By Chris Williams: WBA World super bantamweight champion Guillermo Rigondeaux (11-0, 8 KO’s) rather easily took care of 23-year-old fringe contender Robert Marroquin (22-2, 15 KO’s) in beating him by a 12 round unanimous decision on Saturday night at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nevada.

The final judges’ scores were 118-108, 118-108 and 118-108.

It was a great performance from the 31-year-old Rigondeaux with the exception of the two incidents in the fight where he was rocked by hard left hooks from the much bigger in size Marroquin. Rigondeaux was hurt in the 3rd and 9th rounds from huge left hooks from Marroquin. However, Rigondeaux more than paid Marroquin back by knocking him down in the 5th and the 12th rounds with wicked shots that Marroquin never saw coming. Rigondeaux didn’t really try to pour it on after knocking Marroquin down because he seemed wary of getting hit with another one of his big left hooks.

I wasn’t all that impressed with Marroquin because his work rate was terrible, he never threw jabs at all period and he didn’t move his head. What I liked about him was his left hook. He’s got world class power in his left hook, and good power his right as well. I can see why Bob Arum signed him to his Top Rank stable. However, another huge factor for Marroquin’s limited success is how big he is for the super bantamweight class. He looked like he was at 15 pounds heavier than Rigondeaux in the ring, and I wonder what his weight was.

I felt like I was watching the super bantamweight division’s version of Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. Marroquin looked like a lightweight in size against the super bantamweight sized Rigondeaux. I wouldn’t be surprised if Marroquin was over 135 lbs last night because he was huge next to Rigondeaux. If Marroquin is going to stay at super bantamweight, he’s going to have a big advantage against other fighters that don’t melt down from higher weights. Rigondeaux doesn’t do that, so he doesn’t get the same benefit.

Rigondeaux may have helped himself by looking vulnerable because IBF/WBO super bantamweight champion Nonito Donaire no doubt saw the Rigondeaux-Marroquin fight last night and he might be more interested in fighting Rigondeaux now that he’s shown vulnerability.