10/31/2024
The World Boxing Association (WBA) has set a November 8 date for the purse bid for the WBA Welterweight Championship bout between reigning champion Eimantas Stanionis (15-0, 9 KOs) and his mandatory challenger, Shakhram Giyasov (16-0, 9 KOs). This announcement follows a month-long negotiation period that ended on October 19 without an agreement between the two fighters’ teams. Now, the WBA will hold a purse bid to determine the terms of the matchup.
The WBA initially ordered the bout on September 19, giving both sides a chance to negotiate directly. The failure to reach a deal by the October 19 deadline left the organization no choice but to proceed with a purse bid, where all registered promoters will have the opportunity to bid for the fight’s promotional rights.
This bout comes at a pivotal moment for the WBA Welterweight division, which has been in transition since Terence “Bud” Crawford vacated the WBA Welterweight title in August, a key piece in his undisputed welterweight championship reign. Crawford won the belt in his stunning July 2023 knockout victory over Errol Spence Jr., and his departure from the division elevated Stanionis, who previously held the “regular” version of the WBA title, to full champion status. Stanionis initially captured his title in April 2022 with a hard-fought split decision win over the then-undefeated Radzhab Butaev.
Since then, Stanionis has been a somewhat rare sight in the ring, fighting only once since his championship victory. His last bout was a unanimous decision win over Gabriel Maestre in May 2024. His inactivity wasn’t entirely by choice; he was scheduled to face rising star Vergil Ortiz Jr. in what would have been a marquee matchup. However, Ortiz’s recurring health issues, including a rare muscle condition called rhabdomyolysis, caused the fight to be canceled three times, with the final cancellation happening just two days before the July 2023 event due to Ortiz’s hospitalization for severe dehydration and heat exhaustion.
Looking ahead, Stanionis has committed to remaining on the Premier Boxing Champions (PBC) platform under a multi-fight agreement, setting the stage for higher-profile bouts in the future, including a possible unification with WBC Welterweight Champion Mario Barrios. But first, he’ll have to defend his title against Giyasov, who last fought in July 2024, securing a split-decision victory over Miguel Parra. Giyasov, represented by Matchroom Boxing and promoter Eddie Hearn, will be hoping to capitalize on this title shot opportunity for a possible unification bout with Matchroom’s IBF Welterweight Champion Jaron “Boots” Ennis.
The WBA has set the minimum purse bid at $150,000, with a purse split favoring the champion at 75% and the challenger receiving 25%, in accordance with WBA regulations.
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