Yesterday in Orlando (USA) at the annual WBA congress, promotional bidding was held for the fight between the owner of the “regular” welterweight belt Lithuanian Eimantas Stanionis (14-0, 9 KOs) and his mandatory challenger American Virgil Ortis (19-0, 19 KOs) .
A bet from the promoter of contender Oscar De La Hoya won sensationally (Golden Boy Promotions) – offered 2.3 million USD. The result is unexpected, since the participation of the Ortiz team in the auction was in doubt, because earlier the WBA had cheated them with its decision – the distribution of the prize fund in the ratio of 75/25 in favor of the champion. And this despite the fact that the market value is higher for the American.
Apparently in GBP confident in their fighter, and Ortiz himself insisted on a duel. He will earn 575 thousand USD, and Stanyonis – 1.725 million USD.
Premier Boxing Champions represented by Tom BrownTGB Promotions), who patronize the champion, also participated in the auction, but offered a little less – 2.1 million USD.
We must admit that we did not expect such an outcome: Crawford after Avanesyan and Lopez after Martin: all the most likely rivals.
There are other interesting news, one way or another related to the WBA:
Promoter Eddie HearnMatchroom Boxing) can now easily fight for the WBA featherweight title (up to 57.2 kg) between British champion Lee Wood (26-2, 16 KOs) and Mexican challenger Mauricio Lara (25-2-1, 18 KOs).
The thing is that the owner of the WBA Super belt in this weight, Mexican Leo Santa Cruz, has finally abandoned the title, which he has not defended since 2019. Now Wood is the only champion of the organization in this weight.
Promotional bidding for the right to organize a fight between the “super” and “regular” WBA minimum weight champion (up to 47.6 kg) took place – a duel between Tammanun Nyomtrong (24-0, 9 KOs) from Thailand and Eric Rosa (5-0, 1 KO) from the Dominican Republic won by the promoter of a Thai Petchyindee Boxing Promotions.
The winning bid is 140,000 USD. Dew promoter Shuan Boxing offered 122 thousand USD. 75% of the prize pool will go to Nyomtrong. The fight will probably take place in Thailand.
WBA super lightweight champion (up to 63.5 kg) Dominican Alberto Puello (21-0, 9 KOs) will make his debut title defense against American puncher Gary Antoine Russell (16-0, 16 KOs). And the winner must face the mandatory challenger, Venezuelan veteran Ismael Barroso (24-3-2, 22 KOs).
There is a date for the qualifying fight in the first flyweight (up to 49 kg) – the mandatory challenger from the WBA will be determined on March 24 in the Bahamas by Daniel Mateion (13-0-2, 7 KOs) from Cuba and ex-champion Carlos Canizales (25-1-1 , 19 KOs) from Venezuela.