Bill Haney gave WBA 147-lb champion Rolando ‘Rolly’ Romero some grief on social media, reacting to his complaint of his name being left off the Ring’s Top 10 welterweight rankings.
Bill replied to Rolly, telling him that if he would “stop ducking,” he might be moved onto the list. The fighter that he’s hinting that 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 fight at 147 in February 2026. The problem with his wish is that the WBA already has the mandatory in place, Shakhram Giyasov, who has already been 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 12th. 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 had given it up.
So, if the WBA were to allow Rolly to fight Haney in a unification, that would be the third time consecutively that Giyasov has been bypassed with his mandatory title shot. It would make the WBA look like a joke in doing that.
Rolly needs to get this over with by defending against Giyasov. If Bill is so eager for Romero to face his son Devin next, he can do so. Just have Rolly vacate the WBA title, and he can face Haney in February 2026 in Saudi Arabia.
The problem is solved. But if Bill insists that the WBA title be up for grabs for the fight with Devin, that’s not going to happen without a step-aside deal. If Turki Alalshikh wants the Haney vs. Romero fight to have two titles at stake, he’s got the money to make it happen.
“Stop ducking, and you might move up the list,” said Bill Haney on X, replying to Rolly Romero’s complaint below.
Bill should be talking to Turki Alalshikh to have him pay Giyasov a step aside. He’s the one who can make it happen. Trying to guilt-trip Rolly is pointless because his hands are tied. He’s got 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 serious. Two of the actual world champions ain’t on the list, and the other champ is at the end of the list. Everyone wonders why boxing is dying,” said Rolando ‘Rolly Romero on social media, reacting to The Ring’s updated top 10 welterweight rankings, which don’t include his or IBF 147-lb champion Lewis Crocker’s names.