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Jul 24, 2005
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Khan has plan B option in case Mayweather fight doesn’t happen
date July 13th, 2015 | Post FB Comment - 45 Comments

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khan56By Scott Gilfoid: Like all the other top welterweights in the division, Amir Khan (31-3, 19 KOs) is waiting to hear the news from Floyd Mayweather Jr. (48-0, 26 KOs) if he’s got the fight or not for September 12th. Khan has been pining away for the Mayweather fight for ages, and he’s now at the moment of truth about to find out if he’s going to hit the lottery or will be passed over for perhaps the final time.

Khan says his plan B option will be a big fight in November or December of this year. Khan says it’ll be a big fight, but it won’t be Kell Brook. Khan is saving that fight for later. He wants the Brook fight to continue to build over time. Needless to say, that’s Khan’s ace in the hole, or nuclear button he’ll push when things start looking bleak for him in terms of paydays.

The Brook fight will always be there for Khan, even if his career goes belly up. He can count on Brook throwing him a bone, because it’s not as if Brook has any interesting opponents in his weight class in the UK for him to get big money against unless he wants to bulk up to middleweight and face the likes of George Groves if he can lure him down in weight.

“If I don’t get the September fight I’d like to be back out again in November or December like normal,” Khan said to sport360.com. “I’ll be looking at those dates instead. But if I don’t get the Mayweather fight there is still no chance whatsoever that I will fight Kell Brook before the end of the year. It will have to be a big one and I’ll leave it to Al Haymon. Al will give me a call this week hopefully to let me know who it will be. It will probably be back in the States again.”

Khan says “it will have to be a big one” in talking about his next opponent, but I don’t think that’s realistic. I mean, we’ve seen the guys that Khan’s adviser Al Haymon has been matching against him for the past couple of years, and I don’t think for a second that anything is going to change in that regard. If Khan is still facing weak punchers after three solid years since his knockout loss to Danny Garcia in 2012, then it’s reasonable to assume that we’re going to see that pattern continue into the future.

As far as Khan’s plan-B opponent goes, I see it pretty much along the same lines as his last opponent Chris Algieri. I can see Haymon selecting the likes of Lamont Peterson for Khan to fight, I really do. Peterson isn’t a big puncher, he works with Haymon, and he has a previous win over Khan. I would be willing to bet that Peterson gets the fight with Khan if Mayweather decides he’s not interested in facing Khan.

Khan thinks that Mayweather is pulling his chain by making him wait this long before making his decision. Mayweather only has 8 ½ weeks to go before his September 12th fight, and he normally has picked out his opponents by this point because it hurts the pay-per-view sales to wait this long before making an announcement for the fight.

Mayweather won’t be able to do a press tour of any kind if he announces his opponent now. But if he chooses to sell the fight by saying it’s the last one of his career, then he might be able to bring in good numbers even if he makes Khan or some other contender wait until 3 to 4 weeks before the fight before he lets them know they’ve got the fight. What would be really bad is if Mayweather waits until one week before the fight before announcing his opponent. That would be cruel to the fans, cruel to his opponent and cruel to himself if he does that.
 
Jul 24, 2005
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Floyd Mayweather vs. Andre Berto: Latest News and Rumors on Potential Fight
By Matt Fitzgerald , Featured Columnist Jul 14, 2015

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Floyd Mayweather vs. Andre Berto: Latest News and Rumors on Potential Fight
John Locher/Associated Press
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Floyd Mayweather Jr. has reportedly decided on Andre Berto as his next opponent, with the bout slated for Tuesday, Sept. 15.

Continue for updates.
Report: Mayweather vs. Berto Scheduled for Sept. 15
Tuesday, July 14

Michael Woods of the Sweet Science reported Mayweather and Berto will square off in a fight that will be televised on CBS, rather than the typical pay-per-view tradition.

This marks the sixth and final bout on Mayweather's contract with Showtime, and he'll make approximately $30 to $35 million in earnings for facing Berto.

Steve Kim of UCNLive.com weighed in on the reported showdown:

The agitation Kim alluded to regarding Amir Khan was already evident Monday, when Mayweather announced he'd started training but didn't specify an opponent, per the Daily Mail's Declan Taylor:

I don't know why [Mayweather]'s playing these little games, I think it's just unprofessional really from a person like Floyd Mayweather who is renowned as one of the best fighters ever. He is playing these little games just to look for every little advantage that he can get. But I'm not going to let it get to me, I'm just going to keep calm and collected. If it happens, it happens, if it doesn't then there will be a plan B to move onto.

It appears Khan won't be getting his shot against Mayweather this time around in what may be the latter's last fight.

Mayweather kept his perfect record intact at 48-0 with a unanimous-decision triumph over Manny Pacquiao on May 2, obliterating pay-per-view sales records in the process. It isn't as though "Money" needs another massive PPV haul, opting to make this reported bout with Berto more accessible to the masses.

Nicknamed "The Best," Berto sports a respectable 30-3 record and registered a TKO victory over Josesito Lopez in his last fight in March. The 31-year-old Berto successfully defended his WBC welterweight title belt five times before his first loss as a professional to Victor Ortiz in April 2011.

