Vasiliy Lomachenko vs. Guillermo Rigondeaux

Last updated
Vasiliy Lomachenko vs. Guillermo Rigondeaux
Loma Rigo poster.jpg
DateDecember 9, 2017
Venue The Theater at Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, US
Title(s) on the line WBO junior lightweight title
Tale of the tape
Boxer Vasiliy Lomachenko Guillermo Rigondeaux
Nickname Hi-TechEl Chacal
("The Jackal")
Hometown Bilhorod-Dnistrovskyi, Ukraine Santiago de Cuba, Cuba
Pre-fight record 9–1 (7 KO) 17–0 (11 KO)
Age 29 37
Height 5 ft 6 in (168 cm) 5 ft 4 in (163 cm)
Weight 129 lb (59 kg)128+1⁄2 lb (58 kg)
Style Southpaw Southpaw
Recognition WBO junior lightweight champion
The Ring pound-for-pound No. 3 ranked fighter
2-division world champion		 WBA (Super) super bantamweight champion
The Ring pound-for-pound No. 4 ranked fighter
Result
Lomachenko wins via 6th-round RTD

Vasiliy Lomachenko vs. Guillermo Rigondeaux was a professional boxing match between world champions Vasiliy Lomachenko and Guillermo Rigondeaux for the WBO junior lightweight championship. The bout was held on December 9, 2017 at The Theater at Madison Square Garden in New York City. Lomachenko and Rigondeaux are regarded as two of the best amateurs in history, with each boxer winning two Olympic gold medals. It was the first time dual gold medal winners fought professionally, and it was a fight the great Roy Jones Jr. stated, "To me, on paper, this is the best professional fight that has ever been made." [1] Lomachenko won by TKO when Rigondeaux retired on his stool after round 6 after claiming to have injured his left hand.

Contents

Background

On August 6, Bob Arum stated that Lomachenko would fight for a third time in 2017, likely on December 9 or 23rd. When asked who the potential options were, Arum stated, ''Well, there's a few guys. Rigondeaux if he answers Dino (Duva's) call. There's (Orlando) Salido, who's sniffing around and the third is (Miguel) Berchelt." Arum also mentioned lightweight contender Ray Beltrán, but said he would like to capture a world title at lightweight before a potential fight with Lomachenko. [2] On August 14, Arum spoke to LA Times and confirmed either Rigondeaux or Salido would be Lomachenko's next opponent. He stated if the bout with Rigondeaux was made, it would likely take place at The Theater at Madison Square Garden and a potential rematch with Salido would take place in Los Angeles. [3] On August 21, Arum stated both camps were closing in on finalising a deal for December 9. On September 15, the bout between Lomachenko and Rigondeaux was confirmed. [4] The fight between Lomachenko and Rigondeaux will take place at 130 pounds. [5] On October 3, Arum stated there was less than a hundred tickets remaining and the event would go on to be the biggest live gate in the history of the Theatre. [6] On November 18, Carl Moretti of Top Rank revealed a re-hydration clause on the contract. Both fighters agreed to weigh in at 09:00 on the morning of the fight, where they would not be able to exceed 138 pounds. Any fighter over the limit would face a penalty of more than $10,000. [7] On November 28, the WBA announced that Rigondeaux would lose his title at super bantamweight if he lost to Lomachenko. WBA president Gilberto Mendoza Jr. went on to say if Rigondeaux defeats Lomachenko, he would have five days to decide whether he is to return to the division or stay at super featherweight. He stated that special permission was granted because the bout was 'an important fight for boxing'. [8] Upon receiving the news, Rigondeaux took to Twitter and stated he was disappointed. [9]

Promotion

On September 26, a promotional pre-sale began for tickets. Promoters, managers and boxers gave their thoughts on the fight. [10]

The Lomachenko versus Rigondeaux title fight is a signature event in the sport of boxing. It matches the two greatest fighters in Olympic boxing facing off against each other. Never before in boxing history have two boxers, each the winner of two Olympic gold medals, faced each other in a professional boxing match.

— Bob Arum, Top Rank Promoter

It will be a big battle for boxing fans and boxing history. This battle will open our maximum potential. It will be the best New Year's present for boxing fanatics. Trust me on this one.

