The WBA addressed the inactivity of its welterweight champion Rolly Romero Thursday, ensuring a full sanctioning fee by designating Saturday’s Shakhram Giyasov-Jack Catterall fight in Egypt as the official title fight.

Romero, more than a year removed from his title victory over Ryan Garcia at New York’s Times Square, has been elevated – or stripped, depending how you want to look at it – to 'super' champion at 147lbs.

“It’s about [collecting increased] sanctioning fees,” one connected official told BoxingScene of the WBA move since mandatory opponent Giyasov, 17-0 (10 KOs), was going to fight England’s Catterall, 32-2 (14 KOs), for the WBA’s secondary belt.

In its edict, the WBA ruled two-division champion Romero must fight Saturday’s winner within 180 days.

There’s persistent skepticism that Las Vegas’ Romero 17-2 (13KOs) will not fight either since he has pushed over the last year for more high-profile bouts – to stage a rematch with Garcia, to fight WBC No. 1 ranked contender Conor Benn or to meet three-division WBO welterweight champion Devin Haney.

Haney was non-committal on his future in a Thursday interview on DAZN, but he has been in talks with the new Zuffa Boxing promotion, according to an official familiar with the matter.

The proposal to elevate Romero came from his promoter, Premier Boxing Champions, according to an official connected to the matter.

While Giyasov has been neglected by Romero and without a fight since April 2025, the Uzbekistan fighter finally moved on to Catterall for the secondary belt.

Catterall owns a victory over former undisputed 140lbs champion Josh Taylor and has also defeated former world champions Regis Prograis and Jorge Linares.

When told of the events, Romero texted BoxingScene, “That sounds cool. I know Catterall. I don’t know the other guy [Giyasov].”

Asked if he would be willing to fight the winner, Romero said, “I don’t know [Giyasov], [but] Catterall, definitely, though.”

Asked if he’ll watch Saturday’s fight, Romero said, “I’m not really a Catterall fan. He’s a cool dude, though. The other guy, I’ve never seen fight. So, nah.”

Lastly, Romero was asked if he’d rather meet someone with more global recognition, who is the front-runner to be his next opponent?

“While other fighters are in the fire, one smells smoke and runs to his father,” Romero said in reference to Haney and his dad-trainer-manager, Bill Haney.

“Rolly speaks in parables.”