Stanionis Targets Unification Title Fights As Welterweight Division Gets Set For Change
WBA interim welterweight champion Eimantas Stanionis says he hopes to take advantage of the changes in the welterweight division and fight for world titles soon.
Unbeaten Stanionis (14-0-0 9 KO) ends two years of inactivity this Saturday when he defends his interim title against Venezuela’s Gabriel Maestre (6-0-1 5 KO) in Las Vegas. The talented Lithuanian will be fighting on the undercard of Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez’s undisputed super-middleweight title bout with fellow Mexican Jaime Munguia.
The welterweight division is set for major changes in the coming months. As WBO, WBC, and WBA world champion Terence Crawford steps up to 154lbs to fight for Israil Madrimov’s WBA world title in August, it could vacate three of the four belts at 147 if ‘Bud’ opts to remain in the heavier division.
As an interim champion, Stanionis would be well placed to take advantage of the vacated belts, and the 29-year-old insists becoming a world champion is his main goal.
Welterweight Division ‘Starting To Heat Up Again’
“Of course [I want unification], but I already have a title,” Stanionis said in an interview with Boxing Scene. “I really will fight anyone out there. Unifications are very big things to experience, and I am on the right path to go down that route to them fights happen.”
While Crawford looks likely to move up to super-welterweight – at least in the long term – 147 is expected to welcome new stars to the division. Ryan Garcia, fresh from his career-defining victory over Devin Haney, is set to move into the division. Haney, who retained his WBC super-lightweight title after Garcia failed to make weight, could follow his rival to 147.
“A lot of guys have come from 140 and into 147, so things are starting to heat up once again. It’s amazing to have lots of opportunities and to make big fights with the right dance partner,” said Stanionis, who has fought his entire career in the United States since turning professional in 2017.
“It does feel like a dream – I am not going to lie. I am from a small country, so going to the United States and getting my name out there to fight for titles and winning the titles cannot get much better. Now I am fighting on a Canelo card in Las Vegas during Cinco De Mayo. It is like a dream come true.”
Stanionis Dreams Of Homecoming Fight
Another big dream for Stanionis is a homecoming fight in Lithuania. A European country the size of West Virginia with a population of less than 3 million, Lithuania is not typically known for its boxing.
However, the country’s best active fighter says he is well supported by his compatriots and would love to fight in front of his home crowd one day.
“That is the dream,” he said. “We have an arena in my hometown that holds about 18,000 people. I can guarantee you we can fill that up ASAP. I can sell the tickets in 24 hours because we do not have boxing events here, especially professional ones. If I were to fight there, there would be a big crowd, and it is my dream to do that before I retire.
“People are always watching my fights and waking up at 3 or 4 in the morning,” he added. These are some of the things my fans have to do to watch my fights. I am very thankful for everyone who supports me, despite the periods of inactivity. “
“Every day, people were asking what was going on and why I was not fighting. It was very hard to answer these questions because I was always ready, but things happened. Everyone is excited that I have a fight date and will see me back in the ring. I’m very excited, too.”
