On Saturday night, one of the biggest match-ups in boxing during 2017 quickly fizzled out into an anti-climactic one-sided beating. Lomachenko dazzled and befuddled his Cuban adversary with his superior hand speed and his usage of angles.
Rigondeaux cut a frustrated figure as he was overwhelmed for 6 rounds and landed less than three punches a round. ‘Rigo’s masterful defensive skill set was shockingly rendered absolutely useless and he quit on his stool following the sixth round and his trainer, Pedro Diaz cited that was down to an injury he sustained to his hand.
Lomachenko jokingly referred to himself as ‘NoMasChenko’ following the bout. A pun and a play on words in reference to the infamous occasion Roberto Duran quit midway through his rematch with Sugar Ray Leonard in New Orleans in 1980.
"It's Hard to Beat a Person who NEVER Gives Up."- Babe Ruth pic.twitter.com/F1dmm8m1Ia
— LOMA (@VasylLomachenko) December 10, 2017
Speaking with The Ring Magazine, ‘Hi-Tech’ Lomachenko has since shared he was not suprised that Rigondeaux surrendered mid-way through the highly anticipated showdown at Madison Square Garden.
“No, it didn’t surprise me (that Rigo quit),” he said in his native tongue, though he mostly spoke English during the press briefing. Lomachenko shared that he was waiting for Rigondeaux to reveal more of his talents during the fight.
“I was waiting for him to do something more,” he said, as told by manager Egis Klimas.
Lomachenko also added that he predicted that Rigondeaux would say he would want no more of being opposite him during their December 9th fight.
“During the press conference (on Thursday), I had said I wouldn’t be surprised if he said ‘no mas.’
Team "No Mas" pic.twitter.com/PsiDfhF0IQ
— LOMA (@VasylLomachenko) December 10, 2017
Lomachenko also ridiculed Rigondeaux’s decision to quit, ‘Hi-Tech’ cited in their professional field, one must be ready to lay their life on the line in the ring.
“Bottom line, did he think the left hand injury explanation was righteous? “I fight with one hand in Macao…it depends on you. If you want to win, want to fight, you need (to be willing to) die in that ring.”
Following the fight, Lomachenko was pressed as to what his next career move will be. Lomachenko shared that he’d be interested in a meeting with the multi-weight titleholder, Mikey Garcia.
Lomachenko’s record now stands at 10-1. Rigondeaux, on the other hand lost his undefeated record and moved to 17-1 following the fight. Additionally as a consequence of the defeat, Rigondeaux has now lost his WBA super bantamweight world title.
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