By Elisinio Castillo
Pedro Diaz, the respected Cuban coach of Guillermo Rigondeaux (17-0, 11 KOs), says his boxer is ready for the biggest challenge of his career - a showdown with WBO super featherweight champion Vasyl Lomachenko.
Rigondeaux vs. Lomachenko takes place on Saturday night at The Thearter in Madison Square Garden in ew York City.
As the WBA world champion at 122-pounds, Rigondeaux is crossing two weight classes to make the match.
Diaz is very pleased with the way the training camp played out.
"It was a very serious training camp, where the entire team gave their contribution to Rigo and that is reflected in our champion, we have touched all of the possible points to take the victory and everyone will appreciate it on Saturday," Diaz told George Ebro.
When the fight was first made, Diaz made it known that Nonito Donaire - who Rigondeaux outboxed in 2013 - was a tougher opponent than Lomachenko.
And Diaz is still firm with that opinion.
"I have always said that for me Nonito Donaire is more complicated than Lomachenko. I honestly think that against Lomachenko Rigo has more opportunities to win," Diaz said.
Diaz still laughs at Lomachenko's promoter, Bob Arum of Top Rank, calling his boxer the best fighter since heavyweight legend Muhammad Ali.
"That comparison lacks respect for boxing and Ali himself, Arum's only fighter with a basis for comparison [to Ali] is Terence Crawford, and [Arum] does not do that. This only hurts Lomachenko," Diaz said.
"[Arum] is overestimating [his fighter] and Lomachenko will end up believing that lie because it has repeated so many times that becomes his truth. Lomachenko has suddenly acquired a damaging arrogance that was not seen before. This man has a 9-1 record, comparing it with Ali is impossible in a healthy mind.
"We do not care what Bob Arum says, or what Lomachenko says, he has quality and we do not haggle over it, but Rigondeaux will show that he is the best pound for pound. [Arum] says people turn off the television, that people fall asleep with Rigo, he can not accept the defeat against Nonito, but what is coming up on Saturday is going to be worse."
