Vasyl Lomachenko vs Guillermo Rigondeaux

[handsofstone]

Cant wait for this one, might even stay up for it, 2 of the most technically gifted boxers you'll see in any era, both of them 2 time Olympic Gold medallists, 1st time double Olympic champions have squared off, I think Loma is the better boxer and with Rigo moving up 2 divisions I'm siding with Loma the naturally bigger man, also the younger as well

Its gonna be great though, the skills on show will be sublime, there's maybe a slight chance it can be too cagey but I think it will be a great watch

[danconnollyeire]

It's gonna be an awful, awful fight, as bad as a fight can be, between two amazingly skillful fighters. It's be a boring chess match where they both try and fail to out skill/matrix each other. Lomachenko will win on points

[TheLeprechaun]

It's gonna be an awful, awful fight, as bad as a fight can be, between two amazingly skillful fighters. It's be a boring chess match where they both try and fail to out skill/matrix each other. Lomachenko will win on points

Agreed. Rigondeaux will always come to stink the joint out and this will be no different. He has a powerful left hand, fast and sharp with it and he is a slick defensive fighter. He will fight off the back foot and look to counter with the fast left. Lomachenko vs Gary Russel was horrific to watch and this will be no different. Lomachenko has never seen this kind of defence and counter punching at this level. Absolute nightmare to watch is what I'm expecting.

[danconnollyeire]

It's gonna be an awful, awful fight, as bad as a fight can be, between two amazingly skillful fighters. It's be a boring chess match where they both try and fail to out skill/matrix each other. Lomachenko will win on points

Agreed. Rigondeaux will always come to stink the joint out and this will be no different. He has a powerful left hand, fast and sharp with it and he is a slick defensive fighter. He will fight off the back foot and look to counter with the fast left. Lomachenko vs Gary Russel was horrific to watch and this will be no different. Lomachenko has never seen this kind of defence and counter punching at this level. Absolute nightmare to watch is what I'm expecting.

Yep! It's gonna be like watching a 12 round amatuer fight, where the judges will simply be counting precise punches landed

[Terminator666]

Got a feeling Rigo is going to nick a very tight decision

[Taansend]

Many boxers are picking Rigondeaux but I have this feeling Lomachenko is going to batter him.

[Deserter]

Many boxers are picking Rigondeaux but I have this feeling Lomachenko is going to batter him.

I wouldn't go so far as batter, but I do think Loma is going to do a number of him - just through sheer volume/work-rate, throwing lots of combinations from different angles, and being the naturally bigger, younger fighter. He's catching Rigo at just the right time IMO.

[Stuarty]

Cant wait for this one, might even stay up for it, 2 of the most technically gifted boxers you'll see in any era, both of them 2 time Olympic Gold medallists, 1st time double Olympic champions have squared off, I think Loma is the better boxer and with Rigo moving up 2 divisions I'm siding with Loma the naturally bigger man, also the younger as well

Its gonna be great though, the skills on show will be sublime, there's maybe a slight chance it can be too cagey but I think it will be a great watch

Deffo staying up for this man! I'm back on the swally this month so few beers and a gram of the good stuff! Cracking weekend of action! Can't wait! Some right good football on Sunday as well

[jamamb]

ya think it will be bad. btw why do ppl act like rigos untouchable when hes been down or hurt like 7 times in 17 fights.is that more of a chin issue.

[Ezzard]

I do accept it won't be a great fight (most likely). But it is the most significant fight of the year... I'd say for many years. Whoever wins will have a true ATG on their record.

[jamamb]

amateur atg, yes

[Bard of Boxrec]

Loma is going to walk through him. One sided.

[Andrew]

I think Loma is going to absolutely destroy Rigo in 2-3 rounds. I really am confident it is going to be that one-sided.

Rigondeaux is officially 37 and has fought 3 rounds in two years.

The last time he went rounds was against a waster who had been knocked out in a round by an opponent who faced a Japanese prospect on their debut.

Rigondeaux's last proper fight was three years ago against Amagasa and was floored.

Rigo could make Bantamweight where as Lomachenko is probably best as a Lightweight.

Rigondeaux punch output is extremely low. Loma has a very high output and will not be scared to throw.

Lomachenko is better in every department, I think people will look daft afterwards for thinking this was going to be close.

