Boxing
Cuban sunset: Rigondeaux and Gamboa
Rigondeaux will face Jose Velasquez (34-13-3, 24 KO), and Gamboa will face Alexander Espinoza (20-5-1, 9 KO). The two icons of Cuban boxing, the twin headliners, are almost a hundred years ancient together; Gamboa is 45 years ancient and Rigondeaux is 44. Although both men are near the end of their careers, both Cuban migrants have achieved a lot in boxing.
Cuban citizens fleeing their homeland is not uncommon, and sports are no exception. Especially in baseball and boxing, many athletes left the island in pursuit of a professional career. The amateur boxing system in Cuba is legendary. One of the greatest Cuban boxers of all time, Teofilmo Stevenson, was so in love with his homeland that he never left it. Despite offers from promoters salivating at the prospect of Stevenson fighting Muhammad Ali, Stevenson became famed for saying, “What’s a million dollars compared to the love of eight million Cubans?”
Rigondeaux was born in Santiago de Cuba, the second largest city on the island. Rigondeaux is a two-weight world champion, a two-time Olympic gold medalist in 2000 and 2004, and widely considered one of the greatest amateur boxers of all time, with a record of 463-12 in the amateur rankings. Hall of Fame coach Freddie Roach called Rigondeaux “probably the greatest talent I’ve ever seen.”
Rigondeaux was a powerhouse from the beginning of his professional career, becoming the unified junior bantamweight champion and then winning the 126-pound title. His technique and precision were sublime. Rigondeaux then met one of the few players who matched his technical skills, Vasyl Lomachenko.
In December 2017, Rigondeaux moved up two weight classes to challenge Lomachenko at 130 pounds. For the first time, men with two Olympic gold medals competed in the professional ranks. Though both were decorated amateurs, Lomachenko was naturally the bigger man. At the official weigh-in, Rigondeaux weighed 128.4 pounds and Lomachenko weighed 129 pounds. But these numbers don’t tell the whole story. The next day, after both rehydrated, Lomachenko weighed 137.4 pounds and Rigondeaux weighed 130 pounds.
Lomachenko impressively won the fight via TKO in six rounds after Rigondeaux was out for round 7. Rigondeaux said he broke the top of his left hand in the second round. It was Rigondeaux’s first loss since he became an amateur in 2003.
After the loss to Lomachenko, Rigondeaux won three fights in a row before losing the next two in a row. The first was a split decision loss to John Riel Casimero, followed by a unanimous decision defeat to Vincent Astrolabio. Despite a career setback a month later, Rigondeaux avoided a catastrophic, life-changing defeat.
The fact that Rigondeaux is fighting at all now is a minor miracle. In March 2022, he was nearly blinded after an accident at home when a pressure cooker exploded in his face while Rigondeaux was cooking Cuban black beans. Despite suffering severe burns and losing over 80% of his vision, his corneas regrew and fortunately Rigondeaux was able to recover and return to the ring.
Gamboa, a native of Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, was the world featherweight champion and won a gold medal at the 2004 Olympics. Before fleeing Cuba, Gamboa sold his gold medal and gave the proceeds to his family.
After his defection, Gamboa, nicknamed El Ciclón de Guantanamo, meaning “The Cyclone of Guantanamo”, began his professional career with 23 straight wins before meeting Terence Crawford.
After losing to Crawford, Gamboa became much less busy. Gamboa has suffered losses in his last three fights, losing to Gervonta Davis, Devin Haney and ultimately Isaac Cruz in April 2022. Gamboa was knocked down three times in his fights with Davis and Cruz. Gamboa hung up his gloves. That was until February last year, when he agreed to a contract with BKB Bare Knuckle Boxing. And now we are here at the FTL War Memorial Auditorium.
Derek Chisora accused Dana White of operating like a “slave owner,” but Conor Benn’s lucrative move to Zuffa Boxing offers a substantial counterpoint to the heavyweight’s attack.
Chisora’s complaint centered on White turning fighters away from his platform. That hardly explains the comparison, especially with Benn reportedly collecting $15 million for his first Zuffa appearance alone.
“Dana White is not my cup of tea, to be honest with you,” Chisora said in an interview with Fight Hub TV following the Tyson Fury–Anthony Joshua press conference. “Because the way he operates is just, he operates like a slave owner, man. You know, fighters want to fight on his platform. He tells them, ‘You’re not good enough for me, so go away.’ What is a fighter going to do? What is he going to do after that? That’s not right.”
Benn’s experience makes that accusation difficult to defend. His reported $15 million purse for facing Regis Prograis was followed by a world-title opportunity against Ryan Garcia. White’s platform has delivered both substantial money and a major fight for the British welterweight.
One boxer’s earnings cannot answer every question about a promoter’s treatment of fighters. But Chisora supplied no named example to support his accusation. Benn gives readers something concrete to weigh against it.
Chisora also argued that a fighter who performs poorly one night can improve the next time. Fair enough. Promoters still have to decide whom to sign, how many places they can offer, and which fights they want to stage. Wanting a contract does not create an entitlement to one.
His example concerns access to White’s platform, rather than restrictions imposed on someone already fighting there. Those are different issues, and Chisora never explained how rejection justified his language.
Asked about the dispute between Eddie Hearn and White, Chisora made his personal dislike clear. What he failed to provide was an argument strong enough to carry such a loaded accusation.
Filip Hrgovic questions how Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua have earned a fight for the WBA “Super” heavyweight title, arguing that attaching the belt to their matchup damages boxing’s credibility.
The fight already has two recognizable names and a rivalry that can sell without a championship. Adding a world title invites a different question: what have either man’s recent performances done to justify that reward?
“They are both big superstars, but how are they fighting for a title?” Hrgovic told The Stomping Ground when asked about the proposed WBA title stakes. “Where did that come from? … These kinds of decisions, it’s killing the sport. It’s not good for the sport. And because of these funny decisions, people don’t consider boxing a serious sport.”
Fury and Joshua already have the recognition to sell their fight. Their rivalry is the attraction. Adding the WBA’s highest heavyweight title gives the event a sporting endorsement that requires more explanation than either man’s name can provide.
Gassiev’s position makes that harder to justify. With him holding the regular championship, the proposed title stakes would allow Fury and Joshua to fight for superior recognition within the same organization without going through its existing titleholder. What, then, is Gassiev’s belt supposed to mean?
That is the weakness of the WBA’s multiple-title structure. A fighter can hold its championship and still watch a more commercially attractive pairing receive the bigger prize. The distinction becomes difficult to defend if the organization cannot explain the sporting criteria behind it.
There is also a financial question worth asking. Sanctioning a major event can benefit the organization collecting the fees. That makes a clear explanation of eligibility especially necessary: what qualifies Fury and Joshua for this opportunity, and how does Gassiev fit into the decision?
Hrgovic has his own interests. He wants recognition as the division’s best champion and would benefit from undermining rival claims. But his objection still demands an answer.
Fans can enjoy Fury-Joshua as a major occasion without treating it as the fight that establishes heavyweight supremacy. The WBA risks blurring that distinction by attaching its highest title to a matchup whose appeal is already secure.
The rivalry gives the promotion something valuable to sell. The championship should represent something the fighters have earned.
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