The World Boxing Association (WBA) Championships Committee has granted special permission to super featherweight world champion Lamont Roach Jr. to move up in class to face Gervonta Davis for the lightweight championship on December 14. 

NoXcuse Boxing Promotions sent the formal request on September 13, which was received by the committee to be considered and consulted with the team of Albert Batyrgaziev, who is the mandatory 130 lbs. challenger. 

After the respective analysis and based on the internal rules of the organization, it was decided to grant the request to Roach under certain conditions. 

If Roach beats Davis in the fight, he will be given five days to send his decision to the WBA on which of the two titles he will keep and defend. On the other hand, if he were to lose the bout, he will be required to fight the official 130-pound challenger within 120 days of the Davis fight. 

Rule C.16 states that the WBA may modify the periods for mandatory defenses for good cause, either in response to a request for special permission or on its own initiative. For its part, rules C.46.a e and g read that the body may modify or suspend the strict application of these rules when the WBA believes them to be justified in its sole discretion to accommodate special circumstances. Those reasons include “participating in an optional title defense,” “participating in a bout of recognized importance and significance to the boxing world,” or “extending or otherwise modifying a mandatory defense period.”

Roach has a long history within the WBA in which he won regional titles and eliminator fights before becoming champion on November 25, 2023 when he defeated Hector Garcia, in Las Vegas. On June 28, he completed his first defense against Feargal McCrory in Washington with a knockout win.