A new WBA interim champion emerged last week in the super lightweight division after Japanese contender Andy Hiraoka defeated Venezuelan interim champion Ismael Barroso to claim the WBA interim title for himself. Following his stoppage victory, Hiraoka may just be fighting for a world title in his next fight, but chances are considered slim with the WBA having clearly prevented the previous holder of the interim belt, Barroso, from g

On January 6th this year, Venezuelan WBA interim super lightweight (140 lbs) champion. Ismael Barroso (25-5-2, 23 KO’s), was thought to be in the prime position to challenge for the WBA 140 lbs title—then held by American fighter Rolando “Rolly” Romero (15-2, 13 KO’s)—after he defeated British contender Ohara Davies (25-3, 18 KO’s) by stopping him in just the 1st round of their 12-round fight, culminating in Barroso becoming the WBA interim super lightweight champion.

Having proven himself a worthy challenger to the WBA title, Barroso was met with disappointment as Mexican lightweight (135 lbs) contender Isaac Cruz (26-3-1, 18 KO’s) was given an opportunity to face Rolly Romero for the WBA belt despite never having competed at 140 lbs.

Cruz would go on to win the match against Romero through a stoppage victory, and a mandate by the WBA was thereafter expected to consolidate the interim title, held by Barroso, and Cruz’ title. However, an order by the sanctioning body never emerged as Cruz would soon find himself pitted against another 135 lbs contender that had never competed at super lightweight prior; Jose “Rayo” Valenzuela (14-2, 9 KO’s).

Cruz and Valenzuela battled each other on August 3rd through the full scheduled 12 rounds, but it was Valenzuela who would go on to claim the WBA 140 lbs title through a hard-fought split decision victory.

Japanese contender Andy Hiraoka (24-0, 19 KO’s) would achieve significant success a month later on September 3rd after defeating Ismael Barroso by technical knockout (TKO) in a match where Barroso’s interim WBA title was on the line.

With his victory, Andy Hiraoka should technically be Valenzuela’s next opponent given the WBA additionally ruled that Hiraoka had won a “super lightweight eliminator”, which would signify him as both the WBA interim 140 lbs champion, and the WBA 140 lbs mandatory challenger.

However, given the last two champions had been able to challenge for the WBA title as 135 lbs contenders that have never competed at super lightweight, there appears a slim chance for Hiraoka to actually challenge for the title—with the opportunity seeming very much contingent on name recognition.

Lightweight contenders such as Mexican fighter William Zepeda (31-0, 27 KO’s) would certainly qualify over Hiraoka, with his current status as the undisputed #1 lightweight contender easily qualifying him over the Japanese interim champion. WBA lightweight champion Gervonta Davis (30-0, 28 KO’s) too would easily pass over Hiraoka if he indicated interest in moving up, though given Davis’ overall standing and accomplishments in the sport this move would not be considered unfair or undeserving by any stretch of the imagination.

In absence of any lightweight challenger to face Valenzuela, the WBA still would not hold all the cards to simply refuse to a order a fight between Hiraoka and Valenzuela given the former’s predecessor, Ismael Barroso, had to witness two 135 lbs contenders receive an opportunity before himself.

The next couple of months will therefore be an interesting period as the WBA will very much be scrutinized if Valenzuela is allowed to fight anyone but Hiraoka—more so if Valenzuela’s next opponent will come from the 135 lbs division.

In a scenario where the WBA would order a Valenzuela-Hiraoka bout, it would still vastly contradict their earlier stance on not granting WBA interim 140 lbs champion Ismael Barroso an opportunity for the actual world title, and would certainly draw more attention to how Barroso was denied a chance to face any of the three fighters that had held the WBA 140 lbs belt this year.