Lomachenko open to fighting Rigo at 126 no BS CW

http://******.craveonline.com/news/384299-qa-vasyl-lomachenko-talks-rigondeaux-santa-cruz-and-cash-vs-competition(ring) VL: Tell me your thoughts on Guillermo Rigondeaux? Lomachenko: I think he's a good boxer, a strong boxer. He also had a great amateur career. He's a very smart fighter. Very technical too. VL: I had a chance to ask Rigondeaux about a potential fight with you and he said he's not considering you and won't fight you unless you come down to his weight class. Lomachenko: Well, then that's his problem. As far as I know his people called me to fight him. We never reached out to him. For me, I don't think it's nice to talk about someone smaller than me. At that time I wasn't going to tell him to come up to my weight. I didn't really have any professional experience at the time so who was I? Now that I'm a world champion and things are different I feel like I have a say. If he wants me come down to his weight or to some catchweight then I am not interested. VL: Why not meet in the middle at a catchweight? Lomachenko: I believe in official weight categories. I respect the belts in all the weight classes. The categories are there for a reason. He keeps saying everyone is afraid of him and no one wants to fight him at 54 kg (122 pounds). Well here I am at 57 kg (126 pounds). If you are the best, as you say, and you cleaned out the division then come on up 3 kg and fight me. I don't think 3 kg is that big a deal to come up. We have boxers like Manny Pacquiao who fought in eight different weight classes. I just don't see the problem for him to come up. He thinks he's the best, pound for pound. Who has he really fought besides Nonito Donaire? Tell me. VL: Did you watch his last fight against Hisashi Amagasa in Japan? Lomachenko: Yes, I watched him get knocked down twice. What did he really show? VL: So you will never come down in weight? Lomachenko: No. I will never come down. I already came down to my current weight class in the Olympics. How much can I really go down? Lets say even if I physically can do it so then what? I will have no strength, no power. It's up to him at this point. If he wants to fight me and prove he is the best then he will come up, but I can't force him. If he does then I will be very happy to fight him. It would be an honor.

Comments (20)

Runnin' Rigo. Must make LSC an ultramarathoner.

11y ago

Vasyls_dad

Runnin' Rigo.

11y ago

bigjavi973

http://i.ytimg.com/vi/tYgDG8JZ2rA/hqdefault.jpg This was Floyd at junior LW. Rigo is good enough to do it. Really??? How old was floyd there? How old is Rigo now? :nonono:

11y ago

Sweet_Pea_50

Really, at 126, Walters-Loma for me. It would be one of those gems that us hardcore fans would understand. I felt for a long time that Rigo was in between a rock and a hard place, due to his age and size when it came down to moving through divisions. At '22, for right now, Frampton or a Donaire rematch seem to be his biggest paydays, from what I am seeing. Could be guys moving up that might make an interesting fight.

11y ago

bigjavi973

The tears are gonna be epic. Loma taking on threats while Rigo stays fighting bums in Japan. :lol1: 33rd world ranked gamalier rodriguez is a "threat" now? So was piriyapinyo??? GTFOH

11y ago

bigjavi973

I was agreeing with loma until he said this: "Who has he really fought besides Nonito Donaire? Tell me." im like motherf^cker who did you fight?:nonono:

11y ago

jas

You're gonna slow down soon, and the other fighters at 122 are waiting for that So go up and dare to be greater and face the 126 champions If Bernard Hopkins in his 40s can become the first ever mw to go straight to LHW and become champion then rigo can go up to 126 and fight the elite guys there If you don't wanna move up yet keep complaining about being ducked at your weight class, then I don't wanna hear it as a boxing fan Complain more? I bet Quigg vacates his paper belt if he's forced to fight rigo so what's the point of singing the same tune for another year?

11y ago

PeasantCrusha

I got Rigo over Lomachenko via UD regardless of the climb in weight.

11y ago

KillaMane26

I almost wuld pay to see this fight......Skill Wise this fight would be epic

11y ago

Aztekkas

I still dont know why Rigo should stop complaining about the rest of 122 not fighting him? Even if they all have better options, it makes sense for him to keep talking about the fights. Eventually maybe one will get riled up enough to fight him, like Canelo did with Lara and when did I say he should stop? All I'm saying is he should also attempt to take action and be grateful there are folks who actually would like to see him fight, even if it's 16 hours away. Again, Canelo only took Lara because he wanted to, same as Donaire. The difference between Nonito/Canelo and most of the sport's other talents is the fact that they don't mind challenging themselves. If anything that fact alone would be the primary culprit behind Nonito's loss and Alvarez's lackluster victory. Now, what if no one gets "riled" up and steps up? Are you saying you're contented with an immensely talented but old fighter just sitting away his career while the rest of the world moves on? If so... I would have to question your Rigotardation. If there's no one at 122 whom would like to fight him this side of the world and he doesn't want to move up then why the hell would his team be complaining about the opportunities that traveling to Japan provides them? Illogical, right? I mean, you want to be fed but the only place that is willing to do so is several miles away, are you telling me it's a shame they would make you walk those miles in order to feed you? Who's the one hungry here?

