Comments Thread For: Rigondeaux Ready For Lomachenko at 126 or Catch-Weight

[angkag]

Straight out the mouth of Rigo in a July 13 2016 interview 'I'll fight Loma at 124'.

(he also said Loma was running to 130 as he was scared...)

Now he says catch weight up to 128.

Other than the Arum factor that pretty much guarantees this fight won't happen, Loma has been quite vocal that he doesn't do catch-weights. I've no doubt if the right money was on the table for a mega-fight he would bend on that, but Rigo isn't going to be either right money or a mega-fight (except for boxing die-hards, but unfortunately the real money comes from the casuals who would pay for McGregor/Mayweather but not even watch Loma/Rigo).

Plus, unless anyone hasn't noticed, Rigo has lost a step over the last couple of years. His foot speed used to be
much faster so that he could hardly be touched - watch him from a couple of years ago vs now...couple years ago he could move back faster than anyone could throw a punch...he can't do that any more and can be touched. Loma's size and skills + Rigo having lost a step would make it an easy win for Loma.

A few years back at 124 and it would be a true 50/50, but not now at anything North of 126.

[Travycat]

We all know that fight isn't fair to Lomachenko at this point. Make the fight at 130.

[deanrw]

I would love to see the fight, but at this point it is doubtful.

I would really like to see Rigo move up to 126 and fight Gary Russell also. They are much more evenly matched in size.

[Randall Cunning]

I actually have faith its gunna happen, 2017 is the year fights got made after all. Especially if Rigondeaux is willing to go to 128. Looking at the champions around him think Lomachenko gunna find it hard to get someone to fight him, and don't think he'll want to settle with another Sosa

[Lomasexual]

I can't see it happening. Loma has almost no reason to take the fight.

What does he stand to gain from fighting rigo? This is a totally serious question.

Will he get recognition? No. A small faction of die hard boxing fans will give him credit if he wins, while more will think his win to be as meaningless as Canelo beating Khan or GGG beating Brook. I suppose some people who rely on Boxrec too much might only look rigo's unbeaten record and that will impress them.

Will he get decent money? Hell no.

Will he get a belt? No.

Will he get a fan friendly spectacle that will interest the TV execs? No. This is the exact opposite of what would happen.

In theory, seeing the two of them fight, at a fair weight, while both were in their primes would have been brilliant. That's fantasy match-up stuff.

Right now though, we have a rising star of the sport with the world at his feet and an unlimited potential for the future - versus an old, fading boxer who is a textbook case of how to mismanage a career and who brings nothing to the table except a reputation that, amongst some fanatics, transcends wishful thinking.

If Loma was to try to make this fight happen then I would look on it as being a gesture of pure charity. He might respect rigo's skillset, and feel sympathy over his botched career, and throw him a bone. But rigo isn't an easy guy to like, and Loma has better things to do.

[darius45]

I can't see it happening. Loma has almost no reason to take the fight.

What does he stand to gain from fighting rigo? This is a totally serious question.

Legacy. Respect. Plain pure and simple. But also an elevated spot in the p4p rankings. Also, a win over the most naturally gifted athlete in boxing right now (Rigo). This is a guy(Loma) that has two Olympic gold medals. He obviously cares about the SPORT of boxing not just the business of boxing.

Will he get recognition? No. A small faction of die hard boxing fans will give him credit if he wins, while more will think his win to be as meaningless as Canelo beating Khan or GGG beating Brook. I suppose some people who rely on Boxrec too much might only look rigo's unbeaten record and that will impress them.

Are you kidding me? Of course he will get recognition. A win over Rigo is huge. This fight is NOTHING like Canelo/Khan or GGG/Brook. This is a very evenly matched fight. Loma does not have the massive size/power advantage that GGG and Canelo had in those respective fighters either.

Will he get decent money? Hell no.

He will get what he usually gets or maybe more.

Will he get a fan friendly spectacle that will interest the TV execs? No. This is the exact opposite of what would happen.

I disagree. I think the actual fight will be fan friendly, with more action going in than your typical Floyd fight. There will be a lot of measuring and feeling out initially as both fighters try to adjust to one another, but as the fight wears on, I expect the activity (especially from Loma) to pick up. It HAS to pick up, or Loma risks getting outpointed by Rigo.

In theory, seeing the two of them fight, at a fair weight, while both were in their primes would have been brilliant. That's fantasy match-up stuff.

Rigo is STILL more impressive to watch than any other fighter in boxing right now, in terms of pure athletic ability on display, even if he is a little past prime. As far as weight, it's Rigo that's going to be giving up much more than Loma.

Loma has NO ONE in 130 to fight that can compare with Rigo. NO ONE at 135 either (there's a huge skill disparity between Loma and Mikey even)... Only big potentional fight for Loma is Crawford at 140 which seems a LONG way away.... So why not drop down a few pounds and take a legacy making fight, a historical fight for boxing, a fight that all real boxing fans want to see, a fight that fighters wants to see.

If Loma was to try to make this fight happen then I would look on it as being a gesture of pure charity. He might respect rigo's skillset, and feel sympathy over his botched career, and throw him a bone. But rigo isn't an easy guy to like, and Loma has better things to do.

Give me a break. Loma is taking a big risk by taking this fight. It's not charity. If Arum thought Loma could beat Rigo that easily, you bet your ass he would do everything to make it. A win over a Rigo would be the biggest name on Loma's resume. But Arum is terrified of Rigo derailing Loma's rising star.

[rickJen]

Ship has sailed. The Ukrainian superstar would be a zombie at 126.
Let's move on.

[Caxcan]

Seems like Rigo is throwing Loma's name out there for publicity. He was unwilling to move up to 126 when Loma was there but now he expects Loma to move back down from 130?

[Japanese Boxing]

better than some fat, ugly, ****rider on a boxing forum that says otherwise




smh

I am not ugly or a ****rider mother ****er, although I could stand to drop 15 lbs.

[Lomasexual]

Give me a break. Loma is taking a big risk by taking this fight. It's not charity.

I didn't say it was an easy fight. That isn't what I meant by it being charity.

However Loma would get nothing out of it. That's why it would be pure charity. Rigo gets something, Loma gets nothing = charity.

Some boxing fans are so blinded by their assessment of rigo's ability that they don't see this.

Rigo could easily be fighting at 118. He is a small 122. Loma is new to 130, but looking to 135 already. That isn't trivial.
Rigo is ancient by the standards of little guys.

You might think that Loma would get all sorts of accolades for beating rigo, but as of right now it would only really impress a small chunk of the most die-hard boxing fans.