Getting a world-class sparring partner who has a similar style to Floyd Mayweather is beyond difficult to find, but Manny Pacquiao may have found just the perfect guy for the job.
Sources told GMA News Online that unbeaten world super bantamweight champion Guillermo Rigondeaux has been tapped to spar with Pacquiao in preparation for his long-awaited showdown against Mayweather on May 2.
One source said that Pacquiao and Rigondeaux have already started to spar with each other at the famed Wild Card Gym in Los Angeles this past week. Pacquiao was said to not have worn a headgear during the sparring session while Guillermo was equipped with full boxing gears.
A pugilist who possesses excellent speed, power, footwork and boxing skills, the 34-year-old Cuban is a two-time Olympic gold medalist and a three-time amateur boxing World Cup gold medalist.
He has a perfect record of 15-0 with 10 knockouts and holds a dominant victory over Nonito Donaire in 2013.
Perhaps more importantly, Rigondeaux possesses the quick reflexes and defensive style that could help Pacquiao get an idea of how it would be to face Mayweather inside the ring.
Rigondeaux had previously trained under Roach, drawing high praise from the Hall of Fame trainer.
GMA News Online got in touch with Rigondeaux's manager Gary Hyde to confirm the report but he respectfully declined to comment on the matter. ***8212;JST, GMA News
More from: http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/452881/sports/boxing/sources-unbeaten-world-champ-rigondeaux-sparring-with-pacquiao
http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/452881/sports/boxing/sources-unbeaten-world-champ-rigondeaux-sparring-with-pacquiao
Rigo is a southpaw doe
Interesting, is a Floyd planning on fighting southpaw? Like Hagler fighting orthodox vs Leonard? Hmmmm...Maybe they're spying on Floyd's camp, you'll never know. :lol1:
:omfg: Floyd is going to be using the should roll from the southpaw stance? He had them fooled all along! :joke: That would be something though wouldn't it?
If Rigo is being used for sparring it is going to be for his elusiveness. I guess they feel if Pac can corner Rigo then he should be able to corner Floyd. Thing is just cornering Floyd is not going to be enough to win on it's own. But I'm sure they realize this.
Cough cough feet.
Obviously using rigo to prepare for the possibility Floyd will move.
There movement is also completely different especially considering he's a southpaw.
Interesting, is a Floyd planning on fighting southpaw? Like Hagler fighting orthodox vs Leonard? Hmmmm...Maybe they're spying on Floyd's camp, you'll never know. :lol1:
for god sake this is only sparring, , its not like Rigo will go there just to embarass manny, he's there to help him adjust and correct his mistakes
Flom0s: floyd's choice of sparring partners: correct
pac's choice of sparring partners: wrong
http://i.imgur.com/IJXw4Z0.png
Who's arguing with this?
for god sake this is only sparring, , its not like Rigo will go there just to embarass manny, he's there to help him adjust and correct his mistakes(like catch me if you can/cutting off the ring)
Flom0s: floyd's choice of sparring partners: correct
pac's choice of sparring partners: wrong
http://i.imgur.com/IJXw4Z0.png
he's a lot better defensively than Floyd.
How, when got knocked down several times on his ass already? Floyd never been knocked down or caught flush as many times as Rigo. Just saying, you sound dumb right now.
On topic: I think Freddie Roach once mentioned that he was training both Rigondeaux and Pacquiao in preparations for their fights, and a journalist asked if they ever sparred, Freddie Roach said something along the lines, he will never do that because he didn't want to discourage Manny before a big fight. I guess this is the best thing to do now, since he's going to be facing the most frustrating defensive fighter in the ring, so many Rigo will teach Manny patience.
No one is hating on Rigo. I believe they are "hating" on the stupidity of the comparison, because Floyd is at the twilight of his career and using experience to beat fighters, hence why he kept saying, "fight smarter and not harder).