11y ago

twrx

im not a big fan of rigo but cant help but admire his abilities. That being said moving to 126 would be a big mountain to climb and if he is able to reach the top his status and pay will definitely be worth the risk. but that being said he is a really small guy He wont be fighting a dehydrated jap if he was dropped by em he will definitely be hurt by guys not killing themselves to make weight. If he chooses to stay at 122 im fine with it but hhe wont be able to complain about his pay And should stop pulling the lara and quit calling out bigger guys if he's not willing to step into their doghouse

11y ago

Tom_Cruise

and what exactly will complaining louder do for him at this point? He's been venting his feelings in regards to the matter for years now and all he did was manage to land the Donaire fight since. The only reason he landed that was because Nonito himself wanted to test himself and he figured he had a shot at beating Guillermo, to top it off Top Rank bought into the Donaire hype and allowed it to happen. It sucks because it isn't only Guillermo's abilities that are making fights impossible to come together, it's his promoters as well. However, I believe Rigondeaux has some of the blame in the ordeal as well. Many opportunities were given up to seek other ventures and he ignored them just to remain stagnant. At the end of the day it seems like Rigondeaux's best days are behind him and at 34(or however old he may be), his time in the sport is diminishing quickly. The worst part of it all is it seems like his Manager and Promoters are discontent with traveling to Japan... JAPAN. The place were they dished out 500k and brought him to millions of homes just a few months back, wtf? :lol1: I still dont know why Rigo should stop complaining about the rest of 122 not fighting him? Even if they all have better options, it makes sense for him to keep talking about the fights. Eventually maybe one will get riled up enough to fight him, like Canelo did with Lara

11y ago

Aztekkas

Why shouldnt he complain? IMO he should be complaining louder and harder than he is. Just because he doesnt want to go to 126 doesnt mean the rest of 122lbs gets a pass on fighting him and what exactly will complaining louder do for him at this point? He's been venting his feelings in regards to the matter for years now and all he did was manage to land the Donaire fight since. The only reason he landed that was because Nonito himself wanted to test himself and he figured he had a shot at beating Guillermo, to top it off Top Rank bought into the Donaire hype and allowed it to happen. It sucks because it isn't only Guillermo's abilities that are making fights impossible to come together, it's his promoters as well. However, I believe Rigondeaux has some of the blame in the ordeal as well. Many opportunities were given up to seek other ventures and he ignored them just to remain stagnant. At the end of the day it seems like Rigondeaux's best days are behind him and at 34(or however old he may be), his time in the sport is diminishing quickly. The worst part of it all is it seems like his Manager and Promoters are discontent with traveling to Japan... JAPAN. The place were they dished out 500k and brought him to millions of homes just a few months back, wtf? :lol1:

11y ago

Tom_Cruise

Make It happen Or rigo shouldn't complain about not getting fights at 122 Why shouldnt he complain? IMO he should be complaining louder and harder than he is. Just because he doesnt want to go to 126 doesnt mean the rest of 122lbs gets a pass on fighting him

11y ago

jas

Make It happen Or rigo shouldn't complain about not getting fights at 122

11y ago

Aztekkas

Lomachenko is right, he's attempting to establish his own legacy from 126 and up, why drop to a weightclass he has no business in? It's much more difficult to drop a division than to go up. If anything Rigo can move up to 126 and work out a re-hydration clause, I'm sure Vasyl would agree to it for the sake of the challenge Rigondeaux represents. Great fight regardless, a career defining type of clash that would be the signature win for either fighter. Personally I believe Lomachenko outworks Rigo and snatches the decision but Rigondeaux will never be counted out.

11y ago

The_Big_Dunn

ok, lets make this fight happen. I'm all for it.

11y ago

Tom_Cruise

Mayweather didn't start his career at 147. You're conveniently overlooking that. Why does that matter?

11y ago

joseph5620

Floyd rehydrates to just about welterweight limit.Rigo rehydrates to just above SBW. They are the same in their relative weightclasses Mayweather didn't start his career at 147. You're conveniently overlooking that.

11y ago

PBP

Love to see Rigo take the challenge and move up. If he doesn't, won't change my level of Rigotardation. I'm on the little yellow bus wearing an extra padded helmet till the wheels fall off. This is how I feel as well. Although the only way he gets back on TV is by moving up. If not, its his career, he can do what he wants and I'll have to settle for YouTube delays.

11y ago