Rolando Romero and Anthony Yigit held yesterday the weigh-in ceremony for their World Boxing Association (WBA) Interim Lightweight title bout to be held tonight in San Antonio. However, only champion Romero will be entitled to the belt because his challenger failed to make weight.
Yigit weighed in at 140.2 lbs, way over the division limit (135 lbs), and will not be eligible for the black and gold belt.
The bout was approved but with the condition that if Romero loses the fight, he will still retain the title. The reason is that the difference in weight is too much and the WBA considers it an injustice to sanction the champion, who met the weight regulation. Besides, since the fact was known only 24 hours before the fight, it would not be fair to affect the event.
In this case, the president of the organization, Gilberto Jesus Mendoza, in agreement with the Championships Committee and its director Carlos Chavez, pursuant to the WBA bylaws, agreed to suspend the application of rule E-9 and put it under review to avoid an injustice such as weight inequality. The suspension is effective immediately.
This will be one of the most interesting bouts of the evening at the AT&T Center this Saturday night, whose main fight will be the one between Jermell Charlo and Brian Castaño for all the 154-pound belts.
