Alex Bornote, manager for former world champion Guillermo Rigondeaux (17-0-1, 11 KOs), believes his boxer will now have a very difficult time securing fights at 122-pounds - after getting stripped of his WBA world title.
Bornote admits that Rigondeaux underestimated the weight difference, as he gave up eight pounds by going up by two divisions. He says the Cuban fighter could still make 118-pounds if needed.
"I didn't think it would be such a horrible performance," Bornote said to ESPN. "It's another nail in his coffin in his career. It's the Rigo story. Never have I ever seen such a thing. He has no luck at all.
"He doesn't feel all that great right now. He didn't think the weight difference would be such a big deal, but Lomachenko is a very special talent, a great boxer. And Rigo also hurt his hand, so he was at a big disadvantage."
Bornote said Rigondeaux was forced to move up to 130-pounds for Lomachenko, because nobody would fight him at 122.
Now the manager fears that Rigondeaux will be unable to get any fights at 122, and that will force his boxer to pursue more dangerous opponents at the featherweight limit of 126-pounds.
"It was hard enough for Rigo to get a fight when he had a world title, so now imagine what it's going to be like without a title. But he's definitely going back to his weight class at 122 pounds or maybe 126 pounds," Bornote said.
"He's really a natural 118-pounder, but in this market, with the opponents out there, we might have to also consider fighting at 126 pounds."
Rigondeaux May Be Forced To Pursue Fights at 126
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Ruthless-RKO
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Re: Rigondeaux May Be Forced To Pursue Fights at 126
126 lbs is right place. Trying to get decent fights before retire. Champions probably don´t wanna fight him, but he definitely need some money before retirement :)
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Ruthless-RKO
- Welterweight
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- Joined: 24 Apr 2016, 11:59
Re: Rigondeaux May Be Forced To Pursue Fights at 126
No one is going to pick him as a voluntary. He will need to become a mandatory. I think the WBA won't rank him. But the WBO, WBC and IBF should give him a decent ranking after 1 fight at 126. Another one fight, should do the trick. He could be ordered into a final eliminator by the end of the year.
Re: Rigondeaux May Be Forced To Pursue Fights at 126
Rigo, at his age even, has to prove himself again after his pathetic performance against Loma. He proved in the Loma fight he is a quitter and a coward.