[Andrew]

I do accept it won't be a great fight (most likely). But it is the most significant fight of the year... I'd say for many years. Whoever wins will have a true ATG on their record.

I don't think it does anything for Lomachenkos resume.

All people will say he smashed a pumped up Bantamweight. Almost like when Golovkin beat Kell Brook ( not saying Brook is anywhere near Rigos level more to do with size)

[jamamb]

ppl seem to really rate gr though and are gong on about this match as if its somethng great even wth the size dfference. and also seem 2 ignore rig contnually hurt or dropped. imo gonna be an overrated w actually if loma gets it.

[gilgamesh]

I expect a competitive chess match kinda fight like others have predicted, I figure Loma's youth and greater workrate is gonna win the fight for him, but it'll be interesting to see how it goes. Neither has faced a test like this as a pro.

[TheLeprechaun]

I can see rigo winning if he was to drop loma or hurt him early. From then on it would look like he was outboxing loma on the backfoot. Lomachenko does a lot of posturing and what looks like unnecessary movement but he is setting up shots and figuring things out I guess. Rigo might be a step faster than Loma. If lomachenko cant avoid the left hand hes got problems coming forward. Im not sure those angle switches and foot movement will work against rigo.

[Counter-puncher]

I can see rigo winning if he was to drop loma or hurt him early. From then on it would look like he was outboxing loma on the backfoot. Lomachenko does a lot of posturing and what looks like unnecessary movement but he is setting up shots and figuring things out I guess. Rigo might be a step faster than Loma. If lomachenko cant avoid the left hand hes got problems coming forward.

Im not sure those angle switches and foot movement will work against rigo.

Your final point is why I think it will be a bit closer than some think, so much of lomas good work is done when he shoots outside the orthodox lead leg, also against fighters with much slower feet than Rigo

[TheLeprechaun]

I can see rigo winning if he was to drop loma or hurt him early. From then on it would look like he was outboxing loma on the backfoot. Lomachenko does a lot of posturing and what looks like unnecessary movement but he is setting up shots and figuring things out I guess. Rigo might be a step faster than Loma. If lomachenko cant avoid the left hand hes got problems coming forward.

Im not sure those angle switches and foot movement will work against rigo.

Your final point is why I think it will be a bit closer than some think, so much of lomas good work is done when he shoots outside the orthodox lead leg, also against fighters with much slower feet than Rigo

Yeah plus loma had 350 amateur fights which is very impressive but lets remember rigo had 500. I would say he came across something similar to lomachenko at some point in cuba. Still, he has a big size disadvantage so it seems and getting on a bit so it might just be the right time for loma.

[Loftgroov]

As good as Rigo is I'm surprised anyone can side again Lomachenko. The guy is freakishly good.

[Tanzio]

As good as Rigo is I'm surprised anyone can side again Lomachenko. The guy is freakishly good.

If Rigo times him flush, all bets are at risk. I favor Lomassiah on age and size advantage, but Rigo may have something for him, like a clean clipping.

[Ezzard]

Loma was what? 26-27 when he moved to 130. He's more of a natural 126 fighter. And Rigo looks big at his weight.

Also...they're not guys who trade on power. Rigo is a top one-shot hitter with his left but trading on power is not his game. So the size difference means something but the advantage is diminished here.

If either man steams through the other it will be quite something.

I feel the biggest factor is Loma's output. But I see this as 55-45 Loma...very close...

[davie]

If this is East coast are we likely to see it at a half reasonable hour in then UK?

[davie]

.

Rigo could make Bantamweight where as Lomachenko is probably best as a Lightweight.

Rigo has never fought below SBW and is 37, making Bantam would probably be a real challenge and Lomachenko has never fought about SFW, might never fight at LW and looked comfortable at FW in his mid 20s.

[MightyWarrior]

GREAT fight, this type of talent match up comes about once in a blue moon. Two of the ultimate craftsmen in the world matching skills.

Yes Rigo can bore you to death, but Loma is surely not going to allow that: his swarming style will make the Cuban fight. And while Rigo is smaller, his superb laser like timing might make him the more dangerous puncher: the over confident Loma might walk onto a perfect shot.

The bigger man is rightly the favorite, but if he is going to walk through a man like Rigo, a fighter who does not know how to lose, it's going to be quite something to see.