By Elisinio Castillo

Even the closest people to Guillermo Rigondeaux (17-0, 11 KO) are unable to deny the bad luck that constantly pursues the WBA world champion at 122 pounds.

After numerous delays, his fight against mandatory challenger Moises Flores (25-0, 17 KO's) will go to a purse bid on April 3 to determine when, how and where this mandatory defense will take place.

The purse bid, which will take place at the offices of the World Boxing Association in Panama City, will seek the inactivity that has afflicted one of the best pound-for-pound fighters in the sport.

Undoubtedly, the current situation of Rigondeaux has been complicated by a sum of factors that were born from promotional disputes and the inability to secure fights with top opponents.

"It's been a combination of factors that has led Rigo to the current situation where he's not fighting as often as fans would like him to," said Rigondeaux's adviser Alex Bornote to George Ebro.

"The top guys in the division fear him, the television networks don't care about the lesser guys and we're bound to this fight with Flores because it is a mandatory defense. It's the perfect storm. ''

When Rigondeaux defeated James Dickens in June of 2016 in England, it seemed that his career was breaking away some a streak of inactivity when the fight with Flores was confirmed to be part of the pay-per-view undercard to Miguel Cotto's return on February 25 in Texas.

But an injury to Cotto's opponent, James Kirkland, caused the entire event to be canceled.

"After that, we got tired of waiting for some offer from Flores' people who never came, that's why we decided to go to the purse bid," added Bornote. "Roc Nation, our co-promoter, has assured us that they are one hundred percent behind Rigo and ready for the purse bid."

According to WBA regulations, the purse bid would have to start with a figure of $120,000 with 75 percent of the money for Rigondeaux and the remaining money for the challenger.

It should be remembered that this is the second purse bid ordered by the WBA for this fight. The first was going to take place on December 19, before a deal was announced for Cotto's failed card.

Rigondeaux, 36, fought twice in 2014, once in 2015 and once in 2016, and his next fight is hopefully going to happen by June.

"We have received offers from England, for example, but until we get through this entire situation with Flores there is little or nothing that we can do," Bornote said.