— Vasyl Lomachenko, WBO super featherweight champion

I am excited about Vasyl stepping back in the ring before the year is over. It is a great fight for all boxing lovers and the fans from around the world who asked for it. It is a historic bout for boxing, where for the first time two boxers, two world champions, each holding two Olympic gold medals, will meet in the professional ring. I am looking forward to seeing it.

— Egis Klimas, Lomachenko's manager

Regardless of weight class, Rigondeaux is ready to deliver an unforgettable performance.

— Roc Nation Sports promoter Michael Yormark

I'm thrilled to be part of this historic fight on ESPN because I've had my eye on fighting Vasyl Lomachenko for a long time. I'm thankful that Roc Nation Sports and Top Rank made this fight happen, and I can't wait to make a statement on Dec. 9 in New York City. Weight classes don't win fights -- fighters do. And I look forward to delivering the best performance of my career, beating a fellow legendary Olympian in Lomachenko and solidifying my place as one of the best pound-for-pound fighters of this era.

— Guillermo Rigondeaux, WBA & Lineal super bantamweight champion

This fight against Vasyl Lomachenko is the marquee challenge that Guillermo has been coveting, and we're grateful for Roc Nation Sports' hard work in making this a reality. Throughout Guillermo's career, he has never backed down from any fighter or weight-class restriction, so we're very excited to get to work. It's going to be a battle, but Guillermo will make Cuba, Miami and all of his fans worldwide proud when he beats Lomachenko on Dec. 9.

— Alex Bornote, Rigondeaux's manager

In an interview with BoxingScene.com, Roy Jones Jr. was also asked to give his thoughts on the fight. [11]

That's the big one. I can't wait. I love both fighters. Both are two-time gold medalists. That's the best paper made fight ever. You can't find two fighters better on paper to put against each other. That's the best fight I ever seen made on paper, and I can't wait. Rigondeaux has got to box and break the rhythm of Lomachenko with those big power punches, and Lomachenko has to use that volume punching that he does to keep Rigondeaux off-balance. Whoever can carry out the plan will be the winner.

— Roy Jones Jr., former four-weight world champion

Broadcast

The card was shown live on ESPN and ESPN Deportes in USA, [12] and on Boxnation in the UK. [13] The fight was also broadcast on Fox Sports in Australia. [14]

Weights

Main event

The official weigh in took place in the afternoon of December 8, 2017 in New York. Rigondeaux, who had never weighed more than 125½ pounds for a professional boxing match, came in a career-high 128.4 pounds. Lomachenko weighed in a 129 pounds, one pound under the super featherweight limit. It was noted, however, that the smaller, Rigondeaux appeared muscular and prepared for the biggest challenge of his professional career. [15] On fight night, Lomachenko weighed 137.4 pounds and Rigondeaux weighed 130 pounds. [16]

Undercard

Fight details

In front of a sell out crowd of 5,102 at the Theater, Lomachenko retained his WBO title, forcing Rigondeaux to retire on his stool after round 6. Rigondeaux stated he had broken the top of his left hand in round two, which was the reason he did not come out for round 7. After a good first round in which Rigondeaux landed a few shots, he stopped punching from that point on. If the injury occurred, it might have taken place in the opening two rounds. Lomachenko did enough to win rounds between two and six. Rigondeax became Lomachenko's fourth consecutive opponent to retire on his stool. The loss also marked the first time Rigondeaux had lost since 2003, when he was still an amateur. At the time of stoppage, Lomachenko was ahead on all three judges' scorecards, 60-53, 59-54 and 59-54. [17]

In the post-fight interviews, Lomachenko was asked about Rigondeaux being his fourth consecutive opponent to retire on his stool, to which Lomachenko joked, "Maybe I should change my second name, now my name is 'No Mas Chenko'." [18] He also went on to say, "This is not his weight, so it's not a big win for me. But he's a good fighter. He's got great skills. I adjusted to his style, low blows and all." Speaking to an interpreter, Rigondeaux said, "I lost, no excuses. I injured the top of my left hand in the second round. He's a very technical fighter. He's explosive. I'm gonna come back because that's what I do. The weight was not a factor in this fight. It was the injury to my hand." According to CompuBox statistics, Lomachenko landed 55 of 339 punches thrown (16%) and Rigondeax landed 15 of his 178 thrown (8%), landing no more than 3 punches per round. For the fight, Lomachenko was guaranteed a purse of $1.2 million whereas Rigondeaux earned a $400,000 purse. [19] On December 12, Dino Duva of Roc Nation Sport, confirmed that Rigondeaux had bruised his hand and not fractured it, as initially stated. [20]

