Lomachenko retains title as Rigondeaux quits after six
Vasyl Lomachenko continued his meteoric rise up the boxing ladder, retaining his WBO junior lightweight title Saturday night after challenger Guillermo Rigondeaux quit on his stool after six rounds.
The 29-year-old Lomachenko was awarded the victory when Rigondeaux elected not to come out for the seventh round in the first world title professional showdown between two multiple Olympic gold medal winners, AFP reported.
The outclassed Rigondeaux becomes the fourth straight boxer to quit midfight against Ukrainian Lomachenko.
“Maybe I should change my second name, now my name is ‘No Mas Chenko’,” Lomachenko joked in the ring, referring to Roberto Duran when he threw in the towel against Sugar Ray Leonard in 1980.
Lomachenko improved to 10-1 as he handed the Cuban defector the first loss of his career in front of a crowd of 5,100 at the Madison Square Garden Theater.
Lomachenko humiliated Rigondeaux, using his size and hand speed to dominate every round except the first.
He grew increasingly frustrated with Rigondeaux’s tactics which included low blows and more clutching and grabbing than throwing punches. Lomachenko landed 55 punches overall while Rigondeaux landed just 15.
Rigondeaux, who was booed loudly after the fight, looked the much smaller of the two fighters as the 37-year-old moved up two weight classes to challenge for the title.
Rigondeaux (17-1) said after the fight that he hurt his hand in the second round and that was the reason he couldn’t go on.
“I lost, but it was because of my hand,” he said. “In the second round I injured the top of my hand and I could no longer continue.”
It marked the first time double Olympic gold medal winners battled for a world title as professionals.
Lomachenko, who won gold in the 2008 and 2012 Olympics, has rocketed to the top of his weight class since turning pro in 2013, winning nine world championship fights in his first 11 contests.
Lomachenko lost his second pro fight to veteran Orlando Salido but then won a world title in his next bout by beating Gary Russell. He became a two division champion by moving up in weight in just his seventh fight to beat Roman Martinez.
“He is a technical fighter. Very quick and very explosive,” Rigondeaux said of Lomachenko.
A product of Cuba’s storied amateur program, Rigondeaux won more than 450 amateur fights and is a two-time Olympic champion, having won gold in 2000 and 2004.
Since turning pro in 2009, his biggest fight before Saturday was a dismantling of Nonito Donaire in 2013.
His last fight, against Moises Flores, was ruled a no contest after he inadvertently landed a fight-ending punch after the bell.
American astonishes
James Degale said he will “go back to the drawing board” after his shock defeat by American Caleb Truax at London’s Copper Box Arena.
Degale lost his IBF world supermiddleweight title as Truax won 114114 115-112 116-112 on the cards.
The Briton was as short as 1-100 with some bookmakers as he fought for the first time since January. “There’s something missing in the ring,” said 31-year-old Degale, who had shoulder surgery in July.
Truax, 34, offered constant pressure and rocked Degale in the fifth as a stiff right drew gasps in the venue.
Degale, timid for large parts, rallied late on but Truax took the title.
Speaking to BBC Radio 5 live after the fight, Degale – who suffered his second professional defeat – added, “I honestly did [think I’d won], I’ve got to go back to the drawing board.
“My nose is blocked again, I’ve got to sort it out. The shoulder – I had serious reconstruction – there’s no pain but I’ll have to go back, have a look and see. I’ve probably rushed back to be honest, maybe I should have waited till next year.”
He added, “I’m going to speak to Al Haymon [his boxing advisor] later, maybe I can get a rematch.”
Truax, who extended his record to 29-3, said, “All week all I heard was who he’s going to fight next. Well guess what? Those fights are mine now.
“I’d love to [fight in the UK again]. I’m staying until Wednesday – if anybody sees me, buy some pints.”