2000 and 2004 Olympic gold medalist Guillermo Rigondeaux (9-0-0, 7 KOs) captured the WBA super bantamweight world title Friday night when knocked out Rico Ramos (20-1-0, 11 KOs) at the 1:29 mark of the sixth round at The Palms Resort and Casino in Las Vegas.
Not only did Rigondeaux win his first world title, he also made history by becoming the quickest to do it in terms of professional boxing experience.
The skilled Cuban used his precision punching to trump Ramos with a piercing body shot to end an otherwise pedestrian fight.
“I wanted to make history,” Rigondeaux said and added, “I’m very happy and this is a historic moment.”
Despite only having 9 pro fights under his belt, the cat-quick Rigondeaux is already 31-years-old and looked forward to future opportunities when he called out Nonito “The Filipino Flash” Donaire, Jr. (27-1-0, 18 KOs) during the post-fight interview. Donaire is moving up to the super bantamweight division for the first time when he faces Wilfredo Vazquez, Jr. (21-1-1, 18 KOs) on Feb. 4 in San Antonio.
Although a match-up with Donaire will pit two superior boxing talents against each other, Showtime commentator and former world champion Antonio Tarver feels that Rigondeaux isn’t ready for a match-up like that just yet.
“In order to be a complete fighter, you will have to develop your right hand, your right hook. You’re going to have to put those combinations together,” Tarver said regarding Rigondeaux. “Slow down young grasshopper, Nonito is there already.”
Asked bout his thoughts of the fight and being called out by Rigondeaux, Donaire said he was not able to watch the fight and maintained that his focus is solely on his next opponent Vazquez.
