Bill Haney has given WBA 147lb champion Rolando ‘Rolly’ Romero some grief on social media, in response to his complaint that his name was omitted from the Ring’s Top 10 welterweight rankings.
Bill replied to Rolly and told him that if he would “stop ducking” he might be moved up the list. The fighter he suggests Rolly (17-2, 13 KOs) is avoiding is believed to be his son, WBO welterweight champion Devin Haney.
Bill reportedly wants Romero to face Devin next in a unification bout at 147 in February 2026. The problem with his wish is that the WBA already has the mandatory in place, Shakhram Giyasov, who already bypassed twice since 2024.
The first time came earlier in 2025 when WBA champion Eimantas Stanionis received a special exception to face then-WBO champion Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis in a unification fight on April 12. The second time the WBA mandatory Giyasov (17-0, 10 KOs) was bypassed was on May 2, when Rolly fought Ryan Garcia for the vacant belt after Ennis relinquished it.
So, if the WBA would allow Rolly to fight Haney in a unification, so be it the third time in a row that Giyasov was bypassed with his mandatory title shot. It would make the WBA look like a joke to do so.
Rolly has to get it done by defending against Giyasov. If Bill is so keen on Romero facing his son Devin next, he can do it. Just let Rolly vacate the WBA title, and he can face Haney in February 2026 in Saudi Arabia.
The problem is solved. But if Bill is insisting that the WBA title be on the line for the fight with Devin, it’s not going to happen without a step aside agreement. If Turki Alalshikh wants the Haney vs. Romero fight should have two titles on the line, he has the money to make it happen.
“Stop ducking, and you might move up the list,” said Bill Haney on Xresponse to Rolly Romero’s complaint below.
Bill should talk to Turki Alalshikh to get him to pay Giyasov a step aside. He is the one who can make it happen. It’s useless to try to blame Rolly because his hands are tied. He has his WBA mandatory, Giyasov, who has already been bypassed twice. He either defends against him or loses his WBA title.
This is why nobody takes boxing seriously. Two of the actual world champions are not on the list, and the other champion is at the end of the list. Everyone wonders why boxing is dying,” said Rolando ‘Rolly Romero on social mediaresponding to The Ring’s updated top 10 welterweight rankings, which do not include his or IBF 147-lb champion Lewis Crocker’s names.
Last updated on 29/11/2025
