How Vasyl Lomachenko vs Guillermo Rigondeaux ensures that 2017 will be ended in style for the sport of boxing.
In what should prove to be an historic, rewarding and and more than likely entertaining fashion, the electrifying year of 2017 is significantly sealed by the upcoming bout between two of boxing’s most talented fighters of the modern era.
The stage is set for December 9th, at the legendary Madison Square Garden when junior lightweight world titlist Vasyl Lomachenko and junior featherweight world titleholder Guillermo Rigondeaux face each other.
If a critical fight fan has been keeping up with current events, then it goes without saying that the rarity of having this magnitude of boxing intellect, amateur and Olympic experience (two gold medals a piece) is undoubtedly exclusive in a professional bout.
“Weight classes don’t win fights – fighters do.”
Rigondeaux has made it very clear through many interviews, training videos and on social media that he is striving to make believers out of the fans who would say he’s “too small” to move up two weight divisions and face Lomachenko.
With the talk of weight, both fighters have agreed with a weight check on the morning of the fight – enforcing a limit of 138lbs.
Lomachenko’s height stands at 5’6, while “Rigo” stands only one inch shorter and on top of that, has a reach advantage over “Loma” by almost three inches.
Both fighters box in a southpaw stance and with the weight check in place, there really isn’t a significant difference between the two fighters.
One thing that may separate the fighters are the way they box. Their styles are very particular and both have features that are flashy depending on what a fan admires.
Rigondeaux arguably has the most accurate connect percentage in the sport, while rarely taking any damage at all.
A pure defensive master, while Lomachenko has almost awkward, yet unpredictable methods that have forced his opponents to quit on the stool.
Both carry the remedy for a beautiful contest in the square circle.
The decorated amateur backgrounds from both fighters are nothing short of amazing and together they have accumulate a combined total of 859 victories and only 13 defeats.
Rigondeaux was 463-12 and won Olympic gold medals in 2000 and 2004 for Cuba, as Lomachenko went 396-1 and won Olympic gold medals for Ukraine in 2008 and 2012.
When reflecting on all the boxing within 2017, it goes without saying that fans have been spoiled with phenomenal match-ups and entertaining performances.
Thurman-Garcia, Jack-DeGale, Brook-Spence Jr. Golovkin-Canelo are just a handful.
Fans preach the saying “the best fighting the best” and come December 9th, boxing will finally hit the jackpot, making Vasyl Lomachenko vs Guillermo Rigondeaux the pinnacle of fights and without a doubt capping the year of extraordinary boxing.
