Now that he is a world champion, Miami resident Guillermo Rigondeaux wants a personal reconnection with local fight fans. Efforts were made earlier this summer to have Rigondeaux?s next fight in South Florida on Aug. 19.
But the local nontitle bout featuring Rigondeaux never materialized. Instead, Rigondeaux likely will make the next defense of his WBA super-bantamweight title outside of South Florida.
?We discussed with a couple of the casinos the possibility of Guillermo fighting here,? said long-time manager and promoter Luis De Cubas, who also represents the Cuban-born, two-time Olympic gold medalist. ?But both locations had conflicts with the date we wanted to have the fight.?
De Cubas said the venues considered were the Seminole Hard Rock Live Arena in Hollywood and West Miami-Dade?s Miccosukee Resort and Gaming, which discontinued boxing shows late last year. De Cubas also said the fight also had TV backing with ESPN planning to broadcast it as part of the network?s Fright Night Fights series.
Rigondeaux is 8-0 with six knockouts since defecting from Cuba in 2008. Last November, Rigondeaux won the WBA super-bantamweight belt with a split decision against Ricardo Cordoba in Arlington, Texas, and made a successful first defense, knocking out Willie Casey in the first round March 19 in Ireland.
Hollywood cards
Local fighters will dominate the bout sheet at Seminole Hard Rock on Aug. 12.
Hollywood resident and regional welterweight champion Ed Paredes? opponent in the scheduled 10-round bout is Brazil?s Juliano Ramos.
According to the show?s co-promoter Henry Rivalta, other South Florida fighters expected to appear on the show include junior middleweight Joey Hernandez, lightweight Richard Abril and heavyweight Luis Ortiz.
