Romero fired back on social media, accusing Garcia of ducking their rematch and taking shots at Haney, insisting he would knock him out if given the possibility. Haney responded that the fight might have been made months ago and labeled Romero “desperate,” a reply that is smart when the timeline is examined.
Garcia now holds a belt after beating WBC welterweight champion Mario Barrios on February twenty first and is positioned to decide on his next move. Romero, against this, has not fought since defeating Garcia on May 2, 2025 to capture the vacant WBA welterweight title in Times Square.
Romero’s win last 12 months must have established control. As an alternative, there was no immediate defense and no visible push toward the mandatory challenger.
After beating Garcia, Romero pursued a fight with 46-year-old Manny Pacquiao, looking for a bigger event quite than defending against mandatory challenger Shakhram Giyasov. When the Pacquiao bout didn’t materialize, Romero didn’t turn back toward the required defense. That call tightened his options.
Giyasov has already been omitted twice for his mandated opportunity. In May 2025, former WBA champion Eimantas Stanionis faced then-IBF champion Jaron Ennis in a unification. Later, when Garcia and Romero fought for the vacant WBA 147-pound title, Giyasov again was not placed within the mandatory slot despite his standing.
Agreeing to step aside again would mean a 3rd delay of his title opportunity. There’s little incentive for him to try this now.
Unifications take precedence under sanctioning body rules. A fight with Garcia or Haney would remove the Giyasov obligation. But those routes require cooperation from fighters who currently appear focused elsewhere.
That leaves Romero in a tricky position. And not using a unification or a voluntary step-aside from Giyasov, the defense sits in front of him.
A belt retains authority only whether it is defended, and Rolly has didn’t accomplish that. Boxing is performance and timing. Fighters who don’t step forward get written out of the script.