If promotional heavyweights Top Rank have their way, then October 3rd’s penciled in light welterweight title fight between Al Haymon advised Ohioian motor-mouth Adrien Broner (30-2, 22ko) and Russia’s Khabib Allakhverdiev (19-1, 9ko) will NOT be for the vacant WBA (reg) 140 lb title, as is currently scheduled.
Thanks to the WBA’s ludicrous insistence of crowning three tiers of champion per weight class – Super, Regular and Interim, the promotional giant, who look after 140lb interim champion Jose Benavidez Jr (23-0, 16ko), have taken exception to the fact that Broner and Allakhverdiev, fighters who both lost their last outings, will be able to clash for the ‘regular’ belt recently vacated by Danny Garcia, ahead of their fighter.
According to the WBA’s own rules, TR and Benavidez Jr were expecting his interim belt to either be upgraded, or for him to be given the opportunity to fight for the regular title instead, given he is the highest ranked available contender, and ostensibly the mandatory to the (vacant) regular title.
However, the undefeated prospect has instead been ordered to defend his Interim strap against Italian Michele Di Rocco (40-1-1, 18ko), the current EBU champ at 140 lbs, and Top Rank are not happy, with their lawyer Harrison Whitman petitioning the WBA to revisit and revise their decision in line with own protocol.
In a letter published on ESPN.com, he wrote;
“Section C, Rule 28 provides that the WBA’s championship committee may elect to elevate the interim champion or will generally order the two highest ranked available boxers to compete for the championship.
“Mr. Benavidez is the highest ranked [junior welterweight] boxer, and he rightfully should be competing for the vacant (regular) championship.
“For reasons we do not know, and none have been offered, the WBA circumvented Mr. Benavidez and ordered the #2-ranked contender (Broner) to compete against the #5-ranked contender (Allakhverdiev) for the championship. There is no legitimate reason for the WBA to depart from its protocol to the detriment of Mr. Benavidez.
“In case there was any confusion, Mr. Benavidez is ready, willing and able to compete against any opponent for the vacant championship, and we request the WBA order as much.”
It all seems fair enough to me, although on social media when the fact he’s clearly leapfrogging (esp given his recent defeat to Shawn Porter) was pointed out by ESPN’s Dan Rafael, Adrien Broner took exception to the fact his potential 4th world title in a 4th weight class could be under threat, and wrote the following;
“How about boxers start fightN u tough ass reporters nd c if anybody will take a L U computer gangsters make me sick #Bit****”
Rafael responded with a “Looking forward to your first column,” to which the abrasive and often arrogant Broner added.
“shut yo bi*** ass up trying to slander a Mf and talk bad about a fight when you never fought a day in your life.”
Nice.
Broner was soundly beaten by Ohioian rival Shawn Porter back in June. The frequently inactive Allakhverdiev hasn’t been in a ring for well over a year when he was also soundly beaten, in his case by recent world title challenger Jessie Vargas.
Twitter @Undilutedpoison
