ARUM SAYS AGE AND WEIGHT NOT A FACTOR IN LOMACHENKO-RIGONDEAUX FIGHT
By Maloney L. Samaco
PhilBoxing.com
Thu, 07 Dec 2017
Top Rank CEO Bob Arum is excited with the classic encounter on Saturday at The Theater in Madison Square Garden in New York when world champions Vasyl Lomachenko (9-1, 7 KOs) and Guillermo Rigondeaux (17-0, 11 KOs) face each other. "It's about the two best fighters in the amateurs of our time, as they had achievements of historical dimensions before they ever became professionals," Arum told ESPN Deportes.
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WBA world super bantamweight champion Rigondeaux is moving up by eight pounds and two weight divisions to challenge Lomachenko for the WBO world super featherweight crown. Lomachenko, has won by KO over his last six opponents and this will be his third fight of the year. Rigondeaux, on the other hand, has only fought a single round in 2017 and a two-round match in 2016.
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"Rigondeaux won two Olympic medals, several world titles and is regarded as one of the best fighters ever in amateur boxing. As a professional, in addition to circulating with the aura of being undefeated, he has held several world titles. And when Rigondeaux was already out of the amateurs, Lomachenko began his career in amateur boxing where he became one of the most prominent fighters, winning, likewise, several world titles as an amateur and two gold medals in the same number of Olympic Games," declared Arum.
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Arum cited Lomachenko's record that before reaching his tenth professional fight, he had already achieved two world titles. "Now we have the opportunity to see these two great fighters, face each other, in a fight that all boxing fans wanted to witness, as along with the greatness of the boxers, we will be witnessing a fight between the Cuban boxing school, and the one from Eastern Europe," added the veteran promoter classifying it as a fascinating fight.
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Arum does not believe that age or weight factor will affect the fight. "The issue of the age difference is something that can not be changed, but as for the differences in weight - I don't think it's that important, because for this fight the boxers are forced to weigh themselves on the morning of December 9, the day of the fight, and can not exceed 138 pounds," Arum said.
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Arum is of the opinion that Lomachenko and Rigondeaux are fighters with a very similar physical makeup. Lomachenko left the superbantamweight division because he was not able to find suitable opponents, so he headed to the super featherweight division. Arum added that by the time both of them get in the ring, on the day of the fight, he does not believe that the weight will be an issue for either fighter.
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Vasyl Lomachenko's trainer Cicilio Flores says the showdown with Guillermo Rigondeaux is a great fight involving two great champions with great amateur history. "They?re two of the best fighters in the world today so this is as good as it gets right now for the world of boxing,? stated Flores over BoxingScene. Even if Lomachenko is heavily favored because of his size but Flores declares ?I think it?s an even fight."
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Flores believes Lomachenko really has a height advantage but Rigondeaux has a two and a half inch reach advantage. "I know Rigo fights at 122lbs but I?m sure he doesn?t walk around at that weight throughout the year," stated Flores who trained Sergio Mart?nez and Sergey Kovalev in the past. "Lomachenko puts on an average of 8-12lbs after a fight. They?re both small guys but I?ll tell you this - Lomachecnko will be stronger, and that will be a major factor, plus his speed in being able to dominate Rigo.?
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Flores assured that the 138 lbs contracted weight in the morning of the fight is not a problem. ?Loma is prepared to go 12 rounds and, his father will give him the instructions on how to beat Rigondeaux. We all want a knockout in the camp, but Loma will take it round by round and see what happens." Flores observed that Rigondeaux doesn?t have the best chin in boxing, that?s why he fights the way he fights.
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A new video of Floyd Mayweather was shown hitting Oscar De La Hoya for calling Conor McGregor to a boxing match. Mayweather bombs De La Hoya accuding him that he's back on drugs after successful rehabilitation. ?When Oscar de la Hoya, the same one that was talking about me fighting Conor McGregor, he was trying to protest and stop the fight!? Mayweather was shown saying. ?Now he?s trying to fight Conor McGregor. Is he a hypocrite or is he back on coke again? That man, that boy still snorting the lines. Still snorting the lines!?
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Mayweather reminded everybody that De La Hoya tried to protest his fight with McGregor. "But I?m gonna tell you all the truth. You know I carried McGregor? You know I made it look good for y?all?? Over Golden Boy Radio, De La Hoya stated: ?You know I?m competitive. You know I still have it in me. I?ve been secretly training, secretly training. I?m faster than ever and stronger than ever. I know I could take out Conor McGregor in two rounds. I?ll come back for that fight. Two rounds."
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McGregor as of now has no specific plan regarding his next fight, whether a return to UFC or a rumored boxing match with Manny Pacquiao. McGregor has recently been on the headlines again for a reported bar fight in Ireland. But with him earning $140M in the Mayweather fight which raked in lots of money from PPV buys on August 26, fighting enthusiasts believe a return to the boxing ring will happen soon.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Maloney L. Samaco.
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