Lamont Roach already has his subsequent project.
The reigning WBA 130-pound titlist knew a compulsory title protection was across the nook forward of his final battle. Such motion was taken on Tuesday, when the WBA ordered Roach to subsequent face Russia’s Albert Batyrgaziev. The 2 sides got till Aug. 22 to achieve a deal and keep away from a handbag bid listening to.
“The [WBA] despatched the official discover to each events on Tuesday, July 23 and granted 30 days to finish the negotiation,” the sanctioning physique introduced on Tuesday. “The choice relies on championship rule C.10, which states {that a} champion should defend the title in opposition to the following out there high contender inside 9 (9) months from the date he turned champion.
“In Roach’s case, he gained the title on November 25, 2023 and his subsequent obligatory protection expires on August 24 of this 12 months. [He] should measure himself in opposition to Batyrgaziev in his subsequent bout.”
Roach (25-1-1, 10 knockouts) is The Ring’s No. 4-rated junior light-weight. Albert Batyrgaziev (12-0, 8 KOs) debuted at No. 8 earlier this month.
Each fighters are coming off stoppage wins simply two weeks aside.
Roach lodged the primary protection of his title in an eighth-round technical knockout of then-unbeaten Feargal McCrory (16-1, 8 KOs). The June 28 bout befell in Washington, D.C., Roach’s first battle in his residence area in almost seven years.
It got here seven months after he dethroned then-unbeaten WBA 130-pound titlist Hector Garcia (16-2, 10 KOs), No 7. at 130, final Nov. 25 in Las Vegas. General, Roach has gained six in a row since a Nov. 2019 factors loss to then-WBO junior light-weight beltholder Jamel Herring in Fresno, California.
Batyrgaziev has fought at an accelerated degree of opposition even earlier than his Gold medal run three years in the past in Tokyo.
The unbeaten Russian contender turned professional in July 2020, at a time when the Tokyo Olympics have been as a result of start. He was armed with three professional victories by time the quadrennial basic rolled round one 12 months later. He ran by way of a proficient featherweight discipline, together with Tsendbaatar Erdenebat (10-0, 5 KOs), Lazaro Alvarez (7-0, 4 KOs) and Duke Ragan (9-0, 1 KO) to convey residence Gold.
Batyrgaziev since added 9 extra wins to his professional tally, included a choice victory over Alvarez final December 9 in Dubai. He claimed the interim WBA 130-pound title in a ninth-round knockout of Jono Carroll on July 13 in Serpukhov, Russia.
Per WBA rule C.13, Roach and Batyrgaziev should decide to present negotiations.
Roach can not search one other opponent since he’s inside 60 days of the deadline to honor his obligatory title protection. Ought to he fail to maneuver ahead, Batyrgaziev can be upgraded to full titleholder.
Conversely, Batyrgaziev’s interim title can be faraway from existence ought to he not honor the present order in place to subsequent face Roach.
The lone exception to both state of affairs could be if each side conform to face separate opposition. It could nonetheless need to be accepted by the WBA.
