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.
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