Rigondeaux withdraws from bout!!!!

[DeelDough]

And splits with Freddie Roach!!!!

Junior featherweight Guillermo Rigondeaux, a two-time Cuban Olympic gold medalist who defected last year and is one of boxing's top prospects, injured his back and withdrew Wednesday from his fight on Saturday night.

Rigondeaux (5-0, 4 KOs) was scheduled to face experienced Reynaldo Lopez (30-7-3, 21 KOs) of Colombia at the BankAtlantic Center in Sunrise, Fla., on the undercard of the Andre Berto-Carlos Quintana welterweight title bout. HBO, which is televising, was slated to air highlights of Rigondeaux's bout, which is unusual for a fighter with so little pro experience.

However, Rigondeaux, citing a sore back after some rough sparring with a welterweight, pulled out, show promoter Lou DiBella told ESPN.com.

"He said he hurt his back. What can I tell you? He pulled out," DiBella said.

However, Rigondeaux (5-0, 4 KOs) is also changing trainers, which may be part of the reason for his withdrawal, although his promoter, Luis DeCubas, said the injury was legitimate.

There was a lot of hype surrounding Rigondeaux's pairing with trainer Freddie Roach last summer. After working out with Rigondeaux for the first time, Roach compared the feeling he got working with him to the way he felt when he first worked out with Manny Pacquiao, who went on to become the pound-for-pound king. But now Rigondeaux and Roach have split, DeCubas told ESPN.com.

"His feeling is he's a two-time gold medal winner and he went all the way out there and felt there were too many fighters in the gym," DeCubas said of Roach's Wild Card gym in Hollywood, Calif. "Nobody was picking him up in the morning to run and he felt he should have been sparring with lighter guys, not 150-pounders. He wasn't getting enough attention from Freddie. He's very disappointed."

Roach, however, was unhappy with Rigondeaux's conditioning and didn't want him to fight Saturday, according to a source close to the trainer.

DeCubas said Rigondeaux is back in Miami, where he is based, looking for a trainer.

Dan Rafael is ESPN.com's boxing writer.

[DC Fight Fan]

What he says about the Wildcard being crowded is very true. But I don't know is that is a bad thing either.

Further, why should someone have to get you up to do your roadwork? You are a professional! Act like one.

[BROOKLYN CESAR]

And splits with Freddie Roach!!!!

Junior featherweight Guillermo Rigondeaux, a two-time Cuban Olympic gold medalist who defected last year and is one of boxing's top prospects, injured his back and withdrew Wednesday from his fight on Saturday night.

Rigondeaux (5-0, 4 KOs) was scheduled to face experienced Reynaldo Lopez (30-7-3, 21 KOs) of Colombia at the BankAtlantic Center in Sunrise, Fla., on the undercard of the Andre Berto-Carlos Quintana welterweight title bout. HBO, which is televising, was slated to air highlights of Rigondeaux's bout, which is unusual for a fighter with so little pro experience.

However, Rigondeaux, citing a sore back after some rough sparring with a welterweight, pulled out, show promoter Lou DiBella told ESPN.com.

"He said he hurt his back. What can I tell you? He pulled out," DiBella said.

However, Rigondeaux (5-0, 4 KOs) is also changing trainers, which may be part of the reason for his withdrawal, although his promoter, Luis DeCubas, said the injury was legitimate.

There was a lot of hype surrounding Rigondeaux's pairing with trainer Freddie Roach last summer. After working out with Rigondeaux for the first time, Roach compared the feeling he got working with him to the way he felt when he first worked out with Manny Pacquiao, who went on to become the pound-for-pound king. But now Rigondeaux and Roach have split, DeCubas told ESPN.com.

"His feeling is he's a two-time gold medal winner and he went all the way out there and felt there were too many fighters in the gym," DeCubas said of Roach's Wild Card gym in Hollywood, Calif. "Nobody was picking him up in the morning to run and he felt he should have been sparring with lighter guys, not 150-pounders. He wasn't getting enough attention from Freddie. He's very disappointed."

Roach, however, was unhappy with Rigondeaux's conditioning and didn't want him to fight Saturday, according to a source close to the trainer.

