Will other fighters follow Rigondeaux’s lead?

By Robbie Bannatyne - 07/17/2015 - Comments

rigondeaux3By Robbie Bannatyne: Despite being regarded as by far the best boxer in the super-bantamweight division, Guillermo Rigondeaux has found the big fights very hard to come by. For Rigo the big names have become as elusive as the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow.

However, this is set to change with the announcement that Rigondeaux will move up to 126lb to meet current WBO featherweight champion Vasyl Lomachenko. Both men’s status as the two of the most decorated amateurs in the history of the sport adds more gravitas to an already engrossing prospect.

However, in a wider context, a contest between Rigo and Loma could be a catalyst for change in the boxing world.

For Rigondeaux is not the only fighter whose greatness has led to him being ostracized from his own division. Other Elephants in the room include Andre Ward, Gennady Golovkin and Sergey Kovalev. The aforementioned fighters have all earned the most ‘avoided fighter’ moniker in their respective divisions for being too dangerous and too risky a proposition for their peers.

Sadly a boxer being the victim of their own success is a familiar theme in the fight game- Rigondeaux’s predicament mirrors that of many other fighters in boxing.

However, if Rigondeaux is able overcome Lomachenko, other fighters may follow his lead. If it’s good enough for the goose its good enough for the gander. The likes of Andre Ward, ‘Canelo’ Alvarez and Gennady Golovkin would see the merits of moving up in weight to engage in some meaningful, money spinning super fights. Contests such as Ward vs Kovalev and Canelo vs Golovkin would excite the fans and enthuse the broadcasters. A winning combination.

More importantly, from a boxer’s perspective, big fights mean big money. The financial rewards on offer could offset the risks of fighting top competition on a consistent basis. Such a strategy would surely lead to more losses on a fighters resume, but in return they would gain legitimacy and build a legacy, in both sporting and financial terms. The cost of defeat against the elite would be worth paying if the fighters were properly compensated.

At the risk of sounding like a hopeless idealist, I dare to dream that the detritus left by the disgusting mismatches polluting the sport can become a forgotten relic if more fighters follow the lead of Rigondeaux.

Let’s hope that Rigondeaux becomes the new rule and not merely an exception.

Thanks for reading. I look forward to reading your comments.

Fights Fans: Will other fighters follow Rigo’s lead if he beats Lomachenko?

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