Date:  Wednesday, December 31, 2014

WBO/WBA JR. FEATHERWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP TITLE BOUT

Location:  Bodymaker Colosseum, Osaka, Osaka, Japan

Promoter:    Kyoei Promotion / Keichiro Kanehira

Supervisor:   Istvan Kovacs

Referee:   Mike Ortega

Judges:   Chalerm Prayadsab (107-99);  Zoltan Enyedi (105-101); Ferlin Marsh (107-99)

Results:   The Champion Guillermo Rigondeaux retained his WBO Jr. Featherweight Title against Hisashi Amagasa who retired  in the 11th round.

TV:

box_rigondeaux_amagasa_d1_608x342

Unified junior featherweight champion Guillermo Rigondeaux survived a pair of stunning seventh-round knockdowns but retained his 122-pound belts when Hisashi Amagasa, the left side of his face badly swollen, retired on his stool after the 11th round on Wednesday at the Bodymaker Colosseum in Osaka, Japan.

The fight was just one of five world title bouts at two locations on Wednesday in Japan, where major New Year’s Eve cards have become something of a tradition. There was a third card on Tuesday that included three more world title bouts.

Rigondeaux, a two-time Cuban Olympic gold medalist who defected and now lives in Miami, was making his sixth title defense and seemed to be in command of the fight through the sixth round as he pumped his right jab and continually moved to the side to keep Amagasa away from him. But the 5-foot-10½ Amagasa, who owned a 6½-inch height advantage, was aggressive, put a lot of pressure on Rigondeaux and had his moments.

His biggest came in the seventh round, when he broke through and knocked Rigondeaux down twice.

With about 30 seconds left in the round, Rigondeaux was backing up when Amagasa caught him on the chin with a right hand. Rigondeaux went down, but he got up quickly and did not appear badly hurt. When the fight resumed, Amagasa, who was facing a top opponent for the first time, went right at him. He landed a right hand and a left during a flurry that sent Rigondeaux to the mat again, this time face-first. Again, Rigondeaux rose quickly and tried to convince referee Michael Ortega that he had slipped.

The 29-year-old Amagasa (28-5-2, 19 KOs), of Japan, a featherweight who dropped down in weight to challenge Rigondeaux, did not have a chance to get off another punch after the second knockdown because the round ended.

Rigondeaux (15-0, 10 KOs), 34, quickly took control of the fight again in eighth round, and midway through the 10th round, he connected with a straight left hand that dropped Amagasa to his rear end in the center of the ring. By that time, Amagasa had swelling around his right eye and the left side of his face was also beginning to look disfigured from what appeared to be a possible broken jaw or cheek.

Rigondeaux dominated the 11th round as the swelling on Amagasa’s face got even worse. After the round, Amagasa retired on his stool.

Rigondeaux was winning easily on all three scorecards at the time of the stoppage: 107-99, 107-99 and 105-101.

Rigondeaux was fighting in Asia for the second consecutive time, having also defended his title in Macau, China, in July. That fight was the final one on his contract with promoter Top Rank, which declined to renew his deal because none of the American television networks were interested in putting on Rigondeaux’s fights thanks to his cautious and technical style that generally led to boring fights. His performance against Amagasa, however, was much more entertaining than many of his past fights.

Rigondeaux, who survived a knockdown to unify two belts in a decision win against 2012 fighter of the year Nonito Donaire in April 2013, would like to further unify titles and has called out Leo Santa Cruz to no avail.

Gary Hyde, Rigondeaux’s manager, said before Wednesday’s fight that if Rigondeaux won, he already had an offer for his next fight to also be in Japan.

http://espn.go.com/boxing/story/_/id/12102580/unified-junior-featherweight-champion-guillermo-rigondeaux-survives-hisashi-amagasa-japan

Chacal

Osaka, Japón. El boxeador cubano Guillermo Rigondeaux ya entrena en Japón para defender su título mundial supergallo. El titular de la Organización Mundial de Boxeo y la Asociación Mundial de Boxeo hará su defensa este 31 de diciembre ante Hisashi Amagasa, en el Bodymaker Colosseum de Osaka. Rigondeaux entrenó en público, ayer, y se encontró con Amagasa, un peleador que le aventaja aproximadamente por 10 centímetros de altura (foto). El cubiche, considerado el mejor 122 libras del mundo, tiene marca de 14-0 y 9 nocauts; mientras que Amagasa figura con 28 triunfos (19 KO), 4 derrotas y dos empates.

http://www.elmeridianodesucre.com.co/deportes/item/52580-rigondeaux-defiende-el-titulo

Guillermo_Rigondeaux17092013

RING/WBO junior featherweight champion Guillermo Rigondeaux will face Hisashi Amagasa on Dec. 31 before the latter’s partisan fans at the Bodymaker Colosseum, Osaka, Osaka, Japan, Rigondeaux’s manager, Gary Hyde, informed RingTV.com on Monday.
Rigondeaux (14-0, 9 knockouts) was last in action for a first-round knockout of Sod Kokietgym on a Top Rank Promotions card in Macau, China in July.

Amagasa (28-4-2, 19 KOs) has won 13 consecutive fights, seven by knockout, including stoppages in his past three bouts. Amagasa, 29, is coming off last month’s 12th round technical knockout of Ryo Takenaka. Amagasa last suffered defeat by unanimous decision to Ryol Li Lee in June 2010 but avenged that loss by unanimous decision in October 2013.

Rigondeaux, 34, ended a 36-0-1 unbeaten streak for Kokietgym and was coming off consecutive unanimous decisions over Nonito Donaire in April 2013 and Joseph Agbeko in December.

Rigondeaux won the RING and WBO titles against Donaire and the WBA title against Rico Ramos in January 2012 in his ninth pro bout.

Hyde said he would much rather see Rigondeaux against Carl Frampton, Leo Santa Cruz or Scott Quigg, all ranked Nos. 1, 2 and 3 by THE RING behind Rigondeaux at 122 pounds. Frampton is the IBF titleholder and Santa Cruz, the WBC beltholder. Quigg is 30-0-2 with 22 knockouts.

“Unfortunately the only fighters who are prepared to challenge ‘Rigo’ are Asian fighters,” said Hyde during an interview with RingTV.com. “Santa Cruz. Frampton and Quigg want no part of him so, Asia, here we come again.”

http://ringtv.craveonline.com/news/367803-guillermo-rigondeaux-to-face-hisashi-amagasa-on-dec-31