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Guillermo Rigondeaux
Promises Explosive Fireworks Display New Year's Eve In Japan
After enduring a frustrating year in which he has fought
only once, unified world super bantamweight champion
Guillermo "The Jackal" Rigondeaux (14-0, 9 KOs) is
prepared to defend his World Boxing Organization (WBO)
title belt this Wednesday, New Year's Eve, against WBO
No. 6 rated challenger Hisashi Amagasa (28-4-2, 19 KOs)
at Bodymaker Colosseum in Osaka, Japan.
Rigondeaux, who resides in Miami, is also the World
Boxing Association (WBA) Super and The Ring Magazine
super bantamweight champion.
The 34-year-old Rigondeaux, a two-time Olympic gold
medalist from Cuba, arrived Dec. 21 in Japan and the
pound-for-pound star is extremely grateful for the
overwhelmingly warm reception he has received from
countless Japanese boxing fans who've watched him train
or approached him in Osaka.
Last July in Macao, Rigondeaux successfully defended his
WBO/WBA Super titles, destroying challenger Sod
Kokietgym (63-2-1) in the opening round of the
ultra-skilled Cuban's lone fight to date in 2014.
The 5' 10 ½" Amagasa towers over the diminutive
Rigondeaux, who is 6 ½ inches shorter than his Japanese
opponent. Rigondeaux, however, isn't concerned in the
least about their differences in height because of his
past success against many taller foes.
"This is my second time fighting in Asia this year,"
Rigondeaux said. "I am very frustrated that the other
world belt holders are running scared and won't fight
me. It's disgraceful that we couldn't find a
world-class, 122-pound fighter to fight me, so, I would
like to thank Amagasa for dropping down from
featherweight (126 lbs. division) to challenge me. I
will put on an explosive fireworks display on New Year's
Eve in Japan."
Unfortunately, Rigondeaux vs. Amagasa will not be
televised in the US or Europe, however, there will be an
estimated 30-million Japanese fans tuning in to
watch 'Rigo' perform.
Japanese press have reported that Rigondeaux is the
biggest star to fight in Japan in nearly a
quarter-century, since "Iron" Mike Tyson fought against
James "Buster" Douglas there in February 1990,
describing Rigondeaux as a "Monster Superstar."
'We have already been offered a fight against another
Japanese challenger in Japan this coming May,"
Rigondeaux' manager Gary Hyde added. "Rigondeaux is in
tremendous condition, as always, and we are very
confident going into this fight on New Year's Eve that 'Rigo'
will put on a another stellar performance.
"In January, we will sit down and discuss the terms of a
promotional contract that was initially offered to us
this past summer and is now back on the table.
Hopefully, we will come to an agreement with this
promotional company and 'Rigo' will be back fighting on
mainstream television networks in 2015."
Hyde also reported that if, as reports have circulated,
WBC super bantamweight champion Leo Santa Cruz (20-0-1,
16 KOs) is seriously interested in fighting Rigondeaux,
"Rigo" will return from Japan to fight Santa Cruz in a
major unification bout January 17 in Las Vegas. Santa
Cruz is scheduled to fight an opponent to be determined
in the 12-round co-feature on a card headlined by the
WBC heavyweight title fight, airing live from MGM Grand
on Showtime, between defending champion Bermane Stiverne
and mandatory challenger Deontay Wilder.
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