Story by Ryan Burton, photos by JC Photographer
Two-time Olympic Gold medalist and current WBA/WBO/The Ring Magazine junior featherweight champion Guillermo “El Chacal” Rigondeaux received a hero's welcome when he returned home to Miami, Florida on Thursday.
Rigondeaux and his team were welcomed by several fans, friends, and press at Miami International Airport following his exciting TKO victory over Hisashi Amagasa in the main event that took place at Bodymaker Coliseum in Osaka, Japan on New Year's Eve and had a reported viewership audience of 30 million on TBS-Japan Television.
With the victory Rigondeaux improved his record to 15-0 with 10 KOs in his most exciting fight to date. The Cuban rose from the canvas twice in the 7th round and later stopped Amagasa after he was unable to answer the bell to start the 12th round. Amagasa received heavy damage in the fight as Rigondeaux broke the Japanese fighter's orbital bone and jaw.
The win was Rigondeaux's third defense of his world lineal junior featherweight crown that he won with his 12-round decision victory over Nonito Donaire in April, 2013. He dedicated his victory to Japanese teen Kaito Ganbare who is fighting leukemia.
