By Miguel Rivera
In every great boxing contest there is an A side and a B side, but there are moments where both sides believes they hold the top pecking order.
And that will certainly be the case when one of the most anticipated fights on the year takes place between Vasyl Lomachenko (9-1-0, 7 KOs) and Guillermo Rigondeaux (17-0-0, 11 KOs).
Lomachenko will collide against Rigondeaux on December 9 at Madison Square Garden in New York, in the main event of a card being televised live on ESPN.
igondeaux, who holds the WBA's super bantamweight world title, will move up by two weight divisions to 130-pounds to challenge Lomachenko for the WBO super featherweight title.
While many view Lomachenko as the favorite in the contest - Rigondeaux's trainer, Pedro Diaz, has a difference of opinion.
"Rigo has nothing to prove, he has accomplished more than Lomachenko," Diaz told ESPN Deportes. "This will be Lomachenko's great opportunity to prove his true worth."
After weeks of uncertainty, Top Rank recently announced the expected confrontation that brings together two Olympic double champions.
Lomachenko won Olympic gold in Beijing 2008 and London 2012, while Rigondeaux won Olympic gold in Sydney 2000 and Athens 2004.
"The confirmation of the fight is great news," Diaz said. "Two double Olympic champions face to face is incredible. It will be a historic fight. "
Regarding the fight taking place at super featherweight, Diaz commented that neither himself nor his fighter are concerned about having to gain weight for the contest.
"The weight will not be a problem, Lomachenko has an excellent and serious team, and so does Rigondeaux," Diaz said. "The greatest virtue of Rigondeaux is that he will go for victory."
Rigondeaux, 36, arrives to this contest after a controversial 'no decision' against Mexico's Moisés Flores on June 17 of this year.
Lomachenko, 29, returns after stopping Colombian Miguel Marriaga in the seventh round of an ESPN fight on Aug. 5 to retain his world title.
2023-10-19 15:56:51
