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The top super bantamweight in the world returns to the ring tonight as WBA/WBO champion Guillermo Rigondeaux puts his titles on the line at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City when he faces the challenge of Joseph Agbeko.
This will be the fifth world title bout of Rigondeaux’s career, which is amazing given the fact that he has only boxed in 12 professional fights.
The Cuban southpaw’s incredible talent carried him to dizzying heights as an amateur, winning Olympic Gold medals at bantamweight in 2000 and 2004 before getting thrown off the Cuban team for an attempted defection in 2007.
The 33 year old, who now resides in Miami, Florida, suceeded in defecting in 2009 and also turned pro, winning the NABA super bantam strap later that year in just his third contest, halting Giovanni Andrade in three rounds.
Four fights later, “El Chacal” [The Jackal] won the Interim WBA belt via split decision over Ricardo Cordoba but the rush job of his pro career showed signs of strain as Rigondeaux had to climb off the canvas in the sixth frame.
In January, 2012, Rigondeaux was ready for the big dance and didn’t disappoint as he lifted the full WBA crown from Rico Ramos via a sickening sixth round body shot.
After two successful defenses, the Santiago de Cuba born lefty went all the way to the top of the 122 pound heap by upsetting the division’s reigning kingpin, WBO champ Nonito Donaire.
Rigondeaux put on a masterful display, outfighting the heavy-handed Californian and showing a masterful defense but was knocked down in the tenth from a perfect counter shot.
Tonight, Rigondeaux, 12-0 (98, places both the WBA and WBO titles at risk as he meets Ghana’s Joseph Agbeko, 29-4 (22), who steps up in weight.
Agbeko, now residing in The Bronx, is coming off an IBO bantam title winning effort against Luis Melendez in March and formerly held the IBF belt at 118 pounds on two occasions.
The 33 year old has wins over Vic Darchinyan, Luis Perez and Yonnhy Perez, while losing to Perez and twice to Abner Mares, with all of those contests being for the IBF strap.
Can Agbeko successfully move up to 122 pounds against Rigondeaux? It is definitely a huge undertaking doing so against such a talented fighter.
Rigondeaux has amazing fundamental boxing skills, augmented by very fast hands and good power in both hands. Agbeko is much more a brawler than a boxer and that gives him a chance on one hand but could be his undoing against the champion.
The brawling could work for Agbeko if he can draw Rigondeaux into a fight as the Ghanaian excels in slugfests where his fluid style and lead right hands make him dangerous for all 12 rounds.
This approach also nullifies a lot of Rigondeaux’s advantages, opening him up to shots he would normally not get hit with.
But it Rigondeaux stands off and wants to box, the wide-swinging Agbeko will get countered by powerful left hands to the head and body; he will be lucky to won more than two rounds if this occurs.
