By Ryan Burton
The WBO recently ordered a purse bid for a fight between WBO/WBA super bantamweight champion Guillermo Rigondeaux and top contender Chris Avalos. Rigondeaux's promotional contract with Top Rank expired after his July knockout victory over Sod Kokietgym. Top Rank is also Avalos' promoter.
While Rigondeaux would prefer a unification bout with Kiko Martinez or Leo Santa Cruz, he said that he has no problem facing the Southern California based Avalos.
"I don't have any problem fighting Chris Avalos. I would be happy to have this fight but everything has to be negotiated. I want to fight and I want to fight as soon as possible. That fight is not a problem for me," said Rigondeaux.
The former amateur standout's last fight took place in Macau, China. Rigondeaux said that his next fight will be in the United States and that he has zero interest in a return trip to Asia.
"The fight will be in the United States. I already fought in China. That is done. The next fight will be here in the United States. Part of the negotiations is to have the fight here in the United States," Rigondeaux told BoxingScene.com.
The 33-year-old defensive wizard won his last fight by 1st round knockout but has been criticized in the past for being a safety first fighter and not being aggressive enough for some fans liking. I asked Rigondeaux if he felt his first round knockout would silence some of the criticism.
"There will always be critics. If you win by decision or by knockout they will still criticize you. I always do my job and give 100%. Some people may criticize but they know that I am very successful and that is why I am a super champion," Rigondeaux stated.
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