Simple enough, which all-time Featherweight(s) (or any fighter sub 126) beats the best version of Guillermo Rigondeaux? Obviously, Rigondeaux is not the most beloved fighter, but he's one of the best pure boxers I have ever seen. There is a limited sample size of Rigondeaux's prime because of his late debut, issues with promoters/networks, etc, so his only true ATG-level win came via unanimous decision against Nonito Donaire. He did get dropped and it was no means a shutout, but for most of the fight he masterfully controlled the distance and befuddled the future HOF'er Donaire. For the sake of this question, consider "Prime Rigondeaux" the one that stepped into the ring against Donaire. EDIT: Please rewatch at least the first round of Rigondeaux-Donaire before answering. The caricature of "Boring Rigo" is pretty prevalent among media and fans (not saying it's not fair). Prime Rigo is the one with the lightning fast hands and the pinpoint counter straight left hand, not the one that tries to win rounds three punches to two.
He was brilliant at what he did but a slightly one -dimensional glass cannon imo. Running a gauntlet of very good to great fighters I reckon he'd incur quite a few losses as well as wins. Doing well against technical or athletic boxer types, or the dangerous, technically good boxer-punchers who were slow of foot or reactive like Donaire, but not so well against the swarmers or higher end aggressive boxer-punchers.
Yes.. someone who could take his left hand on the way in and exploit lack of inside game. Prime Rigo not only didn't have any ability to fight on the inside - that on itself is not critical - but He also didn't have ability to effectively spoil. He was often showing very poor awareness on the inside, taking his sight off opponent and looking at referee for help - knock-down against Donaire is one example of that, where amateurish behaviour costed him. He eventually improved in that regard to a degree, was able to fight more consistantly on the inside against Ceja - but by the time He was already past his physical prime. If He managed to get out of Cuba couple years earlier, He probably could've been a true great. Some of the qualities He had were very unique.
At one point he was in the conversation w Floyd as far as boxers who held their opponents to the lowest punch percentage. I kno those stats aren't everything but he was still highly evasive. Always felt his prime could end any minute due to his age but as someone who appreciates the arts I respected seeing him school ppl. As well as Loma getting the better of him honestly. That said, I don't think his opposition was good enough for me to favor him against ATGS tbh. Styles do make fights too but I just don't see him clearly beating the best of the best. Maybe a win in a series at best.
I'm just wondering because Salvador Sanchez did lose to a Southpaw didn't he ? If he would've had trouble vs tge Southpaw style of Rigondeaux. Also Sanchez would have to be chasing Rigondeaux, and we all know Sanchez excels when hes the one doing counter punching and not the chasing. But saying that all i would expect Sanchez to find a way to win as he always did, but stylistically i think Rigondeaux might be a tough match up for Sanchez.
The guy who quit against Lomachenko..?? He only has 24 total fights, how can you put him in any "who would have won" comparisons?
He fought his am career at 118 and split his pro career between 118 and 122. Why match him against featherweights? I don’t favor anyone over him at 122 and 118. 126 is a different story. Shakur owns him at 126 for starters.