Guillermo Rigondeaux, Pedro Diaz Linking Back Together

By Elisinio Castillo

Guillermo Rigondeaux ended 2015 with a new promotional agreement, but he starts the new year with a familiar face coming back to his corner.

Cuban coach Pedro Diaz has accepted the request of Rigondeaux (16-0, 10 KOs) to resume their past working relationship. Up until recently, Rigondeaux was being trained by Jorge Rubio.

"Rigo came over on Wednesday and spoke to me in a friendly way, because he never stopped being friends, '' Diaz told George Ebro. " He told me he wanted to be the same [that he was] when he beat Nonito Donaire. I told him that if we worked hard, not only would he be equal to that but he even be superior to [the boxer who won] that big fight and two world titles.''

Diaz, who worked with the Cuban national team, has trained professional champions like Miguel Cotto and Ruslan Chagaev.

Rigondeaux was not very pleased with his performance against Filipino Drian Francisco on the November 21st undercard to the Saul Alvarez-Miguel Cotto HBO Pay-Per-View. Rigondeaux won easily but the fight was more of a sparring session that lacked action and drew a large chorus of boos from the live audience. It was Rigondeaux's first bout with new promoter Roc Nation Sports.

Rubio, the former trainer of the two-time Olympic gold medal winner, wishes his student well and holds no ill will over the training switch.

"I wish Rigondeaux well,'' Rubio said." Everyone knows what I did with him and we can not erase history. He is a great champion and I always remember what we did together.'