Headline NewsPro News

McGuigan: Rigo is the best but does a fight with him generate interest?

Guillermo Rigondeaux is the #1 super bantamweight in the World, but not number 1 on ‘The Jackal’s’ hit list according to Barry McGuigan.

The Cuban former World champ and two time Olympic medal winner will fight in England on March 22 and is coming to this side of the Atlantic to try and secure a bout with super bantamweight big earners Carl Frampton and Scott Quigg, who square off on Febraury 27.

Indeed, the former Irish managed fighter, who was stripped of his WBO and WBA titles for inactivity, has been calling out both fighters, even suggesting they are running scared.

Frampton, himself has always said he would like to face ‘Rigo’ to prove he is the best at the weight and has admitted he feels sorry for a fighter he has always admired because of the situation he finds himself in.

Part of the problem is while Rigondeaux, who will be mandatory for the winner of the eagerly anticipated Manchester hosted bout according to the WBA, is exceptionally talented he doesn’t ensure big viewing figures and thus big revenue. As a result CEO of Cyclone Promotions and Irish fight legend McGiugan takes the common sense business view that there are more attractive options out there for Frampton post Quigg.

“This (Frampton versus Quigg) is another NigelBenn-Chris Eubank. This is a major, major fight. I genuinely think, around the world, this is the most eagerly anticipated super-bantamweight fight,” the Belfast Newsletter quoted McGuigan as saying.

“WBC champion Julio Ceja doesn’t have the credibility, Leo Santa Cruz has gone to featherweight, but that’s still a fight we want.

“Rigondeaux’s negative. He’s amazing, but there are lots of amazing things you can only watch for a certain amount of time. I still think he’s the best super-bantamweight in the world, Carl and Scott are below him. Rigo’s number one in the world, there’s no question about that.

“This game is not just about titles, it’s about money. Does it create money, does it create interest? Santa Cruz and Carl? Yes. Santa Cruz and Scott? Yes. Frampton and Quigg? Absolutely. Santa Cruz and Rigo? Hmm.

“Although we’re 100% focused on February 27, I’m looking at Santa Cruz, Gary Russell Jnr. If the money is right, maybe even jumping to super-featherweight.”

If the undefeated Belfast 28 year old over comes Quigg on February 27 he will have a number of options. Santa Cruz and Russell Jr, who we are informed Patrick Hyland will challenge next month, are big name options, but Rigondeaux is hanging around and Shingo Wake is mandatory for the IBF title.

It could be Frampton vacates the WBA title, a strap he has often points out Quigg didn’t claim in legitimate fashion in Belfast in the Summer before eyeing up a return to America and a massive fight with a big featherweight name.

irishboxing

Integral part of the Irish boxing community for over 13 years

x