Rigondeaux to spar with Pacquiao

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

Comments (20)

Sheppirino

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.

11y ago

IronDanHamza

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.

11y ago

PainLucy

No way...? One Dominican is enough... lmao - Agapito in all seriousness though, I think guzman will be a good sparring partner for pac

11y ago

damit305

who else? I think they should bring Joan Guzman No way...? One Dominican is enough... lmao - Agapito

11y ago

PainLucy

Who's arguing with this? who else? I think they should bring Joan Guzman

11y ago

Koljack

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:

11y ago

damit305

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?

11y ago

PainLucy

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

11y ago

damit305

this might benefit Pac in honing his skills at cutting off the ring. That's about it. Similarities between Rigo and Floyd are futile.

11y ago

Brickyardigan

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.

11y ago

sparkman0811

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.

11y ago

ADP02

11y ago

D4thincarnation

11y ago

D4thincarnation

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

11y ago

megas30

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.

11y ago

megas30

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.

11y ago

ADP02

Floyd fans are hating on Rigo now! Some are being subtle about it while others are now calling Rigo a PEDs cheat!

11y ago

D4thincarnation

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.

11y ago

megas30

If this true, then Rigo is being used for his elusiveness and nothing else.

11y ago

megas30

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