Guillermo Rigondeaux

Olympic results

2000

2004

Other highlights

Defection

On July 22, 2007, Rigondeaux and teammate Erislandy Lara failed to appear for their scheduled bouts at the Pan American Games in Brazil. It was initially announced that Rigondeaux was to turn professional, joining fellow 2004 Cuban Olympians Odlanier Solis, Yuriorkis Gamboa and Yan Barthelemy, who defected earlier in 2007. As with the other Cuban defectors, Rigondeaux signed a promotional deal with Ahmet Oener and ARENA Box-Promotion. However, on August 2, Rigondeaux and Lara were taken into police custody in Brazil, stating that they wanted to return home to Cuba. However, Cuban leader Fidel Castro then stated that Rigondeaux and Lara could not box again for the Cuban team. In February 2009, Rigondeaux defected again via Mexico City to Miami, and signed with Arena Box-Promotion.

Early fights

On February 23, 2009, Rigondeaux was announced to have defected along with 2004 Olympic Silver Medalist Yudel Johnson, Yordanis Despaigne and Yunier Dorticos and is now in Miami and is managed by Irishman Gary Hyde. He will be training in the same gym as Yuriorkis Gamboa, Erislandi Lara and Odlanier Solis. and will continue his career as a professional once he completes all the residency requirements. He left behind his wife Farah Colina, a 7-year-old son and a 17-year-old stepson in Cuba. He is also reportedly staying in the home of countryman and featherweight contender Yuriorkis Gamboa.

Rigondeaux won his professional debut on May 22 with a third-round TKO over Juan Noriega in Miami. Although he did not maintain a busy punch volume, Rigondeaux still landed hard shots. Noriega barely countered Rigondeaux's punches and the referee found the opportunity to stop the fight after Rigondeaux connected with a solid right to the head. On July 17 he won his second pro fight against Robert Guillen by first round knock out. Rigondeaux wasn't active but he hit Guillen with a great hard counter punch to the body which left him rolling on the canvas in pain.

On September 18, Rigondeaux beat Giovanni Andrade by 3rd round TKO to win the NABA Super Bantamweight title, dropping Andrade once in each of rounds two and three.

On December 16, 2009 Rigondeaux won a Unanimous Decision over Lante Addy in 8 rounds, dropping Addy once in round one.

On February 5, 2010, Rigondeaux scored a 1st round Knockout against Adolfo Landeros, dropping Landeros with a hard left uppercut to the body.

Rigondeaux then signed a three-year contract with Bob Arum's Top Rank in July 2010. He is also co-promoted by Boris Arencibia's Caribe Promotions.

The Ricardo Cordoba fight was on the HBO televised undercard of the Manny Pacquiao vs. Antonio Margarito WBC Light Middleweight title fight at Cowboys Stadium, Dallas, in front of 41,734 people. This was the biggest fight in Rigondeaux's career to date. Rigondeaux knocked Cordoba down in the 4th with a body shot, but was judged to be knocked down in turn in the 6th, in what appeared to be a slip. Despite appearing to win clearly, the fight was judged a split decision, with Rigondeaux the victor and becoming a world champion in his 7th bout (though interim) winning the WBA Super Bantamweight title.

The fight against Willie Casey was live on RTÉ (Ireland) at the City West Convention Centre, Dublin, Ireland on the 19th of March 2011. This was Rigondeaux's first defense of his WBA Interim Title. A sweeping left uppercut in the opening round caught Casey flush and sent him back on his rear causing his glove to touch the mat at 1:45. He was up immediately and received a mandatory eight-count. A combination capped with a left hook sent Casey falling across the ring and down at 2:19. He was able to make it to his feet but was visibly wobbled. A follow-up barrage sent Casey stumbling forward. At that, the referee stepped in and waved an end to the bout.