DeCubas said Rigondeaux is back in Miami, where he is based, looking for a trainer.

Dan Rafael is ESPN.com's boxing writer.

I cant wait to see how his career pans out!!!

[Blubba]

And splits with Freddie Roach!!!!

Junior featherweight Guillermo Rigondeaux, a two-time Cuban Olympic gold medalist who defected last year and is one of boxing's top prospects, injured his back and withdrew Wednesday from his fight on Saturday night.

Rigondeaux (5-0, 4 KOs) was scheduled to face experienced Reynaldo Lopez (30-7-3, 21 KOs) of Colombia at the BankAtlantic Center in Sunrise, Fla., on the undercard of the Andre Berto-Carlos Quintana welterweight title bout. HBO, which is televising, was slated to air highlights of Rigondeaux's bout, which is unusual for a fighter with so little pro experience.

However, Rigondeaux, citing a sore back after some rough sparring with a welterweight, pulled out, show promoter Lou DiBella told ESPN.com.

"He said he hurt his back. What can I tell you? He pulled out," DiBella said.

However, Rigondeaux (5-0, 4 KOs) is also changing trainers, which may be part of the reason for his withdrawal, although his promoter, Luis DeCubas, said the injury was legitimate.

There was a lot of hype surrounding Rigondeaux's pairing with trainer Freddie Roach last summer. After working out with Rigondeaux for the first time, Roach compared the feeling he got working with him to the way he felt when he first worked out with Manny Pacquiao, who went on to become the pound-for-pound king. But now Rigondeaux and Roach have split, DeCubas told ESPN.com.

"His feeling is he's a two-time gold medal winner and he went all the way out there and felt there were too many fighters in the gym," DeCubas said of Roach's Wild Card gym in Hollywood, Calif. "Nobody was picking him up in the morning to run and he felt he should have been sparring with lighter guys, not 150-pounders. He wasn't getting enough attention from Freddie. He's very disappointed."

Roach, however, was unhappy with Rigondeaux's conditioning and didn't want him to fight Saturday, according to a source close to the trainer.

DeCubas said Rigondeaux is back in Miami, where he is based, looking for a trainer.

Dan Rafael is ESPN.com's boxing writer.

prospect??? The guy's gonna be 30 years old in couple of months. This guy needs to step it up. It's probably why he splitting, Freddie just aint pushing this guy hard enough.

[B.U.R.N.E.R]

Hell yeah this is a great move. Freddie has way too many fighters.

[FaustoGeraci]

Rigondeaux has a reputation of being lazy in the gym. He's my third favorite fighter, and imo the best amateur of all time (definitely top 3) but he needs to be able to push himself to achieve what he's capable of. He shouldn't rely on getting picked up to run. That being said, big mistake by Roach etc. Rigondeaux is the best prospect (I don't care what his age is) in the last 15 years imo. **** Khan.

[AntonTheMeh]

a bad back is serious business.

[DLT]

for some reason this **** reminds me of Mary J Blige leaving Puffy because he had too many other acts and wasnt giving her enough attention. She respected him but felt that she needed more if she was going to be super succesful and then she blew up. Will this be the same case? Puffy was still the man just like Roach still will be but Rigondeaux may have more success without him

[wazaa.]

I hope he gets trained by one of the Mayweathers now.

[Siggy]

Rigondeaux has a reputation of being lazy in the gym. He's my third favorite fighter, and imo the best amateur of all time (definitely top 3) but he needs to be able to push himself to achieve what he's capable of. He shouldn't rely on getting picked up to run. That being said, big mistake by Roach etc. Rigondeaux is the best prospect (I don't care what his age is) in the last 15 years imo. **** Khan.

damn. i thought rigondeaux was different from most of the other cubans that defected.
sucks to hear that about the laziness and the lack of roadwork.
word is that roach wanted guillermo to pull out of the fight earlier becuz he wasnt happy with his conditioning.
supposedly, one of the reasons why he wanted to train out in LA was to get away from miami and all the distractions that could lead to. now he wants to train out of miami again??

dan birmingham isnt based out of miami, but he's in florida. he doesnt have too many fighters. i think he'd be a solid fit since he's a balanced trainer who communicates well.

i still think joe goossen is the BEST fit.