Rigondeaux doesn't appear to take punches well but lucky for him he's a defense first guy who isn't that easy to hit now you see why he's honed his skill that way he could be more like Gamboa/Hernandez but chooses not to
He's still a tough puzzle to solve bcse of his footwork and handspeed if Marroquinn did open up more and try to throw he might of had more success or he might of got gone
Rigo proved himself....he proved that his chin does not belong in the same ring as Donaire's fists. If a guy who is not known as a puncher had Rigo hurt a number of times, Donaire rips his head off.
Donaire has to grow balls yet he's the one fighting the no. 1 guy in the division. Ok buddy lol.
Exactly. It takes blind, hateful, ****** bias for a guy to say that a fighter needs to grow a pair when he is fighting the number one guy in the division. What a brainless statement he made.
Rigo proved himself....he proved that his chin does not belong in the same ring as Donaire's fists. If a guy who is not known as a puncher had Rigo hurt a number of times, Donaire rips his head off.
If this is true, then there is no reason to duck Rigo now.
Just finished watching the Rigondeaux-Marroquin fight. Rigo looked exactly as one would expect. I've said many times he's the most talented of the current Cuban pros. That hasn't changed. Guillermo is ultra-quick, skilled, and hits hard. Robert is no slouch. He's a good, solid young fighter with some pop.
The third round left hook Marroquin landed must've been perfectly placed, because it certainly didn't land flush. The ninth round shot that staggered Rigo was similar, although Guillermo didn't appear as hurt. Robert could've pounced at that moment, but the ref stepped in and broke up the action. These instances concern me. Rigo was clearly affected by those specific blows. Too much for my liking. I hate to say it, but Guillermo's chin is definitely in question. The man was barely touched in twelve rounds, yet two of the few punches that landed rocked him.
Rigo gets a lot of grief for being boring. He has a natural counterpunching style, dependent on his opponent's aggression. Guillermo's entire game-plan seems to consist of waiting for his opponent to make a mistake. That's like watching paint dry. If he's going to make a good pro career, he needs to start forcing mistakes. Marroquin was active enough for Rigo to follow his lead. Yet, Guillermo wasn't any more active than he normally is. Rigo needs to step it up. It's only eleven fights into "El Chacal's" pro career. He clearly has one foot stuck in the amateurs. I'm hopeful he'll improve on my concerns.
I've just started watching the fight again. Last night, I didn't think he was really hurt, so let's see what I think today.
Edit: 11:25 (Round 3) is when Rigo gets stunned the first time. Rigo is retreating, throws a jab and Marroquin simultaneously throws a left hook, perfect timing. Rigo recovers pretty quick though. That isn't the first time he gets hit in the round either, but that's only time that he gets wobbled. This is how you land on the faster guy, you have to be willing to throw WITH them.
Edit 2: 10:00 (Round 9), Rigo gets caught shoe-shining with his hands down and also shuffling his feet, he got caught with a left hook over the top and stumbles.
I'm still not convinced that there's anything to worry about. He got wobbled because of his own complacency/over-confidence/******ity, not because he has a bum chin or he can't absorb punishment. Sure, a defensive-first guy who rarely ever gets hit will react differently to a flush shot than a guy who's style is based on taking punishment. Even IF he got hurt, he still kept his composure in there and didn't get careless like some fighters would under pressure. After he got wobbled, he would clinch and then go right back to doing what he did before.
Good post, as always. I'm not sure I agree there shouldn't be any worry, but you make a good case. Maybe I'm wrong. I find your bolded statements particularly insightful. But I must make one correction: those shots that wobbled Rigo weren't flush. They were well-placed/timed, but they didn't connect with full force. Again, a concern.
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