By Miguel Rivera
Guillermo Rigondeaux (17-0, 11 KOs) is taking a major risk when he steps in the ring with WBO super featherweight champion Vasyl Lomachenko (9-1, 7 KOs)on December 9th at The Theater in Madison Square Garden in New York City.
Rigondeaux, who is regarded as the WBA's "super" champion at 122-pounds, will move up by two full weight divisions to take on Lomachenko at 130-pounds.
It's the first time in boxing history where two boxers who won Olympic gold on two occasions will collide in the ring.
Back in June, Rigondeaux picked up a first round stoppage win over Moises Flores at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas. The outcome was later reversed to a no-decision, after it was determined that Rigondeaux's knockout blow came after the bell.
The World Boxing Association would later order Rigondeaux to make a mandatory defense against Flores in a rematch.
He applied for special permission to move up in weight for crack at Lomachenko's world title.
The sanctioning body approved his request, but it came with a price.
If Rigondeaux wins, he would then have five days to decide if he intends to remain at 130 or plans to return to 122 to defend his WBA belt. If he loses against Lomachenko, then he would lose his recognition as the WBA champion. The sanctioning body would then order Flores to fight for the vacant WBA belt against the winner of Danny Roman vs. an opponent to determined.
"The special permission was requested, and he was given the opportunity because it is an important fight for boxing. But if he wins he has five days to decide and if he loses, he would then have to lose the recognition [of being WBA champion] because it is what corresponds [to agreement of allowing him to move up] and in this event we would have to order that Moises Flores goes against the winner of Daniel Román and an opponent to be supplied to us," stated WBA President Gilberto Mendoza Jr.
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