Rigondeaux vs. Ramos

Rigondeaux won the "full" WBA World Super Bantamweight title by knocking out champion and Ring No. 2 ranked Super Bantamweight Rico Ramos (20-0, 11 KOs) in the 6th round. On January 20, 2012 Rigondeaux controlled the opening round against a tentative Ramos. He quickly moved into range and fired the left hand both to the body and upstairs. A straight left hand caught Ramos against the ropes and sent him down at 2:24 of the opening round. He was up quickly and received a mandatory eight-count. Rigondeaux attacked but Ramos gathered himself and finished the round. Output waned in the 2nd and 3rd Rounds both fighters looked for countering opportunities with neither seeming overly willing to open up. An accidental clash of heads opened a small cut on the outside of Ramos's left eyebrow near the end of Round 4. Rigondeaux was warned in Round 6 for pulling down the back of Ramos's head. Immediately after the warning, Rigondeaux came forward with a barrage and landed a clean left hand to the body that sent Ramos to the mat grimacing in pain. He remained down on his back as the referee reached the count of ten.

Rigondeaux has been trained under Ismael Salas after working with Freddie Roach, Alejandro "Pupi" Torre and Ronnie Shields, and has worked out with Jorge Rubio at his Xtreme Gym in Hialeah, Florida for the Teon Kennedy fight. DJ Montanocordoba has served as his physical conditioner.

Miscellaneous defences

Despite Rigondeaux and his camp's great efforts to make a fight with any of the other 122 pound champions, they have been dodged by the other champions such as Nonito Donaire, Toshiaki Nishioka, Jeffrey Mathebula and Abner Mares. Rigondeaux said, "They are cowards". That was why Rigondeaux said thanks to Teon Kennedy for being there at the pre-fight press conference and fought against him on the undercard of the Manny Pacquiao vs. Timothy Bradley at the MGM Grand Garden Arena. Rigondeaux knew the split decision victory against Ricardo Cordoba did not please the HBO people, and learned from it the importance of aggressiveness. From the standpoint of promotion, the second appearance on HBO was crucial to him. He did not want to make the same mistake as he did two years ago. Rigondeaux impressively stopped Kennedy in the 5th round after knocking him down five times all with his left cross, leading Kennedy to say "He just hits you with punches that you can't see". He has differentiated from the Cordoba fight. Now that he realized that he needed to not only win a fight but also entertain, his promoter Bob Arum stated that Rigondeaux could one day face Nonito Donaire, Jorge Arce, or Wilfredo Vázquez, Jr.

He fought against Roberto Marroquin on the undercard of the Sergio Martínez vs. Julio César Chávez, Jr. at the Thomas & Mack Center on September 15, 2012. It was a relatively easy night for Rigondeaux, who outworked and outlanded Marroquin and seemed to just cruise through the fight. Rigondeaux gave his young opponent the first knockdown of his career in the 5th round and scored another knockdown in the 12th round. The judges scored the bout: 118-108, 118-108 and 118-109, all three in favour of Rigondeaux who retained his WBA title by unanimous decision.

Rigondeaux vs. Donaire

Rigondeaux fought WBO and The Ring champion Nonito Donaire at Radio City Music Hall on April 13, 2013 in a unification fight. Rigondeaux left his trainer Jorge Rubio in order to start training with his former amateur trainer Pedro Diaz for this fight. Donaire came into the fight as the No. 5 pound-for-pound fighter in the world.

Rigondeaux defeated Donaire by unanimous decision with the scores of 114–113, 115–112, and 116–111, though the fight was considered much wider than the judges scorecards indicated. Rigondeaux frustrated Donaire early and often with his quick lead right hook, and left hand. Rigondeaux would continue to land the cleaner punches and dip out of range from Donaire for the first nine rounds of the fight. In the 10th round, while Rigondeaux attempted to clinch with Donaire, he was pushed off and caught with a straight left hand from Donaire, sending him to the canvas. Rigondeaux appeared to hurt Donaire with a straight left early in the 12th round, when Donaire covered up a severely swollen right eye and began bleeding from his mouth. Rigondeaux ended the round and fight targeting Donaire with his left hand, backing Donaire up.Rigondeaux out landed and out punched Donaire throughout the fight, winning a clear unanimous decision to unify titles and win The Ring Super Bantamweight title from Donaire.

RingTV.com scored it 117–110 in favor of Rigondeaux, and HBO's Harold Lederman had it 118–109 for him.

