Eddie Hearn has heard the rumors regarding Rolando “Rolly” Romero defending his WBA welterweight title against Manny Pacquiao next.

Matchroom Boxing’s chairman hopes, however, that the WBA honors its commitment to Shakhram Giyasov, the sanctioning organization’s mandatory challenger in the 147-pound division. Giyasov stepped aside to allow a title unification bout between Jaron Ennis and Eimantas Stanionis six months ago, but the unbeaten Uzbekistan native has made it perfectly clear that he has no intention of allowing another WBA welterweight title fight to happen without his involvement.

“Look, you know, Shakhram Giyasov, I think it’s been frustrating,” Hearn said during the newest episode of Matchroom Boxing’s podcast. “I’m really glad the WBA have done the right thing and ordered that fight against Rolly Romero. You know, there’s rumors of a Romero-Pacquiao matchup, but Shakhram Giyasov’s been waiting.

“He’s been waiting a long time. So, you know, we expect the WBA to honor that position and we expect Skakhram Giyasov to fight for the WBA world title, again, most likely in very early 2026.”

The WBA ordered a Romero-Giyasov fight October 13 and gave their representatives 30 days to willingly agree to deal. If they can’t come to an agreement by November 13, the WBA Championships Committee could call for a purse bid.

While awaiting his shot at the WBA belt, Giyasov (17-0, 10 KOs) is tentatively expected to participate in a tune-up fight November 14 at Humo Arena in Tashkent, the capital of Uzbekistan. His opponent hasn’t been solidified.

Pacquiao (62-8-3, 39 KOs) proved that he remains a legitimate championship contender when he battled WBC titleholder Mario Barrios (29-2-2, 18 KOs) to a 12-round majority draw July 19 at MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. The Filipino legend, who will turn 47 on December 17, announced this month that he will return to the ring January 24 in Las Vegas, but he didn’t mention potential opponents.

Romero re-emerged at the top level when he upset Ryan Garcia (24-2, 20 KOs, 1 NC) by unanimous decision May 2 in the 12-round main event of The Ring’s pay-per-view show at Times Square in New York.

Romero, of North Las Vegas, Nevada, would undoubtedly earn much more money for opposing Pacquiao than for facing Giyasov. Pacquiao and Romero are both aligned with Al Haymon’s Premier Boxing Champions, though Pacquiao values the title Romero holds more than the matchup itself because winning it would make the recent International Boxing Hall-of-Fame inductee the second-oldest recognized champion in boxing history, behind only Bernard Hopkins.

Giyasov, meanwhile, is determined to keep a promise he made to his late daughter by becoming a world champion.

The 2016 Olympic silver medalist’s 2-year-old daughter died in March from a rare brain condition. Giyasov kept training for his fight the following month – a fourth-round knockout of Argentina’s Franco Ocampo (17-3, 8 KOs) on the Ennis-Stanionis undercard April 12 at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, New Jersey.

The WBA elevated Romero from the status of secondary titleholder to full champion once Ennis, who stopped Stanionis after six one-sided rounds, gave up The Ring, IBF and WBA 147-pound championships to compete in the junior middleweight division.

The Ring ranks Giyasov fifth among its welterweight contenders for its unclaimed championship. Pacquiao is rated ninth in The Ring’s Top 10, but Romero isn’t in it.