In just over a months time, Guillermo Rigondeaux and Vasyl Lomachenko will meet in a mouth-watering WBO super featherweight world title clash of unprecedented implications. Both men each boast two Olympic Gold medals apiece and outstanding amateur records of 396 -1 in Lomachenko’s case while Rigondeaux had amassed an equally impressive 463-12 record.
Rigo’ will put his undefeated record on the line and seek his third world championship, the WBO super featherweight belt, held by Lomachenko – in the main event of Top Rank’s ESPN televised card from the mecca of boxing in Madison Square Garden. The man heading the Cuban’s training preparations; the renown Pedro Diaz shared his views ahead of the showdown.
“Rigo is an incredible boxer,” Diaz started off by saying, in an exclusive with ESPN Deportes. “He is always motivated and happy, he always trains like a great warrior and the energy he transmits while training is incredible. Diaz went on to assure fans of his acclaimed charge that Guillermo will be prepared “On December 9 he will have a great fight with Lomachenko.”
Rigondeaux is preparing for this world title attempt with the knowledge that he will enter the ring as the underdog, a tag that he has not had since his thrilling encounter with Nonito Donaire in 2013. Many have suggested a brutal ending could be on the cards once the naturally bigger Lomachenko starts to land his punches on a fighter albeit a phenomenal one fighter technically, who is moving up two weight classes for his first fight at Super Featherweight at the age of 37. Pedro Diaz dismissed those suggestions and reaffirmed his belief that his charge can display his expertise regardless of the opponent in front of him.
“He is always ready to fight with anyone, Rigo is a champion who does not choose his opponents and fights with anyone wherever they may be,” said Díaz. With the recent professional retirements of Floyd Mayweather Jr and Andre Ward fresh in the memory, this has left the pound-for-pound picture in disarray, with numerous combatants such as Terence Crawford, Gennady Golovkin and Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez being touted for that title. However, either Rigondeaux and Lomachenko will make great strides towards solidifying that position for themselves with a victory on December 9th.