Rigondeaux vs. Agbeko

Rigondeaux was next scheduled to fight former bantamweight titlist Joseph Agbeko on December 7, 2013 at the Boardwalk Hall, Atlantic City, New Jersey, USA. Prior to the fight, there was rumours that a rematch could surface between Rigondeaux and Donaire. Rigondeaux was opened to the idea but stated if the fight was to take place again, Donaire would need to accept the fight at 123 pounds and weigh no more than 133 the next day. Rigondeaux retained the Lineal, WBO, Ring Magazine and WBA 'Super' World super bantamweight titles via unanimous decision. He won every round on all three judges scorecards (120-108). The fight was criticized for its lack of action.

Rigondeaux vs. Kokietgym

Top Rank announced the next defense would be against veteran Sod Kokietgym (63-2-1, 28 KOs) on July 19, 2014 at the Cotai Arena in Macao. Rigondeaux won the bout, after the fight was stopped half way through the first round. Kokietgym hit the canvas due to a hard, accidental head-butt, he was given time to recover, however when he got up, the two touched gloves as respect before Rigondeaux threw an ungentlemanly 'sucker punch' right hook to end the fight while they touched gloves with the other glove. This resembled the ending of the welterweight world title bout between Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Victor Ortiz in Las Vegas. This was the first professional fight for Rigondeaux outside of the United States and Kokietgym entered the fight having not lost in over eight years. It was the last time Rigondeaux fought under the Top Rank banner. After the fight, Rigondeaux states that he wanted to unify the division, proposing fights to fellow division titleholders Leo Santa Cruz and Kiko Martinez.

Rigondeaux vs. Amagasa, Francisco

Rigondeaux retained his titles against Japan's Hisashi Amagasa in Japan. Rigondeaux was down twice in the seventh round but stated one of them was a slip/push. Amagasa was down in the 9th. Referee Mike Ortega stopped the bout after Amagasa failed to get up off his stool after round 11.

On November 13, 2015 it was announced that Rigondeaux would return to the United States after 23 months, and his first fight in 11 months on the Cotto-Canelo PPV undercard on November 21, 2015 in at the Mandalay Bay Events Centre in Las Vegas against 33 year old Filipino boxer Drian Fancisco (28-3-1, 22 KOs). Rigondeaux won the fight via unanimous decision (97-93, 100-90 twice) in a very one-sided fight to claim the vacant WBC Silver International super bantamweight title.

Scheduled bout in UK and visa issues

Rigondeaux was scheduled to fight Liverpool's James 'Jazza' Dickens (22-1, 7 KOs) on March 12, 2016 at the Echo Arena, on the under-card of Terry Flanagan vs. Derry Matthews. This would be the UK debut for Rigondeaux, who was training in Russia. It was announced on the fight night that the fight was off and Rigondeaux had returned to the United States due to failing to obtain a UK visa. Dickens still fought on the undercard defeating Reynaldo Cajina.

WBA and lineal super bantamweight champion

On May 14, 2016 Rigondeaux was re-instated as the WBA 'Super' World Super Bantamweight champion due to Carl Frampton being stripped of the belt for failing to negotiate his first defence. Rigondeaux would most likely defend the title against Jazza Dickens or WBA bantamweight champion Jamie McDonnell. WBA ordered Rigondeaux to face interim titleholder Moises Flores (24-0, 17 KOs) by August 1, in a mandatory defence.

Rigondeaux vs. Dickens

It was confirmed that Rigondeaux would defend his Lineal and WBA 'Super' World title against Jazza Dickens on July 16 at the Ice Arena in Cardiff. The fight was originally scheduled for March, however was cancelled due to Rigondeaux having VISA issues. This was Rigondeaux's first fight in the UK. Rigondeaux retained his belts after breaking Dickens jaw in round 2 with a huge left hand. Dickens was forced to retire after the round.

