missed out on the opportunity to become a “regular champion” after a defeat to then-incumbent WBA “regular” lightweight champion Gervonta Davis in 2022.
Despite coming off a loss to Davis, Romero received to opportunity to fight for the vacant WBA super lightweight (140 lbs) title against Venezuelan contender Ismael Barroso in 2023. Attaining the 140-pound WBA title following a controversial technical knockout (TKO) victory,
Romero went on to lose the title as he was relegated to champion-in-recess due to injury, but then found himself elevated to world champion for the first time prior to a 2024 match against Isaac Cruz.
Subsequently losing the title to Cruz who went on to stop him during their title bout, Romero was again put at the forefront of becoming a world champion when he faced Ryan Garcia on May 2nd ― after only a single tune-up bout following his loss to Cruz. This time, the WBA “regular” welterweight title was put on the line as Romero’s move up to the 147-pound division was confirmed.
