Aments Stanyons Gyasov is set to defend his title.

EIMANTAS Stanionis will defend his WBA welterweight world title against mandatory challenger Shukram Gyasov, with an exact date yet to be decided. After the sanctioning body ordered the pair to fight, the purse bids were canceled as the respective parties managed to reach an agreement.

Stanonis was vocal about a fight with Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis after the Philadelphian labored in his recent bout with Karen Chokhadzian. Since that fight, Enes has suggested he may move up in weight and instead challenge Virgil Ortiz Jr. at 154 pounds.

The bout, meanwhile, will be a rematch of sorts, as they met as amateurs at the 2016 Olympic Games. Representing Uzbekistan, Gyasov ran out a 3–0 winner in Rio and eventually won the silver medal.

Interestingly, Stannis’ previous bout was also against a former amateur opponent, as he knocked out Gabriel Maestre in 12 rounds. In 2015, he also outclassed Maestre in three rounds at a tournament in Doha.

It’s fair to say things have moved on since then, and both Stanyons, 30, and Gyasov, 31, are now veterans. Stanyons has had more success, although his win at Maestre was his first outing in two years. His on-again, off-again fight with Virgil Ortiz Jr. was finally settled on the off again, and Virgil went up.

Gyasov, 16-0 (9 KOs), now resides in Brooklyn and is promoted by Matchroom. A pair of eliminator wins have catapulted him to this position and he will be eager to repeat his 2016 form, going 15-0 (9 KOs) against Stanonis, and a professional world in his trophy cabinet. Will add title.