Rigondeaux vs. McDonnell Clash in Talks For July, Says Hearn

By Carlos Boogs

A few days ago, Jamie McDonnell expressed his desire to move up in weight to challenge one of the most avoided fighters in the sport, two-time Olympic gold medal winner Guillermo Rigondeaux.

At the moment McDonnell (28-2-1, 13KOs) holds the WBA bantamweight championship, but he intends to head up in weight to 122-pounds.

Rigondeaux (16-0, 10KOs) has not fought since last November. He was recently reinstated as the WBA's "super champion" at super bantamweight. He initially lost the title due to inactivity, but was able to reclaim his belt after filing an appeal with the sanctioning body.

McDonnell told Sky Sports: "There's not much more I can do than keep getting in there and keep winning but if the Rigondeaux fight comes off, I'll get the recognition then. I'm a massive underdog but that's what I like. I like to get in there and prove people wrong and that's the fight I want.

"I'll fight him anywhere. It's ideal to bring him over here but I've fought in America twice and done jobs on Tomoki Kameda. To leave a legacy, you need to beat top kids and Rigondeaux is the man. Carl Frampton and Scott Quigg shied away from him so what an achievement if I get in there and do a job on him. That's really making a statement. I've got the style to beat him and I've got the height. I'll still be big for a super-bantamweight. Since it was mentioned, I haven't stopped buzzing."

BoxingScene.com spoke with McDonnell's promoter, Eddie Hearn of Matchroom Sport, who confirmed that there are ongoing discussions with Rigondeaux's promoter, Roc Nation Sport.

"We're talking to Roc Nation and it's a real possibility. They have the Dickens fight, so they are looking at that as well. But if they want to fight, Jamie is 100% ready to sign that fight, so it could be a big fight on Doncaster in July.  It's a big fight, one that we're keen to make. [Rigondeaux is] willing to travel, he just wants a bit more money than he would for Jazza Dickens," Hearn told BoxingScene.com's Declan Taylor.

Rigondeaux had been sent to fight in the UK earlier this year against Jazza Dickens, but the fight was canceled when the Cuban fighter was unable to obtain a visa in time.

That issue has been cleared up. Hearn is looking at July 23 or July 30 in Doncaster.

"It's done. He's got it in his hand. I wouldn't look to make the fight if he didn't have a visa and he has it," Hearn said.