UniMas Fight Preview

Guillermo Rigondeaux vs. Sod Kokietgym

This Saturday night on a same-day tape delay one of the best pound for pound fighters in the world will be taking a big step down.  That fighter is Guillermo Rigondeaux who is ranked number three in the top ten rankings and who usually fights on HBO.  However after a few dominant, one sided bouts that didn't bring much excitement HBO has all but refused to televise his fights.  So while Rigondeaux will be on a card from Macau, China that will be televised on HBO2, his fight will not and instead will be shown later that night on UniMas.  Rigondeaux will be in the ring against veteran Sod Kokietgym in a 12 round junior featherweight fight for Rigondeaux's WBA & WBO titles.

Casual fans don't appreciate the brilliance of Rigo

Watching Rigondeaux fight is like watching a pitcher throwing a no hitter.  It almost seems it is a given that he will win and the real question is whether or not he will even lose one round.  Rigondeaux is a southpaw with blazing hand speed and some of the best defensive skills on the planet.  He will flick the jab out often but it isn't a punch he looks to do damage with instead he just uses it to score points and as a range finder for his left hand.  Rigondeaux's left hand is his best weapon and he will throw it straight or as an uppercut to much success.  Rigondeaux isn't the busier fighter in the world but he usually wins his fights easily because of his elite defense and incredibly accurate punching.  However even with his immense talent many fans find his style boring and if he starting looking for more knockouts it would definitely help his career.

After one of the most storied amateur careers in boxing history Rigondeaux turned pro and has found just as much success.  As a professional Rigondeaux has been absolutely perfect going 13-0 with 8 knockouts and he has done so against good competition.  Rigondeaux has beaten the likes of Rico Ramos, Teon Kennedy, Robert Marroquin, Nonito Donaire, and Joseph Agbeko all of whom were looked at as top fighters before being taken apart by Rigondeaux.  While Kokietgym doesn't have much name recognition with U.S. fans he does have a lot more experience as a pro than Rigondeaux does and could give him a good test.

Kokietgym will have his hands full

Like his Cuban counterpart Kokietgym is also a southpaw.  The Thai fighter has a good jab and quick right hook he likes to throw downstairs but he isn't as accurate as Rigondeaux.  Kokietgym's biggest punch is his overhand left which he throws very hard but also very wild.  That left hand isn't as wild though when he throws it straight to the body.  The defense of Kokietgym is subtle and effective but he isn't anywhere near as slick as Rigondeaux and will need to be the aggressor in this bout.  While Kokietgym has been fighting as a pro since 2001 he has never faced anyone with the talent level of Rigondeaux and this should be a tough test for him.

The best opponent Kokietgym has faced in his long career is Daniel Ponce De Leon whom he fought twice and lost both bouts, the only two losses of his career.  Those two fights were the only times that Kokietgym has fought outside of his native Thailand and while China isn't as far away from home as the U.S. he is clearly a fighter who likes fighting in front of his hometown fans.  Kokietgym has a professional record of 63-2-1 with 28 knockouts but he has fought a lot of journeymen and fighters with losing records so his record may be just smoke and mirrors.  It seems that if Kokietgym is going to beat Rigondeaux he will need to have the fight of his life.

This is really a no lose situation for Kokietgym.  He isn't expected to win and if he gives Rigondeaux any kind of challenge it will only be good for him.  Things are much different for Rigondeaux who really needs to impress.  It seems that it is no longer enough for Rigondeaux to simply dominant opponents with his defense and accurate punching and fans really want to seem him try to finish opponents before the final bell.  That won't be easy against Kokietgym whose only knockout loss came in 2006 but dominating him skill wise shouldn't be a very difficult task for Rigondeaux.

PREDICTION: Sod Kokietgym won't be much more than a willing opponent for Guillermo Rigondeaux.  Fans should just hope that Kokietgym engages enough with Rigondeaux for the Cuban to put on a good performance.  Rigondeaux won't get the knockout but he will be his usual perfect self as he wins this fight easily by the way of unanimous decision.