In the era of the Soviet Union, Cuban sport, in particular boxing, experienced a period of recovery. It is safe to say that the Soviet fist masters formed a Cuban boxing school. For many years to this day, athletes from this country have performed excellently at the international level, both among amateurs and among professionals. This article will talk about Guillermo Rigondo - an athlete who managed to achieve champion titles in both amateur and pro-ring.
Biographical excursion
The world famous Cuban was born on the last September day of 1980 in Santiago de Cuba. Guillermo Rigondo fought in the weight category up to 54 kilograms as part of his national team. His international debut came at the Giraldo Cordova Cardin tournament, where he was able to take first place.
Olympic Games and Amateur Tournaments
In 2000, the Cuban went to the Sydney Olympics. These prestigious international competitions were a real triumph for him, because it was in Australia that he won his first Olympic title. In the final, he defeated the representative of Russia, Raimkul Malakbekov.
In 2001, Rigondo was able to become the world champion in Belfast, but this height was unattainable for him at a similar tournament in Bangkok in 2003.
At the 2004 Athens Olympics Guillermo Rigondo was considered the main candidate for the championship and fully justified his favorite status by defeating the Thai Voropai Pechkooma in the final fight.
The last major international success awaited the Cuban at the 2005 World Championships held in China.
Fugitive
On July 22, 2007 Guillermo and his teammate Erislandi Lara fled their team’s location during one of the international tournaments in the Brazilian capital. Soon there was information that both boxers were in the ranks of the promotional company Arena Box Promotions. But the reality turned out to be harsher: in early August 2007, athletes were arrested and deported to Cuba, where they were expected to shame and deprive seats in the national team.
Transition to Professionals
For the first time Guillermo Rigondo entered the ring as a pro on May 22, 2009. In that fight, he defeated Juan Noriega by technical knockout. In general, the Cuban owns several professional boxing records. For example, his third duel was title and twelve round. In the seventh battle, he fought for the interim champion title, and in the ninth, for the full champion belt.
WBA belt conquest
At the end of January 2012 Guillermo Rigondo, whose fights have always been of great interest to the public, met with the then-reigning world champion Rico Ramos. Already in the first three minutes, the American was knocked down. In the sixth round, the Cuban was warned for a blow to the back of the head, after which he literally bumped into Rico and knocked him out.
Unification duel
On April 13, 2013 Guillermo Rigondo - a boxer who is rightly considered the best in his weight - went into battle with the representative of the Philippines Nonito Donaire. At that time, the Filipino had three times more fighting behind him than the Cuban. Rigondo was more accurate and faster than Donaire. Already in the first round, the Cuban was able to stagger Nonito. The Filipino walked forward quite actively, but the Olympic champion from Liberty Island skillfully moved on his feet and defended himself well. However, in the tenth round, Doner still managed to knock Guillermo out of the clinch. However, according to the results of the whole battle, the Cuban won the referee's decision and, thus, combined the WBA and WBO belts.
Fight with the Japanese and dispossession
On the last December day of 2014, Rigondo fought with Hisashi Amagas. The Cuban won the first four rounds without any problems. But in the 7th round, an extremely unpleasant surprise awaited him - he was knocked down twice. This situation forced Guillermo to pack up and start working in full force. As a result, in the 11th round, the Japanese refused to continue the fight.
In October 2015, the Cuban was stripped of the WBO world title due to prolonged downtime and not holding the belt for nine months.
On July 16, 2016 Guillermo Rigondo and James Dickens held a previously planned fight, which was originally supposed to take place in March. Then the fight was canceled for the reason that the Cuban was denied a British visa. Nevertheless, their battle took place later, and again the victory was celebrated by Rigondo.