Are we closer to a potential clash between Guillermo Rigondeaux and Vasyl Lomachenko?
A few days ago Gary Hyde, Rigondeaux’s manager, issued a statement that Rigondeaux was willing to fight Lomachenko at a catch-weight of 124 lbs. and with a rehydration clause. It was a nation that Egis Klimas, Lomachenko’s manager immediately turned down in an interview with Boxing Scene. It’s either 126 or no fight.
Today World Boxing News reported that Rigondeaux, through Hyde, is indeed willing to meet Lomachenko at 126.
“Lomachenko’s manager Egis Klimas is very interested in his charge fighting Rigo. He agrees with me that it’s the best fight out there for both fighters,” Hyde said.
While Hyde says Rigondeaux is willing to fight at 126, he indeed wants a rehydration clause, something according to Hyde, Lomachenko’s team has agreed to.
“He wants the fight at 126, but I wanted a rehydration clause of 134 on fight night, which he has now agreed to. We didn’t get the fight at 124, but the most important thing for us is what weight Loma would be on fight night.”
Hyde claims it was very important not to give away too much size in this fight should it happen.
“When you take (Nonito) Donaire’s weight of 140 when he fought Rigo into account, 134 is much more favorable to us. I have relayed this to Rigo and we will make an announcement soon.”
So are we close to the fight happening? It wasn’t too long ago Carl Frampton mentioned on a conference call that he would love to fight Rigondeaux and since he was an Al Haymon fighter, it was possible.
Word out of Miami was that Rigondeaux was indeed in talks with the super advisor on a potential deal. If Rigondeaux was to sign with Haymon, this almost ends talks of a potential bout with Lomachenko.
Then, there’s this from Top Rank’s V.P. Carl Moretti in speaking with Dan Rafael of ESPN.
“I don’t know what Hyde is talking about. There’s a little bit of interest on our side, but there have been no negotiations, no phone calls, no discussions about the fight,” Moretti said. “No nothing. Lomachenko is also not interested in a catch-weight fight.”
Maybe the issue was the catch-weight or maybe not? Stay tuned.
