During a recent discussion, Romero dedicated a notable amount of time to analyzing the silver trade and the scarcity of minerals.
“A shortfall of approximately 800 million ounces currently exists,” Rolly conveyed to Fighthype. “For every 250 ounces of silver, only a single physical ounce is available for purchase.”
Such a pressing concern, however, did not seem to apply to the matter of his WBA welterweight championship. When queried about his forthcoming bout, Romero retorted, “I despise that inquiry,” subsequently remarking, “Why should I provide unsolicited publicity for something that isn’t confirmed?” He concluded by advising, “Exercise patience.” While potentially a shrewd marketing tactic, this approach does not align with the conduct expected of a champion.
Shakhram Giyasov, Romero’s mandatory contender, has been on standby as the current titleholder pursues more lucrative financial opportunities. Giyasov maintains an undefeated record and has been duly designated as the mandatory challenger, yet after almost a year, the championship remains undefended, leaving the weight class in prolonged anticipation.
Romero asserts, “I avoid no one. I compete against all challengers.” This assertion, however, is contradicted by the timeframe. The issue lies in almost ten months passing without a title defense.
Titleholders are not at liberty to regard mandatory challengers as discretionary. The championship belt inherently involves a duty. If a fighter holding the title indicates that commercial adaptability takes precedence over defending their title, the entire division experiences a slowdown, and the significance of the belt diminishes.
It is perfectly acceptable to be concerned with financial gains, and no one ought to feign otherwise; nevertheless, this discipline has historically operated according to an established sequence. One secures the championship, then proceeds to defend it against the competitor who legitimately earned their opportunity, thereby demonstrating that the victory was not merely an isolated incident. Commercial considerations can follow this process. A championship is not an accolade to be safeguarded idly during protracted negotiations; rather, it is something that must be validated through performance in the squared circle.
Prolonged idleness diminishes a champion’s reputation, and should Romero continue to postpone this defense, the discussion will shift from financial negotiations to the integrity of his championship.
