Yes, the title is accurate.
When Guillermo Rigondeaux fights, there?s always that looming fear we?ll need a few No Doze pills to get through it.
Will we see that all-too-familiar overly-cautious version of Rigo against Lomachenko?
Answer: No, unless he goes into survival mode early and is content to simply last the full twelve.And given the magnitude of the event, that would be very disappointing.
But odds are, we?ll see a more aggressive, angrier version of Guillermo Rigondeaux step in the ring with Vasyl Lomachenko on December 9.
Why?
Reputation and stock value Rigo’s reputation for being a boring ‘points’ fighter has long been a hindrance to his career so he understands he must make the most of this opportunity.
The old saying ‘Win tonight and look good next time’ won’t apply to Rigondeaux as he’s played that card a few too many times already and knows this fight might be the last opportunity he has to shine on boxing’s biggest stage.
Let’s face it, who would have thought we’d see Rigondeaux in another high-profile superfight that fans are actually excited about?
Given his stock wasn’t bolstered by his convincing, but boring, win over then-superstar Nonito Donaire, Rigo surely understands he must do more than win against Lomachenko.The Donaire win, despite enhancing Rigo’s legacy as a fighter and champion, did little or nothing to propel his stock value among fans.
Styles Styles make fights, and given Loma’s freakish skills and size advantage, Rigo will have no alternative but to be more aggressive.
Sure, he outclassed a naturally-bigger Donaire but Rigo won’t give a boxing lesson to Lomachenko. It’s not going to happen.
?Vasyl will not allow Rigondeaux to pile up points,? promoter Bob Arum said during a conference call Wednesday. ?So Rigondeaux, to win the fight, will have to be more aggressive than he wants to be.”
“I think this is gonna be a very, very good fight, a very interesting fight, because Rigondeaux is not gonna be able to get out, with a big lead on points, on Vasyl.”
“And therefore, he will have to fight the entire fight, as long as it goes, to win.?
Arum is correct.
