Vasyl Lomanchenko – Guillermo Rigondeaux: “Fight of the Century” Potential

By Jeremiah “Griffo’s Handkerchief” Preisser

Making low-level news lately was current WBO featherweight champion Vasyl “Hi-Tech” Lomachenko’s manager, Eglis Klimas, calling for a bout with super-bantamweight unified champion, Guillermo Rigondeaux. Klimas stated that he thought that it would be an interesting fight for boxing fans and that it would have to take place at 126.

Rigondeaux’s people responded quickly, saying that they were ready to fight for history and the slick southpaw himself was even more to the point with a mere three words, “when and where?”

Though it is unclear as to whether Top Rank would risk another one of their best fighters on Rigondeaux, who had his breakout party against Nonito Donaire, it is surely a match that boxing purists would salivate over. Both are supremely skilled operators who had two of the better amateur records ever. Lomachenko ended up at 396-1, with two gold medals at the summer games in two weight classes, and obtained the Val Barker trophy in 2008, an award aimed at the top performer in the Olympics, regardless of weight division. The Cuban went 374-12, also managed to secure a couple gold medals, and emerged victorious in two amateur World Championships.

As pros, both have proven remarkable, as well, as Rigondeaux won a championship in his 9th fight and has defended it six times. Lomachenko did even better, tying the record set by Thai light-welterweight, Saensak Muangsurin, by taking gold in his third professional bout. “Hi-Tech” has had only two defenses, but then again, he has only had five fights total.

In my opinion, and I think the opinions of many others, a potential showdown between two prospective legends harkens back to match-ups of old, when super-fights between the “little men” were made and proved entertaining. It was not long ago, really, that the “sweet science” experienced such match-ups. The 90’s for instance, featured classic bouts between a trio of stellar fighters, Manny Pacquiao, Marco Antonio Barrera, Erik Morales. Lomachenko versus Rigondeaux would likely not prove to be wars like the aforementioned bouts, but the skill level both men could exhibit is just about on par with them.

Let us hope this happens, for a battle between these gifted men would be icing on the cake of a year that has seen Floyd Mayweather, JR. and Manny Pacquiao take place, and will see Saul Alvarez and Miguel Cotto fight it out.

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