If anyone has a right to think big, it’s Guillermo Rigondeaux.
The 39-year-old Cuban defector is a two-time Olympic champion, former unified 122-pound titleholder and a longtime member of the pound-for-pound club, a distinction that ended when he moved up to 130 pounds to face Vasiliy Lomachenko and was knocked out in 2017.
At that point, many believed the aging boxing wizard was more or less finished as an elite fighter. Wellllllllll …
Rigondeaux (20-1, 13 KOs) has won three consecutive fights since his setback, two at a more natural 122 pounds and one – a decision over Liborio Solis – at 118 on Feb. 8, his most recent fight.
And he says he’s just getting started even as he approaches 40. He told El Nuevo Herald that he plans to climb back onto pound-for-pound lists at 118 pounds and then move back up to 122.
Rigondeaux won what the WBC calls its “regular” title when he beat Solis. Boxing Junkie doesn’t recognize that belt.
“I was the pound-for-pound champion at 122,” he said. “I’m going to be the best, pound-for-pound in the 118-pound division and then I’m going to go up again for 122. So you know, I’m not done yet. It’s now that I start.’
“… “We’re not done, now we start. The Jackal is not finished, now it starts. I’m still a champion at 118. I’m here. I keep making history. I’m a three-time world champion: two at 122 and one at 118.”
What’s next?
Japanese star Naoya Inoue is the actual WBA 118-pound titleholder and holds another belt. However, he was set to face fellow beltholder John Riel Casimero in a unification bout when the coronavirus pandemic took hold.
The fourth titleholder is Nordine Oubaali but he’s expected to defend against No. 1 contender Nonito Donaire.
That leaves Rigondeaux’s immediate future uncertain, although it sounds as if he’ll be ready to go when the phone rings.