by Radio Rahim
If a deal is finalized, the month of December could have one of the most interesting fights of the year.
There are ongoing discussions to finalize a deal where WBA super bantamweight champion Guillermo Rigondeaux (17-0, 11 KOs) would move up by two weight divisions to challenge WBO super featherweight champion Vasyl Lomachenko (9-1, 7 KOs).
The bout would match up two boxers who are regarded as two of the best amateur fighters in history. Adding to that, each boxer has won Olympic gold on two occasions - setting up what may be the very first time where two, two-time Olympic gold medal winners have collided in the ring.
Rigondeaux is considered most experts to be the top fighter at 122-pounds, while Lomachenko is viewed as the top man at 130-pounds. The man who is currently regarded as the number one fighter at 126, the division between the two previously mentioned weights, is WBA featherweight champion Leo Santa Cruz.
Santa Cruz is confident Lomachenko will come out on top in that fight. He feels Lomachenko is just too big and too strong for the much smaller Rigondeaux. While Lomachenko has the edge with a few inches in height and certainly some additional size, the interesting thing is Rigondeaux is listed as having the longer reach, at 68 inches to Loma's 65.5.
Santa Cruz is also concerned with Rigondeaux's ability to take a good punch. The talented Cuban fighter has been knocked down in several fights.
"I think Lomachenko [will win] because he's the bigger guy and stronger. Rigondeaux, I think you can catch him with good shots and drop him. They say that he really don't have that good of a chin. I think Lomachenko is stronger and he can catch him - and really hurt him or drop him. I just think Lomachenko is too big for him," Santa Cruz told BoxingScene.com.
2023-10-19 11:28:21
