By Hilmar Rojas

The World Boxing Association Championships Committee has stripped Venezuelan Nehomar Cermeno of his Super Bantamweight 122 lbs. interim championship according to their regulations.

The rules applied were C10, C13, C14, C16, C46 and C47. Cermeno has fifteen months without defending the belt won in Panama on August 10, 2013. 

It is presumed that both Cermeno and his team knew the WBA Championships regulations, therefore they should know of his obligation to defend on a regular basis and stay active.

It is known that he has had opportunities to arrange a defense of his title, and failed to materialize them. However, an interim champion must defend his title in periods no longer than 180 days.

In addition, Cermeno and his team recently announced a fight, with a non-rated opponent without requesting permission to the WBA. 

For this reason, the Championships Committee decided to withdraw its recognition from the Venezuelan fighter as interim champion and calls the Colombian Oscar Escandon (#2 ranking) and canadiense Tyson Cave (#5 ranking) to fight for the vacant interim title.