Despite having never competed at 140 pounds, boxing prospect Rolando "Rolly" Romero (14-1, 12 KOs) has risen above Gary Antuanne Russell and Ismael Barroso to meet WBA super lightweight champion Alberto Puello (21-0, 10 KOs) in April 2023 at a venue yet to be determined.
Previously, Josh Taylor, the undisputed super lightweight champion, was mandated to defend his title against Alberto Puello by the WBA sanctioning body back in May 2022. Taylor's title belt was taken away by the WBA after he failed to timely submit an official answer.
Alberto Puello was expected to face Batyr Akhmedov in August 2022 for the vacant WBA 140-pound title as a result of the sanctioning body's decision. One judge scored the 12-round fight 115-113 in favor of Akhmedov, but that decision was overturned by the other two judges, who both gave Alberto Puello the victory with scores of 117-111.
The winner of Puello-Akhmedov was due to fight Ismael Barroso within ninety days of obtaining the title, but during the WBA's annual conference in December of 2022, the sanctioning body changed its mind as rumors of Puello facing Gary Antuanne Russell began to circulate.
Now that Alberto Puello is scheduled to defend his championship against Rolly Romero, the story has been turned once more. Although the challenger has never competed in this weight division, the WBA has ranked him seventh going into the championship bout.
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