Leo Santa Cruz Coming off very badly/Rigondeaux's career

Big Ears

Right, while most of us would certainly love to see Leo Santa Cruz fight Guillermo Rigondeaux, I think we all know realistically it won't happen.
Infact I've had suspicions that his team would prevent him from facing any of the other top fighters at Super-Bantamweight, and move up where he would only fight decent fighters if they were also Haymon contracted.

Santa Cruz in his post fight interview after his last fight mentioned he wanted Rigondeaux next. Now incase anyone thinks that was just adrenaline, he also calmly stated it in the post fight press conference, reaffirmed by his team that they would face anyone.
Fast forward to a week ago, and Santa Cruz talks about Rigo and his potential next opponent

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pRsfLGGsHHM

In this short interview he says that a Rigondeaux fight isn't realistic because of Rigo's 'boring style', and instead a fight with Mares is likely.
Mares mentioned after Frampton's last fight potentially dropping back to 122 lbs, but I think that match up is much more likely in May, and Haymon promotes them both.
Rigondeaux's twitter also sent out a tweet a couple of days ago saying:''@leosantacruz2 says the last chance to fight him at 122 is January, vamos. I'll fight you right after New Year's Eve, tiempo ni $$ es excusa.'' The tweet has since been deleted.
Now I'm generally not into all the hey said, she said, sort of carry on that we get in boxing. But it appears to me that they want to make it seem like Rigondeaux isn't keen on the fight, and they also want to make it seem like the fans don't want it, neither of which appears to me to be true.
Leo Santa Cruz would fight anyone I'm sure, but Haymon and his advisers seem to be taking the typical Haymon approach.

As for Rigondeaux he fights in a few days in Japan vs Hisashi Amagasa. Amagasa possesses a good record, is very tall (nearly 5'11) and very game. However he's also very slow, and has given himself just a 3% chance :eek:. He should be easily swept aside imo by Rigo.
Where he goes after that who knows, but I'd imagine more fights in Japan could be on the horizon as they're one of the few places who'll put a big effort building up a foreign fighter, and they'll willingly match their own top guys with a foreign fighter even if they believe the home guy will almost definitely lose.

Talib Fiasco

I heard rumours that Rigo will take Santa Cruz up on the offer of fighting him only a few weeks after his next fight. Fair play if he does. He beats LSC handily. I like Santa Cruz as a boxer but oh how I hope he loses his belt sharpish.

HigginsJ

Rigo has offered to fight LSC on his January date as LSC doesn't have an opponent yet. Rigo would be coming off a 2 & 1/2 week break from his last fight.

Bit of clever PR from Rigo. He knows LSC won't go near him but he is doing his best to put his name in the spotlight & showing up LSC (& Quigg & Frampton) as scared to fight him.

HigginsJ

Rigo has offered to fight LSC on his January date as LSC doesn't have an opponent yet. Rigo would be coming off a 2 & 1/2 week break from his last fight.

Bit of clever PR from Rigo. He knows LSC won't go near him but he is doing his best to put his name in the spotlight & showing up LSC (& Quigg & Frampton) as scared to fight him.

Henno30

Anyone else watch Rigo's fight from last night yet? Well worth a look.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4prG-8XISsc

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=imJpCRT-en0

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ZC5MqmdNO0

HigginsJ

Very different rules in Japan, not used to seeing trips and pushes being scored as knock downs!!

Fair play to Amagasa, he took some beating and kept going. Saw on BoxRec that Rigo had been down twice in the 7th and was really interested to see how he had caught him.

megadodge

HigginsJ wrote: »

Very different rules in Japan, not used to seeing trips and pushes being scored as knock downs!!

Fair play to Amagasa, he took some beating and kept going. Saw on BoxRec that Rigo had been down twice in the 7th and was really interested to see how he had caught him.

They looked perfectly ok knockdowns to me.

Rigo looked more vulnerable and (dare I say) ordinary in there than I've ever seen him. Maybe he might get some big fights now.

rebelomar

Very enjoyable fight, Rigo must have been giving away 6 or 7 inches in height in there.

I'd seriously be reluctant to jump up to 126lbs now especially when you consider Rigo could probably make 118lbs if he wanted.

Simply an amazing talent, showed his grit in there and put on a good show. The Japanese lad was a warrior in fairness. Great credit to him also.

It will give the other guys at 122lbs some hope though knowing he can be rocked. Hopefully they all fancy it a bit more now.

walshb

Haven't watched the bout, just snippets, but it looks like the same old Rigo. I rate him but I am not a big fan. Does he have any sign of an inside game? Seems to be defense and pot shots. I think a fighter like Lomachenko eats him him up with variety and movement.

Henno30

walshb wrote: »

Haven't watched the bout, just snippets, but it looks like the same old Rigo. I rate him but I am not a big fan. Does he have any sign of an inside game? Seems to be defense and pot shots. I think a fighter like Lomachenko eats him him up with variety and movement.

His footwork is so good he rarely has to operate on the inside, but no, generally when he's in there he holds instead of fighting.

Would be fascinating to see him in with Lomachenko. The level of offensive variety and the dazzling footwork Loma brings would be a real test of Rigo's defensive radar. No one Rigo has fought had any significant offensive capability. Donaire was always more of a counter-puncher who never impressed when he was forced to lead.

I doubt it'll happen. Loma is on track for a featherweight superfight with Nicholas Walters. And Rigo is probably too small to go to 126 anyway.

Henno30

Leo names his son Al

I kid you not - https://twitter.com/leosantacruz2/status/548219562693767169