After the controversial victory over Thai Sod Kokietgym (63-3-1, 28 KOs) in the special event of Top Rank in the Cotai Arena in Macao, China, the Cuban world champion in the 122 pound division, Guillermo Rigondeaux (14-0, 9), issued a challenge to the Mexican Leo Santa Cruz to fight as soon as possible, even in September, according to the proposal made by Caribe Promotion, the firm Rigondeaux fights for now.
The Olympic champion and his technical group made clear his ambition to unify titles with the Mexican. “El Chacal” holds the belts of the World Boxing Association (WBA) and World Boxing Organization (WBO), while his possible rival Santa Cruz holds the crown of the World Boxing Council (WBC). The other champ is Spanish Kiko Martinez for the International Boxing Federation (IBF), who also enters the speculation.
The match may well materialize in the ninth month of this year after the fast, easy and controversial victory of the Cuban in his last appearance, on July 19. There he had to sweat little since in the very first round, when barely 1.44 minutes into the combat he knocked out Kokietgym with a devastating left hook.
Before the unexpected end, the Thai boxer had been knocked down by an accidental head, and hwen the action restarted he left his guard down, in a very naïve way. Rigondeaux attacked without thinking twice as a feline, and sent him back to the mat to decree the TKO. The fully lawful action aroused great numbers of negative comments, which is common for each presentation of the Cuban, no matter what.
This represented his last combat under cover of Top Rank, and he is now a free agent after the constant dilemmas with promoter Bob Arum, presumably because he did not convince the public.
A while ago, “Rigo” said Top Rank made a tribute to all champions and did not invite him. “I resent the disrespect from its boss Bob Arum. Everything is a great disrespect. He should really gets serious with me or gives me back the contract. I have won my titles with much effort and will not let anything or anyone come and throw them around. “And finally it happened.
The swarm of reviews and complexities is due to his strategic system based on a strong defense, riposte fight and accurate but isolated punches. Evidence of the fencing like boxing of his and also proved in his combats against stars like Nonito Donaire and Joseph Agbeko.
The refined technique and mastery of all distances and sometimes becomes impenetrable by rivals, make of Rigondeaux one of the least sought for fighters today. To that, you have to add that it costs him dearly to fill facilities, and the purses are not as big as other fighters, even lesser ones.
In plain language, we can say he is not liked by advertising firms or fans who enjoy the constant exchange of punches, and looking to the future is very difficult for him to ensure juicy contracts with HBO or Showtime.
However, most of the experts agree that after all he is one of the best in the world pound for pound, and I believe he has been so for several years. His tenure in the amateurism left a trail of triumphs that few hold. Before age 20 he was Olympic Champion, and if he had not changed the path, he may well have been the first four-time Olympic champion.
Without those crushing blows that they demand of him, without that rival that squeezes him, without a great deal of matches to support it, the tardy entry to that professional system conditions his way of fighting and each of his presentations give credit to his category.
Guillermo Rigondeaux walks, dances, enjoys the ring. He leaves the arguments of his boxing opponents outside the competitive scenarios, and although no constructive criticism surrounds his environment, what remains is to wait for the acceptance of his next opponent to unify more the division, because his defeat within the ropes looks like a chimera, even when trade disputes are falling like a shadow on his performance.
