WBO STRIPS RIGONDEAUX OF TITLE, MAY PAVE THE WAY FOR DONAIRE TO FACE JUAREZ FOR VACANT CROWN
By Ronnie Nathanielsz
PhilBoxing.com
Sun, 01 Nov 2015
The World Boxing Organization has stripped undefeated super bantamweight champion Guillermo Rigondeaux of his world title which may pave the way for five division world champion Nonito ?The Filipino Flash? Donaire to fight No. 1 ranked Cesar Juarez, the WBO International champion in Puerto Rico on December 12 Manila Time for the vacant crown.
WBO president Francisco Valcarcel was quoted by Sky Sports in Britain as saying "Unfortunately we had to deal today with the topic of Rigondeaux, who over 31 months has only made three fights. He has not made any announcement on when he will fight again. We do not know what the reasons are [for his inactivity] and we cannot punish 15 other fighters that are in the rankings to protect a champion - regardless of how good he is.?
Valcarcel indicated that for boxing purists, Rigondeaux is one of the most extraordinary boxers you can see. But there is a responsibility to those ranked under the WBO. The title is not something that belongs to the champion but to the entire sport and every member of the sanctioning body that is rated has a right to fight for it. For us, we feel sorry stripping him as world champion but we must enforce the rules for inactivity. The title has to be declared vacant and in this case the champion has made only three defenses in almost three years."
Rigondeaux has been earmarked as a possible future opponent for WBA champion Scott Quigg and IBF champion Carl Frampton.
Nonito Donaire who dropped a unanimous twelve round decision to Rigondeaux on April 13, 2013 despite dropping the two-time Cuban Olympic gold medalist in the tenth round is scheduled to face Cesar Juarez in Puerto Rico on December 12 in what was originally billed as a title eliminator but may now be elevated to a title fight.
However, there?s been no official word from either the WBO or Top Rank promoter Bob Arum on whether the Donaire-Juarez showdown will be elevated to a title fight.
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