Pacquiao's January fight in doubt as WBA orders Romero-Giyasov talks

Manny Pacquiao’s planned return to the ring in Las Vegas on January 24 has been placed in doubt after the World Boxing Association ordered reigning WBA welterweight champion Rolando Romero to begin negotiations with his mandatory challenger, Shakhram Giyasov. The ruling, issued October 13, requires Romero and Giyasov to reach an agreement within 30 days or face a purse bid, complicating talks for a headline fight that had been seen as the most likely route for Pacquiao to chase another world title.

The WBA said Romero was required to defend his title within 120 days of winning it, a window that the sanctioning body says expired September 1. Under the WBA’s rules, a champion cannot take a voluntary, nonmandatory fight within 60 days after that deadline. The committee gave both camps until November 13 to negotiate before calling a purse bid if no deal is reached.

Pacquiao, 46, returned from a four year retirement in July and fought Mario Barrios to a majority draw in Las Vegas. That performance reinvigorated talks of one more title push for the eight division champion and organizers had targeted a showdown with Romero, who stunned Ryan Garcia in May to win the WBA belt and was...