Rigondeaux Can Spark Super Bantamweight Unification Series

By Ryan Forde-Kelly - 01/08/2015 - Comments

As we settle in for 2015, it’s customary for the boxing fraternity and fans alike to state their hopes and wishes for the year ahead. Essentially dream fights which we hope will be made, which against all logic are not likely to happen. There are a few that spring to mind immediately, an end to the Floyd Mayweather/ Manny Pacquiao saga, Andre Ward v Gennady Golovkin (catch weight), Sergey Kovalev v Adonis Stevenson and of course Alex Ariza v a peak Mike Tyson.

On this occasion I have chosen to air on the side of caution and focus my attentions on an occurrence of a more realistic persuasion, which would be the collision of the current crop of Super Bantamweight World Champions. In Guillermo Rigondeaux, Leo Santa-Cruz, Carl Frampton and Scott Quigg, the division finds itself on the cusp of greatness. Greatness it enjoyed almost 15 years previous when Erik Morales won a split decision over Marco Antonio Barrera in what is widely considered one of the greatest fights of all time. Right now we have four fighters, boasting a collective 92-0-3 (61KO’s) record and a blend of styles capable of producing a series of fights that will define each of their careers.

But, as always the eventual successful assembly of these bouts will take place in the boardroom, without the fighters input and will have to be deemed ‘economically viable’ if they are to go ahead. This is the way of boxing is and the way it will stay, the power rests with the suits and in fairness in recent years there has been a shift towards the public opinion and the big fights are being made with more regularity. In the case of the Super Bantamweights, this may prove a little tricky given all four world champions currently operate under differing promotional banners, with each party keen to retain the upper hand and 3 out of the 4 fighters saleable enough in their own country to wait until this is achieved.

Oddly enough, the seemingly unsalable asset is Guillermo Rigondeaux the current unified WBA Super, WBO and Ring magazine Super Bantamweight champion, who survived two 7th round knockdowns to stop Hisashi Amagasa in the 11th in Osaka on New Years Eve. The towering Japanese fighter did not emerge for the final round, with his face a swollen mess and behind on all the cards. It was the Cuban’s first fight under the banner of Caribe Promotions, since the completion of his Top Rank contract, which was not renewed.

Ever since he turned professional Rigondeaux has been considered the honorary chairman of the ‘Who needs him’ club and for my money has been the victim of some negative propaganda. However, his recent brief moments vulnerability both in the land of the rising sun and when floored in the 10th when dissecting then P4P contender Nonito Donaire, might prove a tipping point and the eventual realisation of my New Year dreams.

My proposed solution would be for Boris Arencibia (CEO at Caribe Promotions, who now manage Guillermo Rigondeaux) to abandon plans for future fights to be staged in Japan and bring Rigondeaux to Britain and aggressively campaign for unification bouts with Regular WBA Champion Scott Quigg and IBF holder Carl Frampton. Revise plans to face another unknown East Asian fighter, which may once again go untelevised in the US and work with UK promoters to match the decorated Cuban on huge British shows, which will undoubtedly be televised worldwide. I’m sure this sounds like ‘pie in the sky’ thinking, but does it really sound too far a stretch to imagine Caribe working alongside Warren promotions to place Rigondeaux on the inevitable Andy Lee v Billy Joe Saunders undercard against unbeaten Young British Boxer of the year Kid Galahad?

I accept that a lot of kinks would have to be ironed out to make this a possibility, not least of all Galahad’s contract with Hennessey Promotions. But why not, the money and the interest would certainly be there and Rigondeaux would have the opportunity to display his talents to a new audience who are yet to reject him and force the fights he craves with Quigg, Frampton and ultimately the golden goose and WBC Titleist Leo Santa Cruz. He and his team must make it happen; as it stands he is invisible and as such is far too easily avoided by fighters who clearly don’t want any of him.

If mine and I’m sure many other fight fans dreams are to come true, movement needs to take place from one of the champions and as crazy as it sounds the best of the bunch appears to be the most in need, certainly from a reputational standpoint.

If the year goes to plan and as expected Leo Santa Cruz dispatches of Jesus Ruiz at the MGM Grand, Las Vegas on Saturday 17th January on the Stiverne v Wilder undercard. Then Carl Frampton obliges to dispose of the hungry Chris Avalos in February, coupled with the successful return of Scott Quigg following hand surgery; the middle to the end of 2015 provides the perfect opening for these unification battles to happen.

Time will tell if these dreams are attainable or of the pipe variety. However, one thing is for sure, if these fights do not happen it will impact on the legacy of all four. It just takes someone to make the first move and if Guillermo Rigondeaux seeks large-scale notoriety this is his opportunity to take it.