For many the main issue for this fight will be the fact the WBA are collecting 2 sanctioning fees inside a month for world titles in a single weight division. We however have more than just that one issue.
Back in November 2011 Jesus Silvestre fought for this very same title (the "interim" WBA Minimumweight title) and actually lost to Paipharob Kokietgym in a very hotly contested bout. Since then Paipharob hasn't defended the title nor has he been moved into a "regular" title fight, and yet Silvestre has managed to be given another chance to fight for the title. Since losing to Paipharob Silvestre has only fought once, beating Marvin Diaz (who entered the bout with Silvestre with a record of 1-1-1, 1). So is issue 2 and 3-Why did Paipharob lose the title? What has Silvestre done to be given another chance at the title?
However the biggest issues aren't with Silvestre who is a very decent fighter who has recorded a record of 24-3 (18) with losses to Jose Alfredo Rodriguez (who went on to win an interim title at 108lbs) Donnie Nietes (the current WBO champion at 108lbs) and Paipharob Kokietgym. They are instead with Edwin Diaz a fighter who has a record of 15-17 (6)-yes he has lost more bouts than he has won! Diaz, a 30 year old Panamanian simply should not be fighting in any type of "world" title bout.
For us at weirdboxing.info we feel the need to speak out about things and sadly this fight has everything wrong with it. It has the feel of a cash grab by the WBA who have just had a sanctioning fee paid in this division 10 days earlier. It has an undeserving challenger in Edwin Diaz (who is admittedly on the run of his life, but still this fight is undeserved) and an expected winner (in Jesus Silvestre). It has also seen a loser in an interim title fight (just 7 months previous) getting another chance to fight for the interim title.
NOTE-
After this article was published the fight actually got pushed back and has been rescheduled for July 14th.