Lamont Roach already has his next assignment.
The reigning WBA 130-pound titlist knew a mandatory title defense was around the corner ahead of his last fight. Such action was taken on Tuesday, when the WBA ordered Roach to next face Russia’s Albert Batyrgaziev. The two sides were given until Aug. 22 to reach a deal and avoid a purse bid hearing.
“The [WBA] sent the official notice to both parties on Tuesday, July 23 and granted 30 days to complete the negotiation,” the sanctioning body announced on Tuesday. “The decision is based on championship rule C.10, which states that a champion must defend the title against the next available top contender within nine (9) months from the date he became champion.
“In Roach’s case, he won the title on November 25, 2023 and his next mandatory defense expires on August 24 of this year. [He] must measure himself against Batyrgaziev in his next bout.”
Roach (25-1-1, 10 knockouts) is The Ring’s No. 4-rated junior lightweight. Albert Batyrgaziev (12-0, 8 KOs) debuted at No. 8 earlier this month.
Both fighters are coming off stoppage wins just two weeks apart.
Roach lodged the first defense of his title in an eighth-round technical knockout of then-unbeaten Feargal McCrory (16-1, 8 KOs). The June 28 bout took place in Washington, D.C., Roach’s first fight in his home region in nearly seven years.
It came seven months after he dethroned then-unbeaten WBA 130-pound titlist Hector Garcia (16-2, 10 KOs), No 7. at 130, last Nov. 25 in Las Vegas. Overall, Roach has won six in a row since a Nov. 2019 points loss to then-WBO junior lightweight beltholder Jamel Herring in Fresno, California.
Batyrgaziev has fought at an accelerated level of opposition even before his Gold medal run three years ago in Tokyo.
The unbeaten Russian contender turned pro in July 2020, at a time when the Tokyo Olympics were due to begin. He was armed with three pro victories by time the quadrennial classic rolled around one year later. He ran through a talented featherweight field, including Tsendbaatar Erdenebat (10-0, 5 KOs), Lazaro Alvarez (7-0, 4 KOs) and Duke Ragan (9-0, 1 KO) to bring home Gold.
Batyrgaziev since added nine more wins to his pro tally, included a decision victory over Alvarez last 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 must commit to current negotiations.
Roach cannot seek another opponent since he is within 60 days of the deadline to honor his mandatory title defense. Should he fail to move forward, Batyrgaziev will be upgraded to full titleholder.
Conversely, Batyrgaziev’s interim title will be removed from existence should he not honor the current order in place to next face Roach.
The lone exception to either scenario would be if both sides agree to face separate opposition. It would still have to be approved by the WBA.
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The post WBA Orders Lamont Roach-Albert Batyrgaziev Title Consolidation Bout appeared first on The Ring.
