BoxRec

The chatter is somewhat amusing to Egis Klimas, who manages Lomachenko. In a recent interview, Rigondeaux called for Lomachenko to come down to the featherweight limit of 126 or a catch-weight of 127 or possibly 128.

He told BS.com in a recent interview - "I'm sick and tired of all the nonsense on Twitter, the media, whatever, like Rigondeaux calling Lomachenko. It's like Lomachenko calling out (Terence) Crawford, 'Hey, come down to 130 and we're going to fight' and then say,'OK, I called Crawford, he's afraid to fight me' - just as an example."

"When Lomachenko was fighting at 126 and was a champion at 126, the offer was put on the table to fight but then they didn't fight. I believe even two times it was offered to Rigondeaux to fight Lomachenko at 126," Klimas recalled.

"They didn't want to come up to fight at 126. They said, 'Oh, let's do a catch-weight at 124'. But that never happened. Lomachenko was a 126-pound fighter, he was a champion at 126 and he says, 'Come here, we can fight.'

"Now, Lomachenko comes up to 130 and even thinking of going to 135, these guys start calling. He's still a 122-pound fighter and he's calling Lomachenko to look back. But [is he] willing to come to 130?"

And with that, Klimas has a very simple message for Team Rigondeaux. "Come to 130, be my guest," he states.

Could this just be more posturing from the Cuban and his handlers?

"Exactly," agreed Klimas. "Thats what it is. Come to 130 and be my guest to fight Lomachenko."

Rigo is too tiny for 130, and he should not move up and face Loma.
Loma would destroy him at 130, easily.

I'd love for Rigo to move up to 130 and get destroyed by the Loma.

I don't think 130 is a good weight for Rigo, though I suppose if you want him to lose it makes sense to call for him to move up that 8 pounds; after all, he hasn't had many interesting fights, and a win over Loma would be far more legacy enhancing than any win he could get in his current division!

Reminds me of the case with another fighter.....

Impractical Poster wrote:I'd love for Rigo to move up to 130 and get destroyed by the Loma.

I can understand you. I would love for Ward to move up at HW and get destroyed by Joshua.

Rigo too small

"Lomachenko is at 130 and we are willing to meet him half way. He is a great champion, a two-time Olympic champion. He is fast and explosive. It would be a great fight," Rigondeaux stated.

However, the Cuban is worried that the fight may not ever come to fruition because even though he is willing to move up in weight, Lomachenko has expressed his desire to win a title at lightweight and become a three-division champion. The 5'4" Rigondeaux makes 122 with little effort and could make the 118 pound bantamweight limit if he wanted to so a move up featherweight will probably be the highest weight that he reaches.

"I want to go to 126 to fight him and now he's at 130 then maybe he goes to 135. He keeps moving up," Rigondeaux told BS.com.

Would be a good idea for him to do since it's basically either this or continue to toil away in relative obscurity until he inevitably gets beat by a guy that is nowhere near Loma's level in the next year or two.

Ruthless-RKO wrote:"Lomachenko is at 130 and we are willing to meet him half way. He is a great champion, a two-time Olympic champion. He is fast and explosive. It would be a great fight," Rigondeaux stated.

However, the Cuban is worried that the fight may not ever come to fruition because even though he is willing to move up in weight, Lomachenko has expressed his desire to win a title at lightweight and become a three-division champion. The 5'4" Rigondeaux makes 122 with little effort and could make the 118 pound bantamweight limit if he wanted to so a move up featherweight will probably be the highest weight that he reaches.

"I want to go to 126 to fight him and now he's at 130 then maybe he goes to 135. He keeps moving up," Rigondeaux told BS.com.

Loma keeps moving up because he a prize fighter looking for challenges and money. Before Loma moved to 130 I would say 126 was Loma best weight but now fighting at higher weight might not be as easy for Loma to come down. Rigo should have had flexibility to move up to 126 a long time ago even if his not best weight, I think Rigo realizes time is ticking on career and it is hard for him to find paydays, In the end Im sure he will move up to fight Loma even if not best weight just to get a good payday.

Problem for Rigo is that he walked when it was offered, kinda like being asked out, saying no then expecting to be asked out again

Rigo's team have now called a bluff accepting the 130 limit

Oh Goodie maybe Loma-Rigo can fight in August, as I hear Salido might fight on Mayweather undercard.

http://www.BS.com/team-rigonde ... ff--117905

victor-romeo wrote:Oh Goodie maybe Loma-Rigo can fight in August, as I hear Salido might fight on Mayweather undercard.

http://www.BS.com/team-rigonde ... ff--117905

Extremely unlikely.

Ruthless-RKO wrote:Rigo's team have now called a bluff accepting the 130 limit

You think Loma's side is bluffing about fighying him at 130?

crusader wrote:

Ruthless-RKO wrote:Rigo's team have now called a bluff accepting the 130 limit

You think Loma's side is bluffing about fighying him at 130?

No, but Rigo's team are thinking it.

Would anyone pick Rigo at 130? Im having a difficult time seeing him overcome Loma's size + skill, much as I think the same would apply to Loma fighting Craw. I wouldve gone with Loma back at 126 too...

crusader wrote:Would anyone pick Rigo at 130? Im having a difficult time seeing him overcome Loma's size + skill, much as I think the same would apply to Loma fighting Craw. I wouldve gone with Loma back at 126 too...

If he had an iron chin I think he'd win close. But I think he would get knocked down 2 3 times and barely survive. Two fukin greats tho

ValMar wrote:Rigo is too tiny for 130, and he should not move up and face Loma.
Loma would destroy him at 130, easily.

If Loma is so brave he shouldnt waste time trying to lure Rigo up to 130.

He needs to come down to 126, where he fought for many years!!

Loma only fought at 126 for two years as a pro. He also finished his amateur career at 132 rather than 126.

Just make a catch weight of 600 pounds and stop the negotiation games.

As much as I think 130 is too big for Rigo I want too see this fight far too much. Skill display would be something unbelievable.

[stupid effin' phone. here are some nice faces to look at:
]

squiggy wrote:

watsupdoc87 wrote:

crusader wrote:Would anyone pick Rigo at 130? Im having a difficult time seeing him overcome Loma's size + skill, much as I think the same would apply to Loma fighting Craw. I wouldve gone with Loma back at 126 too...

If he had an iron chin I think he'd win close. But I think he would get knocked down 2 3 times and barely survive. Two fukin greats tho

I think that's a pretty good take: I don't think he's shown serious chin problems, but his insistence on defending himself through footwork and reflexes would probably get him burned enough to put Vasyl up on the cards.
It'd be just a crazy sum total level of talent in the ring together.

Klimas then responded shortly afterwords -

"Egis Klimas does not fight in the ring, Egis Klimas is not making a fight, Egis Klimas has promoters who are making a fight. Rigondeaux and his team knows Top Rank's number. If Top Rank will come to me and say Rigondeaux is ready to fight then I will approve that fight together with Lomachenko."

The highly regarded Ukrainian is scheduled to fight in August but is looking for a suitable opponent.

"If they're going to come, Top Rank, and they're going to say,'they want to fight' and make a deal with Top Rank, Top Rank will come back to us and we will approve the fight. I don't have any problems," said Klimas, who reiterated - "I don't go and fight and train, I don't make the fight That's what we have promoters for but if they want to come in and fight at 130 - we have no problem. We will be very happy.

"If they make the August date, we're very happy to fight Rigondeaux."

He doesn't seem too confident now

He says he'll approve it without any problems

He should be very confident that Loma beats the little guy.