By Jake Donovan
There was a time when Scott Quigg and Carl Frampton both had the opportunity to face World super bantamweight champion Guillermo Rigondeaux. The pair of unbeaten UK-based titlists have instead opted to face each other, with their unification bout taking place on February 27 in front of a sold-out Manchester Arena in Manchester, England.
That neither fighter would previously step into the ring with Rigondeaux cost the undefeated Cuban boxing master a pair of alphabet titles, despite his pleas of being wronged by the boxing industry. A consolation prize was offered in his being named as the mandatory challenger by the World Boxing Association, who up until late last year recognized him as the World “super” champion, but have since downgraded to “champion in recess” due to his failure to make a mandatory defense since 2012.
With the winner of Quigg-Frampton obligated to face the two-time Olympic Gold medalist and current lineal super bantamweight champion, both now seem keen to the task.
“At the end of the day, my focus is on beating Carl Frampton. The winner has to face Rigondeaux and (International Boxing Federation [IBF] mandatory] Shingo Wake,” Quigg (31-0-2, 23KOs) noted during a recent media conference call to promote the unification bout. “I’m not scared of fighting Rigondeaux. I’m not shying away from challenges.
“Obviously fighting Rigo is key because he’s #1 in the division.”
The duration of Quigg’s WBA reign has run parallel with Rigondeaux’ stay as champ, beginning with the unbeaten Brit’s interim title winning knockout over countryman Rendall Munroe in their Nov. ’12 rematch, having fought to a cuts-induced technical draw five months prior.
Six defenses have followed, most recently in a 2nd round knockout of Kiko Martinez last July. That the WBA never ordered a direct clash between the two hindered Rigondeaux’ right to landing such a fight. The Cuban southpaw’s supreme boxing ability is appreciated by boxing purists – and as it appears, by his boxing peers as well – but has proven to be a turn-off to U.S. television executives.
“The TV channels don’t appreciate his style. They want it to be blood and guts,” noted Frampton (21-0, 14KOs) in defense of Rigondeaux, a brow-raising comment considering his own all-action style is never an issue in garnering airtime. “They don’t appreciate him. Rigo is the man (at super bantamweight). You have to face him, I’m happy to face Rigo. I’m happy to face Shingo Wake.”
The interesting dilemma awaiting the winner is determining which mandatory to pursue, as well as whether or not the sanctioning bodies will work together to appease all parties.
The IBF granted Frampton an exception from his obligated defense in order to meet Quigg in their forthcoming unification clash. The concession came with the stipulation that the winner will have 90 days (May 27, 2016) to next defend versus Wake, who earned the mandatory title shot following a landslide 12-round win over Mike Tawatchai in their final eliminator last June.
Meanwhile, the WBA’s announcement of naming Rigondeaux its ‘champion in recess’ came with the condition that he is due to face the Quigg-Frampton winner by no later than July 26, 2016.
Interestingly, Wake and Rigondeaux are both taking on interim fights while awaiting their respective title shots.
Wake will next face Waldo Sabu at home in Tokyo on February 17, a non-title - and seemingly non-threatening - affair designed to preserve his due mandatory title fight.
Meanwhile, Rigondeaux’ name appeared in news earlier Wednesday as he agreed to terms for a March 12 clash with James ‘Jazza’ Dickens on the road in Liverpool, England. The fight will be his first since a pedestrian 10-round win over Drian Francisco last November, but has already declared his willingness to next face Quigg or Frampton.
Assuming Wake and Rigondeaux both win their respective bouts, a hard choice will have be made by the sanctioning bodies as well as the Frampton-Quigg winner as to what happens next.
As both unbeaten titlists view their February 27 headliner as a legacy-building event, the natural inclination is to take on the very best.
“I don’t fear anyone,” Frampton insists. “I feel I’m the best super bantamweight in the world; in order to prove that, you have to beat Rigondeaux and I’m willing to face him.”
The topic is probably one of the few on which the heated rivals are in full agreement.
“You must give the fans what they want. I’m not scared of anybody,” Quigg states. “I will stick by the WBA as well. It’s about getting the job done. I wouldn’t relinquish my belt to avoid him.”
Jake Donovan is the managing editor of BoxingScene.com. Twitter: @JakeNDaBox
