EIMANTAS Stanionis will defend his WBA welterweight world title against mandatory challenger Shakhram Giyasov, with the exact date yet to be decided. After the sanctioning body ordered the pair to fight, purse bids were cancelled as the respective parties managed to thrash out a deal.
Stanionis had been vocal about a fight with Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis after the Philadelphian laboured in his recent rematch with Karen Chukhadzhian. Since that fight, Ennis has suggested that he could move up in weight and instead challenge Vergil Ortiz Jr at `154 pounds.
This bout, meanwhile, will be a rematch of sorts, as they met as amateurs in the 2016 Olympic Games. Representing Uzbekistan, Giyasov ran out a 3-0 winner in Rio and eventually won the silver medal.
Interestingly, Stanionis’ previous bout was also with a former amateur rival, as he outpointed Gabriel Maestre over 12 rounds. Back in 2015, he also outpointed Maestre over three rounds at a tournament in Doha.
It’s fair to say that things have moved on since then, and Stanionis, 30, and Giyasov, 31, are both now seasoned pros. Stanionis has enjoyed more success, although his win over Maestre was his first outing in over two years. His on-again, off-again fight with Vergil Ortiz Jr. finally settled at off-again, and Vergil moved up.
Giyasov, 16-0 (9 KOs), is now based in Brooklyn and promoted by Matchroom. A couple of eliminator wins have catapulted him into this position and he will be eager to repeat the form of 2016, topple Stanionis, 15-0 (9 KOs), and add a professional world title to his trophy cabinet.
