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Erick Rosa, the Dominican Republic's former WBA 'Regular' strawweight champion, has officially vacated his title after a prolonged pursuit to unify the division. His decision brings an end to his quest for a consolidation bout against Thailand's Thammanoon Niyomtrong, the reigning WBA 'Super' titlist.
"We appreciate the opportunity and support that the WBA has always given us," Rosa said via quotes provided by Shuan Boxing, his promoter. "We are very happy to have been your 105-pound world champion. We also hope to be able to win the WBA 108-pound world title."
Rosa's move to the junior flyweight division reduces the WBA's strawweight titleholders to one, with Niyomtrong now recognized as the sole WBA strawweight titlist.
Rosa's pursuit of a consolidation fight faced several hurdles, including two invalidated purse bids and a failed attempt to schedule the bout in Thailand. Despite efforts to reschedule the fight, logistical challenges and scheduling conflicts ultimately led to the fight's cancellation.
The 23-year-old southpaw won the interim WBA title in July 2021 and was upgraded to 'Regular' champion in December 2021. However, his quest for a unification bout with Niyomtrong left him inactive for 20 months before he secured a non-title fight in August 2023.
Expressing his desire to compete in multiple weight divisions, Rosa stated,
"My body has grown, I am much stronger, and giving the minimum weight is no longer so easy for me, so my sights are set on 108 pounds, and I am motivated by the new challenges that I will face."
Meanwhile, Niyomtrong, the longest-reigning current titleholder in the sport, has not fought since July 2022. Despite his inactivity, he remains a dominant force in the strawweight division, having successfully defended his title 11 times since June 2016.