Rigondeaux vs. Lomachenko a possibility

By Boxing News - 07/13/2015 - Comments

rigondeauxBy Allan Fox: A fight between WBA/WBO super bantamweight champion Guillermo Rigondeaux (15-0, 10 KOs) and WBO featherweight champion Vasyl Lomachenko (4-1, 2 KOs) is in the works. Rigondeaux’s manager Gary Hyde has reportedly accepted an offer by Lomachenko’s manager Egis Klimas for a catch-weight fight at 124 pounds.

Rigondeaux, 34, would be moving up in weight four pounds, while Lomachenko would be coming down in weight two pounds from the 126 featherweight limit. The fight would be in the featherweight division, as the weight class is from 123 to 126. Whether the fight can be made or not will hinge on whether Klimas and Lomachenko agree to a rehydration limit of 135 pounds, which means Lomachenko and Rigondeaux wouldn’t be able to gain more than 11lbs when they rehydrate after making weight for the 124lb catch-weight.

While it wouldn’t be a big deal for Rigondeaux to easily make the rehydration limit, it might prove to be difficult for Lomachenko, who looks awfully big after he makes weight for his featherweight bouts. Lomachenko wouldn’t be able to rehydrate to the 140s or whatever. That might be difficult for him because he looks very big for a featherweight.

“We would insist on a rehydration clause of 135 pounds for fight night. If Klimas agrees to this, then, we have a fight,” Hyde said. “I believe ‘Rigo’ is the more ferocious of the two fighters and I firmly believe ‘Rigo’ will dominate Lomachenko. Klimas, you know what you must do to make the fight, just pick up the phone and call me. ‘Rigo’ is ready!”

It’s likely that the fight won’t get made unless Hyde forgets about the rehydration clause for the fight. It’s not a big deal for Lomachenko to make 124 for the fight, because he came in one pound heavier than that for his last fight at 125. But what might be hard for Lomachenko is for him to keep from going over 135 with the rehydration limit.

It’s unclear what kind of penalty Hyde would be looking for if Lomachenko came in over the catch-weight or rehydration limit. If it’s not too strict of a penalty, Lomachenko and Klimas could possibly agree to the fight if they only have to deal with a small fee if Lomachenko balloons up to 140+ after making weight, or if he misses the catch-weight limit by coming in at 125 or 126. Lomachenko would still be able to keep his WBO featherweight title if he came in over the catch-weight limit but made the featherweight limit. That’s why it would have to be a big weight penalty.



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