Viewership

The fight was a huge ratings success on ESPN. For the year 2017, it finished behind Manny Pacquiao vs. Jeff Horn at second place, averaging 1.5 metered market rating and 2.114 million viewers. [21] The whole card averaged 1.3 rating [22] and 1.73 million viewers, which did not include ESPN Deportes or the online streaming service. [23]

Fight card

Weight ClassResultRound
Super featherweight Flag of Ukraine.svg Vasiliy Lomachenko (c)def. Flag of Cuba.svg Guillermo Rigondeaux RTD6
Super featherweight Flag of Puerto Rico.svg Christopher Díaz def. Flag of the United States.svg Bryant CruzTKO3
Heavyweight Flag of the United States.svg Bryant Jennings def. Flag of the United States.svg Don HaynesworthTKO3
Featherweight Flag of the United States.svg Shakur Stevenson def. Flag of the United States.svg Oscar MendozaTKO2
Featherweight Flag of Ireland.svg Michael Conlan def. Flag of Argentina.svg Luis Fernando MolinaUD6
Super bantamweight Flag of the United States.svg Jose Gonzalezdraw Flag of the United States.svg Adan GonzalesMajority draw6
Lightweight Flag of the United States.svg Mikaela Mayer def. Flag of the United States.svg Nydia FelicianoMD4

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Miguel Cotto</span> Puerto Rican boxer

Miguel Ángel Cotto Vázquez is a Puerto Rican former professional boxer who competed from 2001 to 2017. He is a multiple-time world champion, and the first Puerto Rican boxer to win world titles in four weight classes, from light welterweight to middleweight. In 2007 and 2009, he reached a peak active pound for pound ranking of seventh by The Ring magazine. Cotto started out his career as a hard-hitting pressure fighter, but evolved over the years into a more refined boxer-puncher as he moved up in weight.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Guillermo Rigondeaux</span> Cuban boxer (born 1980)

Guillermo Rigondeaux Ortiz is a Cuban professional boxer. He is a former world champion in two weight classes, having held the unified WBA (Super), WBO and Ring magazine super bantamweight titles between 2013 and 2017, and the WBA (Regular) bantamweight title from 2020 to 2021. He has also challenged once for the WBO junior lightweight title in 2017.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Juan Manuel Márquez</span> Mexican world champion boxer (born 1973)

Juan Manuel Márquez Méndez is a Mexican former professional boxer who competed from 1993 to 2014. He is the third Mexican boxer to become a world champion in four weight classes, having held nine world major titles from featherweight to light welterweight, including the lineal championship at lightweight.

Orlando Salido Rivera is a former Mexican professional boxer who competed from 1996 to 2017. He held multiple world championships in two weight classes, including the International Boxing Federation (IBF) featherweight title in 2010, the World Boxing Organization (WBO) featherweight title twice between 2011 and 2014, and the WBO interim junior lightweight title from 2014 to 2015.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nonito Donaire</span> Filipino professional boxer

Nonito Gonzales Donaire Jr. is a Filipino American professional boxer. He has held multiple world championships in four weight classes from flyweight to featherweight, and is the oldest boxer in history to win a bantamweight world title, as well as being the first three-time champion in that weight class. Donaire has also held world championships in three consecutive decades: the 2000s, 2010s and 2020s, being the sixth boxer to do so after Evander Holyfield, Manny Pacquiao, Bernard Hopkins, Erik Morales, and Floyd Mayweather Jr.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jorge Linares</span> Venezuelan boxer

Jorge Luis Linares Palencia is a Venezuelan retired professional boxer. He has held world championships in three weight classes, including the WBC featherweight title from 2007 to 2008; the WBA super featherweight title from 2008 to 2009; and the WBA, WBC and Ring magazine lightweight titles between 2014 and 2018.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vasiliy Lomachenko</span> Ukrainian boxer (born 1988)

Vasiliy Anatolyevich Lomachenko, also spelled Vasyl Anatoliyovych Lomachenko is a Ukrainian professional boxer. He has held multiple world championships in three weight classes from featherweight to lightweight, including unified and lineal titles at lightweight.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Oleksandr Usyk</span> Ukrainian boxer (born 1987)

