By Elisinio Castillo

As BoxingScene.com reported last month, former world champion Guillermo Rigondeaux (17-1, 11 KOs) has parted ways with Roc Nation, and the boxer has also parted ways with longtime promoter Caribe Promotions.

According to Rigondeaux, he will soon start working with well-known manager Luis DeCubas Jr., who works with other Cuban fighters like Rances Barthelemy, Erislandy Lara and also assists Luis Ortiz. DeCubas Jr. works very closely with powerful boxing adviser Al Haymon.

"He's a man who keeps his boxers active. And in the final part of my career that's what I need," Rigondeaux told George Ebro.

Rigondeaux says there are certain details that need to be defined, but a deal with DeCubas Jr. is nearly wrapped up.

"We have not exchanged many words, because he is a very busy man, but we were waiting to solve some problems to make readjustments," Rigondeaux added. "It's no longer worth looking back [on things]. I'm only looking forward with great optimism and before the end of 2018 I will fight again.''

One of the big problems that plagued Rigondeaux was inactivity in the last three years of his career, to the point of fighting twice in 2013, twice in 2014, once in 2015, once in 2016 and twice in 2017.

The last time Rigondeaux saw action, under the banner of Caribe and Roc Nation, saw him get stopped by Vasyl Lomachenko on December 12. For that fight, Rigondeaux went up by two full weight divisions to make the bout, from super bantamweight to super featherweight - but he was simply too small to compete.

After a prolonged period of rest, the two-time Olympic gold medal winner has resumed training with veteran coach Pedro Díaz and his team from Mundo Boxing.

"A lot of  things happened that are not worth remembering, you can make a book with everything that happened to me," said Rigondeaux. "The time has come to take the next step and finish at full speed."