Lomachenko Outclasses Rigondeaux in Six, Two Weight Class Differential Joke
By Robert Brizel, Head Real Combat Media Boxing Correspondent
New York, NY (December 10th, 2017)– At 17-0, Cuban southpaw WBA Super Bantamweight champion Guillermo Rigondeaux, age 37, lost his attempt to win the WBO World Junior Lightweight title on December 9, 2017, in Madison Square Garden Theater in New York City, New York, giving up in his corner after six rounds. 10-1 Ukrainian southpaw Vasyl Lomachenko, the WBO champion, might as well move up in weight from junior lightweight to lightweight to fight Mikey Garcia. While Rigondeaux argued he injured one of his hands in the second round, there was no excuse- not for Rigondeaux, but for the promoters who put together this bout. In this reporter’s view, the fight was a joke which should never been matched. Lomachenko outpunched Rigondeaux 55 to 15 in punches landed.
According to Teddy Atlas, “You need to get a good matchmaker.” Atlas was right. “Not a good matchmaker, not a good match.” Would you put Marvin Hagler or Floyd Mayweather Jr. in with Muhammad Ali or Joe Frazier. They would become turkey gravy in the obvious wrong weight class.
As it was, Rigondeaux ducked and held in frustration, but could not do anything with Vasyl Lomanchenko except take the fight dirty. Rigondeaux was not landing anything. This was a paycheck bout, which was noteworthy not check for the weight differential, but because of Rigondeaux, at 37, looked like an old man, an aging version of an aging James Jeffries. Rigondeaux took the big money fight because nothing else was forthcoming before Lomachenko, and probably nothing else will again. Rigondeaux was not just relatively inactive with 17 measly bouts in eight years, Rigondeaux is boring. Nobody has any interest in watching him, and he has proved to be relatively unmarketable and unremarkable.
As it stands, Rigondeaux will probably return to the super bantamweight weight class, or he could try featherweight. For Lomachenko, the sky’s the limit. As Rigondeaux proved, however, changing weight classes is tricky. Unlike the late Georges Carpentier, most fighters cannot cut through so many weight classes unscathed, as they lose their speed, timing and power as their weight goes up. Rigondeaux didn’t earn that much in the lower weight classes, but like middleweight Kelly Pavlik versus Bernard Hopkins at light heavyweight, Rigondeaux being moved up two weight classes for Lomachenko made no sense. Rigondeaux did not blame the weight differential for his performance, only the hand injury, but the difference in weight classes is obvious. Wilfredo Gomez had no luck going from super bantamweight to featherweight to challenge Salvador Sanchez. Rigondeaux had less luck against Lomachenko. It wasn’t worth the price of a ticket, likely because nobody likes a quitter.
Result: Vasyl Lomanchenko TKO 6 Guillermo Rigondeaux, Junior Lightweights
Lomanchenko retains WBO World Junior Lightweight title
Rigondeaux lost a point for holding in round six.
Referee: Steve Willis. Rigondeaux retired on his stool in corner, claiming left hand injury.
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