Oleksandr Oleksandrovych Usyk is a Ukrainian professional boxer. He has held multiple world championships in two weight classes, including the unified heavyweight titles since 2021, and the Ring magazine title since 2022. He has also held the International Boxing Organization (IBO) title since 2021. Previously, he held the undisputed cruiserweight championship from 2018 to 2019, being the first boxer in that division to hold all four major world titles.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Óscar Valdez</span> Mexican boxer

Óscar Rafael Valdez Fierro Jr. is a Mexican professional boxer. He is a former world champion in two weight classes, holding the WBC super featherweight title from 2021 to 2022, and the WBO featherweight title from 2016 to 2019. As an amateur boxer, Valdez qualified for the 2008 Olympics at the age of 17 and became the first Mexican Youth World Champion. Four years later, he qualified for the 2012 Summer Olympics.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mikey Garcia</span> American boxer (born 1987)

Miguel Angel Garcia Cortez, best known as Mikey Garcia, is an Mexican American former professional boxer who competed from 2006 to 2021. He held multiple world championships in four weight classes from featherweight to light welterweight, and challenged once for the IBF welterweight title.

Gilberto Ramírez Sánchez is a Mexican professional boxer who has held the World Boxing Association (WBA) cruiserweight title since March 2024. He previously held the WBO super middleweight title from 2016 to 2019, and is the first boxer from Mexico to win a major world title in those weight classes. As of November 2022, Ramírez is ranked as the world's third best active light heavyweight by The Ring magazine, the Transnational Boxing Rankings Board, and BoxRec.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Anthony Crolla</span> British boxer

Anthony Crolla is a British former professional boxer who competed from 2006 to 2019. He held the WBA lightweight title from 2015 to 2016, and challenged once for the unified WBA and WBO lightweight titles in 2019. At regional level, he held the British lightweight title from 2011 to 2012, and challenged once for the vacant Commonwealth lightweight title in 2013.

Miguel Ángel Berchelt Cervera is a Mexican professional boxer who held the WBC super featherweight title from 2017 to 2021.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fazliddin Gaibnazarov</span> Uzbekistani boxer

Fazliddin Hasanbaevich Gaibnazarov is an Uzbek professional boxer currently fighting at welterweight. As an amateur fighting at light welterweight, in 2015 he earned silver medals at the world and Asian championships, and in 2016 won a gold medal at the Rio Olympics.

Jarrell Miller is an American professional boxer and former kickboxer who competes in the heavyweight division. He first came to prominence in 2007 when he competed for the New Jersey Tigers in the World Combat League and made it to the finals of the New York Golden Gloves tournament that same year. Miller was due to challenge Anthony Joshua for the WBA (Super), IBF, WBO, and IBO heavyweight titles in 2019, but was denied a license to box after failing multiple drug tests.

Terence Allan Crawford is an American professional boxer. He has held multiple world championships in three weight classes, from lightweight to welterweight, including the undisputed championship at light welterweight and welterweight. As of January 2024, he holds the World Boxing Association (WBA), World Boxing Council (WBC), and World Boxing Organization (WBO) welterweight titles.

Orlando Salido vs. Vasiliy Lomachenko, was a boxing bout for the WBO world title. The bout was held on March 1, 2014, in San Antonio, Texas, United States. The fight was televised live on HBO World Championship Boxing.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shakur Stevenson</span> American boxer (born 1997)

Ash-Shakur Nafi-Shahid Stevenson is an American professional boxer. He has held multiple world championships in three weight classes from featherweight to lightweight, including unified and lineal titles at super featherweight. As an amateur, he represented the United States at the 2016 Summer Olympics, winning a silver medal in the bantamweight division. As of November 2023, he is ranked as the world's third best active lightweight by the Transnational Boxing Rankings Board and BoxRec, fourth by ESPN, and fifth by The Ring magazine.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Boxing career of Manny Pacquiao</span> Boxing career of Manny Pacquiao

Manny Pacquiao competed in professional boxing from 1995 to 2021. Regarded by boxing historians as one of the greatest professional boxers of all time, Pacquiao is the only boxer in history to win twelve major world titles in eight different weight divisions. He is also the first boxer in history to win the lineal championship in five different weight divisions, as well as being the first boxer in history to win major world titles in four of the original eight weight divisions of boxing, also known as the "glamour divisions": flyweight, featherweight, lightweight and welterweight.

