By Elliot Foster
Guillermo Rigondeaux is out of his next fight after suffering visa issues.
The Cuban, who is a two-time former world and Olympic champion, had been training for a 10-round clash in the UK this Saturday.
Rigondeaux (16-0, 10 KOs), 35, was set to take on British super bantamweight titlist Jazza Dickens (21-1, 6 KOs) at the ECHO Arena in Liverpool on March 12, exclusively live on BoxNation.
But the showdown, which was due to form part of the undercard to Terry Flanagan’s WBO lightweight world title defence against North West rival Derry Mathews, has been canned after the superstar –– who last boxed in November –– couldn’t get into the country.
“We do not have a visa,” Pedro Diaz, his trainer, confirmed on social media.
“The application made [for the visa], it wasn’t the right one [and] we can’t be in the fight.”
When the contest was announced last month, many fans were excited at the prospect of being given the once-in-a-lifetime chance to see ‘El Chacal’, but it now looks as though that chance has gone and a late replacement opponent will have to be brought in.
“Many thanks to [the] British Embassy in Moscow,” Diaz continued. “We all knew more than a month in advance that ‘Rigo’ would end his training camp in Grozny, Russia.
“We all tried in an excellent manner [but couldn’t get a visa] and we apologise to all the friends and fans, but it wasn’t our mistake.”
Boxing Scene has reached out to Queensberry Promotions for comment and is awaiting a response.