Guillermo Rigondeaux has defected, turrning pro

[Taeth]

If he is anything like he was in the amateurs he will destroy either of them. Think Roy Jones athletically, but fights like a Pernell Whitaker with movement.

Good the see people ain't going overboard.

Have you even watched him? Abner Mares, one of the most cockstroked fighters on this board was completely owned by him.

Lost once in his last 6 years at the world level as an amateur.

His athletic ability and evasiveness is it obvious to anybody who has watched him.

People knew Mayweather and Jones would be great because of their amateur careers, he is on their level. Only a Amir Khan chin will make him anything but a p4p contender, unless his body falls apart.

[DC Amateur Boxing]

Craziest part of this story to me was that he left his wife and 7 year old son behind. I'm not even going to pretend to be a political or social analyst - but that's got to weigh on the mind and really suck. I'm not sure how Cuba's govt handles these type of high profile defections. I know that there have been many boxers that did it. I hope it works out for him and he does well. I'm for anyone who can bring better talent to pro boxing - period.

[eagle]

If he is anything like he was in the amateurs he will destroy either of them. Think Roy Jones athletically, but fights like a Pernell Whitaker with movement.

Good the see people ain't going overboard.

Have you even watched him? Abner Mares, one of the most cockstroked fighters on this board was completely owned by him.

Lost once in his last 6 years at the world level as an amateur.

His athletic ability and evasiveness is it obvious to anybody who has watched him.

People knew Mayweather and Jones would be great because of their amateur careers, he is on their level. Only a Amir Khan chin will make him anything but a p4p contender, unless his body falls apart.

Settle mate. No one is doubting his ability as an amature, or the fact he should do well as a pro. I for one was just pointing out its a tad early to compare him to Jones and Whitaker.

As for Mares he was only 18 when Rigondeaux beat him, Gulllermo was 23.

[DC Amateur Boxing]

Settle mate. No one is doubting his ability as an amature, or the fact he should do well as a pro. I for one was just pointing out its a tad early to compare him to Jones and Whitaker.

As for Mares he was only 18 when Rigondeaux beat him, Gulllermo was 23.

Sorry, I have to jump on the bandwagon. Watching an early (I did say early) Lara and Gamboa - knowing that Rigo is admittedly ten times better than those guys - I can't wait to see him in action as a pro. Against anyone, I don't care who. Only time will tell, but I'd put my money on him to be a great one. I know it's early, but "they" said that about Tyson at 15!!!

[eagle]

Settle mate. No one is doubting his ability as an amature, or the fact he should do well as a pro. I for one was just pointing out its a tad early to compare him to Jones and Whitaker.

As for Mares he was only 18 when Rigondeaux beat him, Gulllermo was 23.

Sorry, I have to jump on the bandwagon. Watching an early (I did say early) Lara and Gamboa - knowing that Rigo is admittedly ten times better than those guys - I can't wait to see him in action as a pro. Against anyone, I don't care who. Only time will tell, but I'd put my money on him to be a great one. I know it's early, but "they" said that about Tyson at 15!!!

10 times better?

[Violent Demise]

If he is anything like he was in the amateurs he will destroy either of them. Think Roy Jones athletically, but fights like a Pernell Whitaker with movement.

Good the see people ain't going overboard.

Have you even watched him? Abner Mares, one of the most cockstroked fighters on this board was completely owned by him.

Lost once in his last 6 years at the world level as an amateur.

His athletic ability and evasiveness is it obvious to anybody who has watched him.

People knew Mayweather and Jones would be great because of their amateur careers, he is on their level. Only a Amir Khan chin will make him anything but a p4p contender, unless his body falls apart.

Yeah well people thought Mark Breland and Kelcie Banks would be great as well. Didn't quite turn out that way. Amatuer and pro's are vastly different than before. Like i said before, Rigondeaux is an outstanding talent. He'll will do well. But if you put him in there early against Rafael Marquez he will get knocked out. Rigondeaux is at an advance age. But he's never faced any one who hits as hard as Marquez.

[Violent Demise]

Settle mate. No one is doubting his ability as an amature, or the fact he should do well as a pro. I for one was just pointing out its a tad early to compare him to Jones and Whitaker.

As for Mares he was only 18 when Rigondeaux beat him, Gulllermo was 23.

Sorry, I have to jump on the bandwagon. Watching an early (I did say early) Lara and Gamboa - knowing that Rigo is admittedly ten times better than those guys - I can't wait to see him in action as a pro. Against anyone, I don't care who. Only time will tell, but I'd put my money on him to be a great one. I know it's early, but "they" said that about Tyson at 15!!!

10 times better?

No

[Spicoli]

Have to plead some ignorance as far as Rigondeaux,but we ARE talking of a top ranked amatuer star...right Entirely different world in the pros....hype and rush like that gets guys KTFO fast.Best of luck to him,hope he grows into something special.

[Taeth]

Good the see people ain't going overboard.

Have you even watched him? Abner Mares, one of the most cockstroked fighters on this board was completely owned by him.

Lost once in his last 6 years at the world level as an amateur.

His athletic ability and evasiveness is it obvious to anybody who has watched him.

People knew Mayweather and Jones would be great because of their amateur careers, he is on their level. Only a Amir Khan chin will make him anything but a p4p contender, unless his body falls apart.

Yeah well people thought Mark Breland and Kelcie Banks would be great as well. Didn't quite turn out that way. Amatuer and pro's are vastly different than before. Like i said before, Rigondeaux is an outstanding talent. He'll will do well. But if you put him in there early against Rafael Marquez he will get knocked out. Rigondeaux is at an advance age. But he's never faced any one who hits as hard as Marquez.