Pedro Diaz is a Cuban-American boxing trainer and founder of Mundo Boxing a training facility for professional, amateur boxers and MMA fighters. His record as a trainer is 127 wins, including 20 World Titles, and 18 losses. As an amateur boxing trainer, Diaz worked with the Cuban national team for four Olympic Games in 1992, 1996, 2000 and 2004. He also worked with the Dominican Republic for the Olympic Games in Beijing in 2008 where they won the countries first ever Gold Medal in Boxing and 2nd Gold medal. As a professional boxing trainer, Diaz trains a stable of boxers and MMA fighters, including Roamer Alexis Angulo, Ivan Baranchyk, Xu Can, Miguel Cotto, Filip Hrgovic, Guillermo Rigondeaux, Tyrone Spong, and Vitor Belfort.

References

  1. ↑ Brian Campbell. "Roy Jones Jr. calls Lomachenko-Rigondeaux best pro fight 'on paper' in history". CBSSPORTS.COM.
  2. ↑ "Lomachenko's December Options: Rigondeaux, Salido, Berchelt - Boxing News". www.boxingscene.com. Retrieved 2017-08-17.
  3. ↑ "Arum: Rigondeaux, Salido Are Lomachenko's Options for 12/9 - Boxing News". www.boxingscene.com. Retrieved 2017-08-17.
  4. ↑ "Dual gold medalists Vasyl Lomachenko, Guillermo Rigondeaux to meet, make history Dec. 9 in New York".
  5. ↑ "Lomachenko, Rigondeaux camps close to deal". ESPN.com. Retrieved 2017-08-22.
  6. ↑ "Lomachenko vs. Rigondeaux is Close To Sold Out! - Boxing News". www.boxingscene.com. Retrieved 2017-10-04.
  7. ↑ "Weight check for Lomachenko and Rigondeaux". ESPN.com. Retrieved 2017-11-24.
  8. ↑ "Rigondeaux Will Lose WBA Title if Defeated By Lomachenko - Boxing News". www.boxingscene.com. Retrieved 2017-11-29.
  9. ↑ "Rigondeaux: WBA Wouldn't Do This to Canelo, Floyd, Joshua, GGG - Boxing News". www.boxingscene.com. Retrieved 2017-11-29.
  10. ↑ "Lomachenko, Rigondeaux to face off Dec. 9". ESPN.com. Retrieved 2017-09-27.
  11. ↑ "Roy Jones: On Paper, Lomachenko-Rigondeaux is Best Fight Ever - Boxing News". www.boxingscene.com. Retrieved 2017-11-29.
  12. ↑ "Lomachenko, Rigondeaux to face off Dec. 9". ESPN.com. Retrieved 2017-11-24.
  13. ↑ "Vasyl Lomachenko vs Guillermo Rigondeaux UK broadcaster announced - Boxing News". Boxing News. 2017-09-30. Retrieved 2017-11-24.
  14. ↑ "Lomachenko and Rigondeaux to meet Dec. 9". FOX Sports. 2017-09-15. Retrieved 2017-12-05.
  15. ↑ "Rigondeaux Weighs Career-High 128.4 Pounds; Lomachenko is 129". BoxingScene.com. Retrieved 2017-12-09.
  16. ↑ "Watch: Lomachenko vs Rigondeaux Fight Day Weigh-In (Results)". Boxing News and Views. 2017-12-09. Retrieved 2017-12-11.
  17. ↑ "Lomachenko Makes Rigondeaux Quit After Six For TKO Victory". BoxingScene.com. Retrieved 2017-12-11.
  18. ↑ "Lomachenko: I Should Change My Name To 'No Mas Chenko'". BoxingScene.com. Retrieved 2017-12-11.
  19. ↑ "Lomachenko wins after Rigondeaux hurts hand". ESPN.com. Retrieved 2017-12-11.
  20. ↑ "Rigondeaux's Left Hand Bruised, Not Broken, in Lomachenko Loss". BoxingScene.com. Retrieved 2017-12-12.
  21. ↑ "Lomachenko vs. Rigondeaux draws 2,114,000 viewers on ESPN". BoxingScene.com. Retrieved 2018-01-11.
  22. ↑ "Lomachenko vs. Rigondeaux Generates Big Rating For ESPN". BoxingScene.com. Retrieved 2017-12-12.
  23. ↑ "ESPN's Loma-Rigo Drew 1.73M Viewers; No. 2 on Cable Since 2012". BoxingScene.com. Retrieved 2017-12-12.


This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.