World Boxing Association cuts titles by more than half, to 27 champions
Thanks to a due process promised to boxing fans and the media in 2021, the World Boxing Association is continuing its plan to reduce its titles.
WBA President Gilberto Mendoza has signed up following heavy criticism following a controversial welterweight fight.
After suspending a judge and declassified by World Boxing News, the WBA decided to act in the fall of last year.
Since then, 55 title holders are now 27, more than half of the initial state of play.
Several fights took place to crown a single ruler, while all interim and gold champions were immediately removed.
In 2022, other events will see the count drop even further.
This year, Arsen Goulamirian and Ryad Merhy will face each other in cruiserweight. If Canelo Alvarez gives up his strap clutch, David Morrell could be crowned champion at 168.
Ryota Murata is hoping to reschedule a fight with Gennadiy Golovkin. Once in the books, the winner will face Erislandy Lara.
Yordenis Ugas and Errol Spence will unite at welterweight. The winner will then meet secondary champion Radzhab Butaev.
At the latest, George Kambosos and Gervonta Davis will be ordered to face each other by 2023.
At featherweight, super-sovereign Leo Santa Cruiz will face the winner of Leigh Wood against Michael Conlan.
The lower divisions are also expected to be developed by 2023.
In a little over a year, all weight classes will have a champion.
WORLD BOXING ASSOCIATION CHAMPIONS – JANUARY 2022
HEAVY WEIGHTS
Oleksandr Usyk – Champion
Trevor Bryan – Secondary
CRUISER WEIGHT (200 LBS.)
Arsen Goulamirian – Champion
Ryad Merhy – Secondary
LIGHT TRUCK (175 LBS.)
Dmitry Bivol – Champion
SUPER AVERAGE WEIGHT (168 LBS.)
Canelo Alvarez – Champion
David Morrell – Secondary
AVERAGE WEIGHT (160 LBS.)
Ryota Murata – Champion
Erislandy Lara – Secondary
SUPER WEIGHT WELTER (154 LBS.)
Jermell Charlo – Champion
Welterweight WEIGHT (147 LBS.)
Yordenis Ugas – Champion
Radzhab Butaev – Secondary
SUPER LIGHT (140 LBS.)
Josh Taylor – Champion
LIGHT (135 LBS.)
George Kambosos Jr. – Champion
Gervonta Davis – Secondary
SUPER FEATHER WEIGHT (130 LBS.)
Roger Gutierrez – Champion
FEATHER WEIGHT (126 LBS.)
Leo Santa Cruz – Champion
Leigh Wood – Secondary
SUPER BANTAM WEIGHT (122 LBS.)
Murodjon Akhmadaliev – Champion
BANTAM WEIGHT (118 LBS.)
Naoya Inoue – Champion
SUPER FLY WEIGHT (115 LBS.)
Roman Gonzalez – Champion
Joshua Franco – Secondary
FLY WEIGHT (112 LBS.)
Artem Dalakian – Champion
LIGHT WEIGHT (108 LBS.)
Hiroto Kyoguchi – Champion
Esteban Bermudez – Secondary
STRAW WEIGHT (105 LBS.)
Knockout CP Freshmart – Champion
Erick Rosa – Secondary
Phil Jay – Editor-in-chief of World Boxing News since 2010 with over a billion views. Follow WBN on Twitter @WorldBoxingNews.