Rigondeaux vs. Flores

On July 20, 2016 in their continued desire to reduce the number of champions, the WBA ordered Rigondeaux to make a mandatory defence of his title against their interim titleholder, 29-year-old Mexican boxer Moises Flores (25-0, 17 KO). On December 7, the WBA announced a purse bid would be held on December 19 at the WBA headquarters in Panama City with a minimum bid of $150,000 with Rigondeaux receiving the bigger split of 75% and 25% going to Flores. A deal was reached before the scheduled purse bids. Flores said he would be dedicating this fight to Alejandro Gonzalez, a boxer who was killed in Mexico in December. The fight would likely take place on the Roc Nation Sports card on February 25, 2017 live on HBO ppv, a co-feature to light-middleweight fight Cotto-Kirkland. Flores' IBO world title would also be at stake. The fight was officially announced on January 25, 2017. On February 2, Kirkland picked up a nose injury which initially called off his ppv fight with Cotto. Later that day, it was announced that the whole card had been cancelled. A new date of March or April was then discussed for the Rigondeaux vs. Flores fight.

The WBA ordered another purse bid to take place on April 3, 2017 at the Panama City headquarters, again with a minimum bid of $150,000. A deal was reached within a week on March 31 between both parties. The date being discussed was June 17, 2017 meaning it would be an undercard fight for Ward-Kovalev II on HBO PPV. Flores' promoter Tom Brown confirmed the terms were being agreed. It was reported that Rigondeaux would earn a purse of $120,000 whilst Flores would earn $25,000.

Rigondeaux retained his WBA and Lineal titles as well as claim the IBO super bantamweight title after controversially knocking Flores out at the end of round 1. Before the bell sounded for the end of the round, both fighters locked in a flurry, with Rigondeaux holding Flores' head, both exchanged combinations. Whilst Flores missed his shots, Rigondeaux landed a hook to the head after the bell. As referee Vic Drakulich managed to separate the two, Flores, after a split second, fell backwards. The referee then turned his attention to Flores and after viewing ringside replay, without sound, ruled it a knockout win for Rigondeaux. Rigondeaux said, through a translator, "We both threw punches at the same time and mine landed first. It was only a matter of time [until the knockout happened]."

Nevada State Athletic Commission executive director Bob Bennett was brought in to discuss the ending with HBO's Jim Lampley, and said if the punch was thrown after the bell, they would review the decision. He also went on to say that it could turn out as a disqualification loss for Rigondeaux. Paulie Malignaggi, who was working as a pundit for Sky Sports, thought Flores had over-reacted when he fell onto the canvas, maybe looking for a DQ win. The next day, Bob Bennett fully reviewed the tape and agreed the punch landed after the bell but was unintentional, meaning the result could change to a no decision with WBA possibly ordering a rematch. On June 20, Bob Bennett told ESPN that there was plans to change the outcome of the fight to a 'no decision'. Bennett could not unilaterally change the result, nor can the commission chairman, although it must be voted on by the four commissioners. On June 26, the result was officially changed to a no contest.

On July 6, 2017 the WBA ordered an immediate rematch to take place between Rigondeaux and Flores, within 150 days of the first fight, meaning it would likely take place around November 2017. Flores was given a 60-day medical suspension from the Nevada commission. The two sides had until August 17, or it would go to purse bids.

Rigondeaux vs. Lomachenko

On August 6, Arum stated that Vasyl Lomachenko would fight for a third time in 2017, likely on December 9th or 23rd. When asked who the potential options where, Arum stated, ''Well, there's a few guys. (Guillermo) Rigondeaux if he answers Dino (Duva's) call. There's (Orlando) Salido, who's sniffing around and the third is (Miguel) Berchelt." Arum also mentioned lightweight contender Ray Beltrán, but said he would like to capture a world title at lightweight before a potential fight with Lomachenko. On August 14, Arum spoke to LA Times and confirmed either Rigondeaux or Salido would be Lomachenko's next opponent. He stated if the bout with Rigondeaux was made, it would likely take place at the Madison Square Garden Theatre and a potential rematch with Salido would take place in Los Angeles. On August 21, Arum stated both camps were closing in on finalising a deal for December 9. On September 15, the bout between Lomachenko and Rigondeaux was confirmed. The fight between Lomachenko and Rigondeaux will take place at 130 pounds.