Floyd been through multiple weight classes, fighting different and bigger champions, while Rigo hasn't left his weight class.
Don't really understand these statements, whatever each did in their past, or at different weight classes is kind of irrelevant to the story. The point is, at this point in time, they have similar styles to each other. This is a great sparring partner for Pacquiao, a world class fighter, P4P level even. Sure the size will be an issue, but the skillset is there.
The comparison is valid. Both have great defense, fast handspeed, good boxing skills, accurate, pot shot style, great counter punchers. Only knock is that Rigondeaux is a southpaw.
Pacquiao is lucky to find a guy like Rigondeaux to mimic Mayweather's style. Whereas, I don't think Floyd will be as lucky since a guy with Pacquiao's strengths is much harder to find, maybe Valero a few years back. He'd have to find a guy with power, hand speed, angles, good footwork, volume punching, southpaw, aggresiveness.
No one is hating on Rigo. I believe they are "hating" on the stupidity of the comparison, because Floyd is at the twilight of his career and using experience to beat fighters, hence why he kept saying, "fight smarter and not harder).
Floyd been through multiple weight classes, fighting different and bigger champions, while Rigo hasn't left his weight class.
No one? Someone said Rigo must be on PEDs.
As for using Rigo, he does not have to be exactly like Floyd. They will use Rigo for some things that they want Manny to work on while other sparring partners may be used for other things.
No one is hating on Rigo. I believe they are "hating" on the stupidity of the comparison, because Floyd is at the twilight of his career and using experience to beat fighters, hence why he kept saying, "fight smarter and not harder).
Floyd been through multiple weight classes, fighting different and bigger champions, while Rigo hasn't left his weight class.
I don't think you know how sparring works
Floyd fought Castillo at 135. Castillo was no pushover at 135, and I believe Floyd hurt is arm in that fight and beat Castillo easier in the rematch.
At 140 is where I think it all came together for Floyd.
Too bad he beat no one of any note at 140lbs.
N'dou
Brussels
And a shot Gatti.
And that is the best of Floyd.
Pacquiao done better in his 1 fight at 140lbs
Floyd fans are hating on Rigo now!
Some are being subtle about it while others are now calling Rigo a PEDs cheat!
No one is hating on Rigo. I believe they are "hating" on the stupidity of the comparison, because Floyd is at the twilight of his career and using experience to beat fighters, hence why he kept saying, "fight smarter and not harder).
Floyd been through multiple weight classes, fighting different and bigger champions, while Rigo hasn't left his weight class.
So the Castillo that beat Floyd was Floyd at his best.
That Castillo destroys Floyd of today then, If Floyd has worsened.
Floyd fought Castillo at 135. Castillo was no pushover at 135, and I believe Floyd hurt is arm in that fight and beat Castillo easier in the rematch.
At 140 is where I think it all came together for Floyd.
Prime for prime, Floyd is better than Rigo. Floyd hasn't been prime since 140, and people really need to realize this. Since 140, I akin Floyd's style to stealing. He is just using his boxing brain to win fights and get bigger money, but as far as fighting, dude stop doing that since he left 140.
So the Castillo that beat Floyd was Floyd at his best.
That Castillo destroys Floyd of today then, If Floyd has worsened.
I'm with Bobby on this one. . . Rigo is a better pure boxer, but he hasn't faced anywhere near the diversity or competition of Floyd, we haven't seen Rigo move up through the weight classes and develop. For understandable and obvious reasons I agree, but that doesn't discredit from the fact that Floyd has faced everyone from 130 to 154 and won.
The sparring session would be brilliant to see though.
Prime for prime, Floyd is better than Rigo. Floyd hasn't been prime since 140, and people really need to realize this. Since 140, I akin Floyd's style to stealing. He is just using his boxing brain to win fights and get bigger money, but as far as fighting, dude stop doing that since he left 140.
11y ago
Rigondeaux to spar with Pacquiao | BoxingScene Community