rigondeaux is going to ahve trouble getting fights, but so will ward for different reasons. rigondeaux will probably have to take fights at 126. he's so small that he could still make 118. he'll be up against much bigger guys.
rigondeaux is a tiny little guy in his 30's. ward is aging as well, but he's not a baby sized man. he's six feet tall, and probably about 185-190 lbs when he's not training. little guys peak very early in life. rigondeaux will slow down in the coming years. ward may not slow down for at least a couple more years.
unlike a lot of the posters on this board, i saw 5-10 fights from rigondeaux early in his career. he does not have a good chin. i think he'll catch a big shot and get stopped before ward loses on points.
There are not many challenges left for Ward at either 168 or 175. However on the other hand, there are not many challenges awaiting Rigondeaux either at 122 outside of perhaps Leo Santa Cruz. Should he decide to venture above the Super Bantamweight division, then there are loads of challenges and talent awaiting him.
Ward, because he has more competition and people are trying to get fights with him.
Rigondeaux will be in fight limbo, since he's not only avoided, but lacks a real pool of talent to fight against also.
Both guys have insane skill but Andre Ward is by far the more commercially viable fighter, Rigo is still, despite being the absolute nutz, in the who needs him club. I can see Rigo getting jobbed on the cards someday soon if he cant start selling tickets/PPV's....
prob rigo as ward will probably be calling out guys from weights below him and maybe getting a rematch with froch etc while rigo may have to fight some bigger guys and without pull may have to do it without catchweights etc
Rigo is more likely to lose because of his chin.
Ward dominated Kessler when he was still green at 26, dominated Abraham, he whooped Froch with 1 hand, destroyed Dawson, etc.
not sure who loses first...and i don't care.
both fighters, skilled as they are, are the cure for insomnia and i will not be wasting my precious time watching them.
Tough to pick but I voted Rigo. He is a bit older and I think his chin has shown to be the weaker of the two. But at the same time, I wont be surprised if they remian unbeaten for a long time
TBH I wouldn't be surprised if both retire undefeated.
This ^^ However, I can see either getting robbed in favor of a "more exciting, more marketable" fighter.
I'd say Ward just because he has a network behind him and will get bigger fights. I loved Rigo's domination of Donaire but what's next for him? Arum won't do jack for him.
Rigo seems like he will only be able to get 1 fight a year and wont be able to EVER constantly fight the best plus he is already over 30 so he will retire with under 20 fights against lower level fighters
Ward will end up moving to 175 cleaning it out and also retiring fighting subpar comp
Neither will ever really be tested due to their style and the fear of other Promoters willingness to put their fighters in against a impossible for to beat who also brings no money to the table due to their spoiler style ans their no existent personality.
This is a tough question to answer as both fighters are in their primes with years more ahead of them. One could say Rigondeaux because he's been off of his feet and his chin appears somewhat suspect but who knows? When their loses happen I hope its a good fight.
I'd say Rigo, he will probably be more exposed to a close decision loss than Ward, he fights in comfortland, where the decisions are likely to go his way.