Philippines, 21 Apr 2026
  Home >> News

 


BOXERS

CURRENT CHAMPIONS 

FORMER CHAMPIONS   

RATINGS                       

NEWS           

FORUM        

FIGHT GALLERIES        

RING CARD GIRLS        


 
 
News  


RIGONDEAUX IS BOOED BY FIGHT FANS AFTER HE WINS A BORING FIGHT VS DRIAN FRANCISCO


PhilBoxing.com




WBA super bantamweight champion and two-time Cuban Olympic gold medalist Guillermo Rigondeaux easily defeated former Filipino title challenger Drian Francisco in a boring, ten round bout and was roundly booed by the fans when it ended at the Mandalay Bay Events Center, Sunday, Manila Time.

Rigondeaux hadn?t fought for eleven months since no one wished to promote his fights because of his technically sound but lackluster style.

It was the same against Francisco who took the fight on short notice although he had been preparing for a fight last November 13 in an MP Promotions USA LLC fight card at the Philippine Navy Gymnasium in Fort Bonifacio and said he was ready to face the WBA bantamweight champion.

The unbeaten Rigondeaux who was recently stripped of his WBO belt because of inactivity resorted to jabbing, moving and holding en route to a victory where judges Steve Morrow and Richard Ocasio scored it by a 100-90 shutout while the third judge Don Trella was generous in giving Francisco three rounds for a 97-93 score.

Rigondeaux who has appealed against the WBO decision stripping him of his title and is waiting for the decision on his appeal which, if not granted will make Nonito ?The Filipino Flash? Donaire?s showdown with Cesar Juarez of Mexico on December 13 in Puerto Rico a title fight.

CompuBox stats showed Rigondeaux landed 72 of 347 punches thrown while Francisco who tried to upset Rigondeaux by being aggressive and caught him with a couple of good body shots in round seven landed only 42 of 228 punches he threw.

With the win Rigondeaux improved to 16-0 with 10 knockouts while Francisco dropped to 28-4-1 with 22 knockouts.

The fight which was on the Miguel Cotto-Saul ?Canelo? Alvarez world middleweight title fight was telecast in the Philippines by TV 5.

In a post fight interview Rigondeaux said ?I feel terrific after the fight. He (Francisco) threw heavy shots but his style was nothing on mine. My style outmatched his.?

He said ?I definitely wanted to give the fans a better fight so I need to get back into the gym, get more active to give a better performance. I promise with the tools I have now after signing with Roc Nation that next time I?ll be explosive.?

A disappointed Francisco criticized Rigondeaux referring to him as ?a runner not a fighter. He is afraid of getting hurt and doesn?t want to fight. I felt pressured into being the aggressor during this fight because he wasn?t fighting, he was running away. He is not a power puncher and won by points. I trained really hard for this fight and I feel like it was a waste of time because I didn?t encounter a fighter tonight.?


Click here to view a list of other articles written by Ronnie Nathanielsz.


Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:

  • 2026 NBA Playoffs: First Round Game 1 Recap
    By Reylan Loberternos, , Mon, 20 Apr 2026
  • FIDE Master Ivan Travis Cu gains a total of 36 rating points, bringing his FIDE rating to 2321 by May after completing 2 chess tournaments in Spain
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Mon, 20 Apr 2026
  • Irish super middleweight prospect Tommy ‘The Governor’ Hyde Improves to 15-0 with 10th KO
    , Mon, 20 Apr 2026
  • IBA Bare-Knuckle Director attends historic Gambian Elite National Championships
    , Sun, 19 Apr 2026
  • Rosales stops Obedencio in RFL 4
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Sun, 19 Apr 2026
  • Atty. Aldwin Alegre shines in 23rd Bangkok Chess Club
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Sun, 19 Apr 2026
  • Suslenkov knocks out Mann to headline explosive IBA Pro 16 night in Serpukhov
    , Sat, 18 Apr 2026
  • AJ Manas off to a hot start in Indonesia
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Sat, 18 Apr 2026
  • Camila Zamorano WBC female champion health update
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Sat, 18 Apr 2026
  • PH Athletics team shines in the 2026 Singapore Open Track and Field Championships
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Sat, 18 Apr 2026
  • JESSE RODRIGUEZ CHALLENGES ANTONIO VARGAS FOR WBC BANTAMWEIGHT WORLD TITLE IN GLENDALE ON JUNE 13
    , Sat, 18 Apr 2026
  • WEIGH-IN RESULTS AND PHOTOS FROM SD FIGHT NIGHT: FAMILY BUSINESS - TOMORROW, APRIL 18 AT FRONTWAVE ARENA IN OCEANSIDE, CALIF.
    , Sat, 18 Apr 2026
  • OFFICIAL ‘REVOLUTION’ WEIGHTS FROM CORK, IRELAND
    , Sat, 18 Apr 2026
  • MIKHAIL GRIGORYAN DEFEATS JEO SANTISIMA, CROWNED NEW IBF ASIA LIGHTWEIGHT CHAMPION IN SERPUKHOV
    By Dong Secuya, , Sat, 18 Apr 2026
  • Ra’eese Aleem Vows Victory Over Angelo Leo Ahead of May 9th IBF Title Fight in Atlanta
    , Sat, 18 Apr 2026
  • WCM Nika Juris Nicolas 10th in Serbia
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Sat, 18 Apr 2026
  • JESSE ‘BAM’ RODRIGUEZ PENS LONG TERM EXTENSION WITH EDDIE HEARN AND MATCHROOM
    , Sat, 18 Apr 2026
  • Hermie Rivera: A Fil-Am Original
    By Emmanuel Rivera, RRT, , Fri, 17 Apr 2026
  • LIVERPOOL FIGHT NIGHT: OFFICIAL WEIGHTS AS BEN WHITTAKER TAKES ON BRAIAN SUAREZ – LIVE ON DAZN
    , Fri, 17 Apr 2026
  • Lerasan to fight for WBO Asian Pacific bantam title
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Fri, 17 Apr 2026
  • Fuentes is now ready to fight in Juego Todo
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Fri, 17 Apr 2026
  • LIVERPOOL FIGHT WEEK: PRESS CONFERENCE QUOTES IN FULL AS WHITTAKER GETS READY FOR TOUGH SUAREZ TEST – LIVE ON DAZN
    , Fri, 17 Apr 2026
  • Ancajas to fight as feather against Garcia on April 18
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Fri, 17 Apr 2026
  • MVP presents Delgado-Artiga by WBA superflyweight championship on June 13 in Orlando
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Fri, 17 Apr 2026
  • Mexican legend Miguel Canto passes away
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Fri, 17 Apr 2026




  •  



     
    PhilBoxing.com has been created to support every aspiring
    Filipino boxer and the Philippine boxing scene in general.
    Please send comments to feedback@philboxing.com


    PRIVATE POLICY | LEGAL DISCLAIMER
    developed and maintained by dong secuya
    © 2026 philboxing.com.