By Leon de Juda: Last night Friday May 22 2009, the boxing World finally had a glimpse and saw in action the former two time Cuban Olympic Gold medalist Guillermo Rigondeaux Ortiz. For the slick Cuban Rigondeaux, it was more than just a debut but a beginning of what can be something very special for him, a future World Championship and a spot in Glory in professional boxing as well. While it’s very hard to top the other Cuban team mate Erislandy Lara’s performance, who clearly outgunned his opponent, Rigondeaux to some extent proved and showcased his exceptional talent exhibiting blazing handspeed and awesome accuracy as he looked very calmed and relaxed in his professional debut.
Rigondeaux dominated amateur boxing ever since he became Olympic Champion at the very early age of 18 and was known as the best Pound for Pound amateur in the World. Since then he captured Gold again at age 22 and Olympic Glory as well. He was probably one of the most decorated amateur boxers in the very strong Cuban team for the last decade along with team mate 3 time Olympic Champion Felix Savon and many others.. Guillermo was banned from the Cuban Team for trying to defect and last night, he finally realized his dream of becoming a professional boxer. For Rigondeaux professional boxing is the only place to be as he has done absolutely everything in the amateurs. No other amateur has dominated the sport with such ease and no other Cuban defector has 2 Olympic Gold Medals in their bag.
While taking into consideration that Rigondeaux’s opponent was nowhere near the slick Cuban’s boxing ability, Rigondeaux actually looked like a polished professional as he was very relaxed and not in a hurry to showcase his real skills. Taking into consideration his inactivity of almost 3 years, personal problems back in Cuba and being banned for life in Cuban boxing, ” El Chacal ” looked very skillful dropping his opponent to the mat in just 19 seconds into the first round. The word ” Chacal ” actually matches him well as he is a very sneacky and highly intelligent boxer who devours his prey in a instant. The Cuban from Santiago, is actually a very skillful counterpuncher who waits to capitalize on his opponent’s mistakes and demolishes his prey in seconds.
While in the presence of sizzling hot Cuban junior lightweight WBA interim Champion Yuriorkis Gamboa, Rigondeaux finally tasted the professional boxing scene. Everyone agrees that it would have been better to have had Rigondeaux matched with a better opponent but sometimes this happens and what is done is history. The fight was stopped at the referee’s mercy as his opponent was completely outclassed. No one complained, and not even the boxer himself. It is very safe to say that counting with Rigondeaux’s amateur accomplishments and his not so young age of 28, that his team will try to move ” El Chacal ” very fast to a World Championship very soon.
While team mate Gamboa needed just 15 professional fights to capture the WBA Interim Championship, the same or possibly even faster will have to be applied to Rigondeaux’s career. In his case, Rigondeaux has to fight at least once a month and possibly twice a month if available as he has father time working against him. He has the tools, the amateur experience and the skills to do it in less than 12 professional fights. We as fans are all hoping to see Guillermo fighting very soon and this time against a more respectable opponent. For Rigondeaux, he knows that he has to speed it up to fulfill his dream of becoming a professional World Champion. El Chacal has left a deep enthusiasm to see him again and for the hidden Lion to reveal himself to the World. He is simply, ” a Lion in sheep’s clothing “.
Guillermo Rigondeaux Ortiz, the pride of Santiago de Cuba!