Cuban maestro Guillermo Rigondeaux may be 40 but his ambition remains undiminished.
The WBA Regular bantamweight champion is targeting unification bouts in 2021 with WBO title-holder John Riel Casimero his adversary of choice.
Rigondeaux (20-1, 13 KOs) won the WBA’s secondary belt in his sole fight of 2020 – a split decision victory over Venezuelan Liborio Solis in February, but still feels he has a part to play at elite level.
A unification clash with Filipino banger Casimero is being mooted for March or April.
“[Casimero is] the one I want,” Rigondeaux told journalist George Ebro. “It’s the perfect one for my desire to unify titles. I have the World Boxing Association [title] and he owns the World Boxing Organization. So I have to go over him to take his title and keep adding wins over champions.
“He’s a veteran and I respect him as a champion, but I have [respect] for everyone and I know how to adapt to the opponent, whoever it is, when the bell rings. I’ve fought in several divisions and I’ve been in this sport for a long time.’
“Not only has [not boxing] been difficult for me, but for all the athletes, because the pandemic has stopped everything and things got complicated. Some have fought once, others have not been able to fight at all. But the important thing is not to stop and keep looking forward and stay in the gym. I’m sure better things are coming.”
Main image: Amanda Westcott/Showtime.