Even Mark Breland, and Kelcie Banks didn't stand out like this guy did. You aren't listening he has been the best amateur EVER. I am not comparing his outcome to Whitaker and Roy Jones Jr., what I am saying is that athleticially he is on the same level as Roy JOnes Jr. And stylistically he is like Whitaker. Also how do you know if Marquez has fought somebody who hits as hard as Rigondeaux or vice virsa? Rigondeaux is one of the few small guys I've seen knock guys out or get flash knockdowns at the top level of the amateur rankings consistently. Also who says Marquez would even land solidly on Rigondeaux?

Would you put your money on Rafael finding Mayweather in the ring? I think Rigondeaux will probably be brought a long a little slower, but if you give him a few of early 4-6 rounders then a few 8-10 rounders, he would honestly be ready for the best in the pros as long as his skills haven't eroded. So in 8-10 fights I could see him fighting for a championship, he is that much better than anybody else that has come out of the amateurs in at least 10 years. I also think this should make guys like Gamboa a lot better because he will have a guy who is faster and better than him to train against, to keep him a little more honest.

This isn't some kid who is your average amateur star, this isn't some guy like Gamboa who has been at the top of the sport and has lost his fair share. This is a guy who has lost once in six years at the top of the amateurs, a guy who's style is tailor made to make any pro shit their pants, he is nearly impossible to hit, and he counters very hard. LIke I said he was known as a bonafide puncher as an amateur, if he has one punch power with amateur gloves and helmets, he should be a way bigger puncher at pros, he gets awsome leverage on his left cross. Think Manny Pacquiao but on balance, he is able to get that kind of rotation in his waist but still doesn't lose balance.

I think people are looking at Gamboa as reason for Guillermo to be brought along slowly, but Gamboa is doing very well despite the knockdowns(which are the only rounds he's lost in his career) and he has always been easy to hit, he didn't have the same type of power Rigondeaux did as an amateur, nor did he win as much.

[kingfrnk]

Good the see people ain't going overboard.

Apparently he has Haglers chin, Hearns power and Lennox's reach too........

Might as well just hand him the titles since nobody else stands a chance.

damn.....lol

[Taeth]

Sorry, I have to jump on the bandwagon. Watching an early (I did say early) Lara and Gamboa - knowing that Rigo is admittedly ten times better than those guys - I can't wait to see him in action as a pro. Against anyone, I don't care who. Only time will tell, but I'd put my money on him to be a great one. I know it's early, but "they" said that about Tyson at 15!!!

10 times better?

No

He honestly is 10 times better than Gamboa or Lara. He is the perfect combination of speed, power and technique, that is why he is one of my favorite fighters ever, even before he was going to go pro, I've seen him get hit like everybody and I hope he has a great chin too, he's never been stopped as amateur(then again he's hardly ever lost), but growing up in Cuba where everybody is talented and good boxers, and to barely lose or get stopped means he is something we may have not seen before.

[amat]

While I think you are exxaggerating a little bit, I do think you are right in saying this is the best guy to turn pro in a loongg time. And he is on a different level then everyone else.

I don't know I totally see the Pernell Whitaker though, I guess you're talking about the demeanor more then the styles but I'd give Marquez and Izzy their fair shot and I'd shit myself to see him and JML fight one day.

[Taeth]

Name one guy who is a better talent than him since Mayweather, if Mayweather even as good of a talent as him.

[Violent Demise]

10 times better?

No

He honestly is 10 times better than Gamboa or Lara. He is the perfect combination of speed, power and technique, that is why he is one of my favorite fighters ever, even before he was going to go pro, I've seen him get hit like everybody and I hope he has a great chin too, he's never been stopped as amateur(then again he's hardly ever lost), but growing up in Cuba where everybody is talented and good boxers, and to barely lose or get stopped means he is something we may have not seen before.

Can you suck his dikk any harder? Think about that stupid comment for a second. 10 times better? Really?

I think you saw his fight with Abner Mares for the first time recently and decided to fall in love with Rigondeaux. And I can see why. Rigondeaux looked great. But guess what? That was in 2003. He's not the same fighter he was. Look at his 2006 fight with Rau'shee Warren. While he's still very good you can tell the difference. Now it's 2009. 3 years later. Not only has he not been active but Rigondeaux always has had a reputation for loving the night life. To think he's the same fighter he was in the early 2000's is foolish. Rigondeaux will be a good pro. I can easily see him being champion. But he will not be the Superman your making him out to be. He's beatable.

[Taeth]

Have you watched Rau'Shee Warren who was a world champion, and got screwed in his first fight of the tournament? He's extremely fast, very good technically, and could cause anybody problems. Rigondeaux went on to stop Ali Aliyev to win that tournament. Not only that but he went on to win every fight from that point until his amateur career ended which was 14 fights later. The fact is at the amateurs every can have a bad night, its not like the pros where you prepare for one fighter for 2-3 months. Which IMO makes him all the better because, he has had to fight multiple opponents with multiple styles and still finds a way to almost ALWAYS win. Even Leonard said being a pro was a lot easier than being an amateur because you didn't get breaks between fights, you fought hurt a lot, and that consistency was much more difficult. He lost to guys liek Ronnie Shields as an amateur.

Rigondeaux has always been a drinker and a smoker, when did that stop Monzon, or Duran, or JCC anywhere near their prime?

10 times better is a figure of speech dumbass, it doesn't mean if you made Gamboa 10 times faster, 10 times stronger, 10 times harder of a hitter that Rigondeaux would beat him, it means he is significantly better. Anybody who watched the amateurs at all would know that. He is better than Gamboa in every respect, he hits harder, he's faster, he's harder to hit.