Berto captured the IBF welterweight title thereafter and isn't exactly a slouch of an adversary. Although Mayweather will still be the heavy favorite, Berto has carved out a stellar career and figures to at least put up a respectable challenge.

Since 23 of Berto's 30 wins have been by knockout, his punching power will be an interesting weapon against Mayweather's trademark technical prowess and defense.
 
Jul 24, 2005
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Mayweather Sr urges son to retire rather than take easy fights

While the boxing world awaits Floyd Mayweather's announcement on his opponent for a fight eight weeks from Saturday, his father questioned over the weekend whether he should bother.


Mayweather has a Sept. 12 fight pending but his father, who also trains him, warned that boxing powers may be politically inclined to hasten his fall from the unbeatens, if an opportunity presents itself, after a May 2 win over Manny Pacquiao produced far more profits than action.

"If he don't stop, it's showing — the analysts, everybody, they don't like Floyd. When it goes like this, it's just a matter of time. They're looking for the next guy," Floyd Mayweather Sr. said.

The younger Mayweather has said his September fight could be his last.

He is 38 years old and unbeaten in a brilliant 48-fight, 19-year career.

Mayweather Sr. said, "Floyd told me he just wants to get a couple of easy fights," which would suggest his son intends to fight into 2016.

"My honest opinion, if he feels that way, he should get on out of the game," Mayweather Sr. added.

Mayweather Sr. said he isn't as concerned about the belated fight announcement as his son's clearly fading interest in boxing.

"Anybody's body, 20 years, anybody's body gets tired — and it's been every day of 20 years, and longer, for my son," he said.
 
Jul 24, 2005
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this is what happens when you cross Floyd, and Haymon, How many more belts Floyd got so 50 he can walk them down to the ring lol

50 Cent files for bankruptcy, is he done with boxing?
July 14, 2015
The boxing game can be unforgiving to the participants, both in the ring and out. Rapper 50 Cent tried his hand on the promotional side, and it seems, he’s finally thrown in the towel.

The man born Curtis Jackson filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection on Monday, and it is being speculated that the bankruptcy move came about in relation to the Friday judgement against the entrepeneur, wherein he was ordered to pay a woman $5 million because, the court decided, he posted a sex tape in which she appeared. That effort came about supposedly as part of a beef with a rival rapper.

One might think him declaring bankruptcy means he’s broke; au contraire, I think. E News saw documents that said he has assets adding up to between $10 and $50 million…and liabilities in the same wide range ballpark. He has made no indication and I have no whispers that he is insolvent.

50 jumped into the boxing biz in the summer of 2012, and went out on his own after he friendship with Floyd Mayweather soured, by that fall. heads were scratched at some of his signings, and it seemed as though he went at it in a half measure. Naysayers wondered why his building blocks were of the ilk of Billy Dib, no stumblebum, but on no one’s pound for pound lists. Why was such a man of means going after talent not universally regarded as top tier, people wondered…
The old joke came to mind…What’s the quickest way to make a million bucks in boxing? Start with two million and proceed from there…

I reached out to a rep for the rapper, to see where he stands in the boxing business, or he has quit on his stool, and will insert a reply if one arrives.

With all that, one also wonders: what happens to the boxers who have been and are promoted by Fiddy? The most high profile is James Kirkland, last seen in a fan friendly rumble with Canelo Alvarez. What becomes of the Texan? I reached his manager, attorney Mike Miller. He told me, “We will move to separate ourselves from SMS (the 50 Cent boxing promotional company). Kirkland’s contract with SMS is unassignable so it cannot be assigned to any other entity without our permission and we have no intent on agreeing to our contract being assigned to anyone. Kirkland only has so many years left to fight and he needs to move on (to another promotional deal).”
 
Props: CZAR and CZAR
May 13, 2002
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Floyd is really serious about Berto? I thought he was trollin...
This is how the Rocky Marciano curse will get Floyd. By fucking around and fighting someone like Berto after just having the biggest, most anticipated fight in his life. How could you get motivated for Berto after Pacquiao? You can't. Meanwhile Berto going to be training like Clubber Lang, hungry as fuck. Floyd about to be 48-1 or 48-0-1.




Victims:

Chris John stopped by Simpiwe Vetyeka after 48th win

Paul Spadafora lost to Johan Perez after 48th win

Larry Holmes lost to Spinks twice after 48th win

Dariusz Michalczewski lost to Julio Cesar Gonzalez after 48th win

Roy Jones would have been 50-0 if not for the DQ loss to Montel Griffin.

Brian Nielsen stopped by Dicky Ryan after 49th win
 
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Jul 24, 2005
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Will other fighters follow Rigondeaux’s lead?
date July 17th, 2015 | Post FB Comment - 28 Comments

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rigondeaux3By Robbie Bannatyne: Despite being regarded as by far the best boxer in the super-bantamweight division, Guillermo Rigondeaux has found the big fights very hard to come by. For Rigo the big names have become as elusive as the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow.

However, this is set to change with the announcement that Rigondeaux will move up to 126lb to meet current WBO featherweight champion Vasyl Lomachenko. Both men’s status as the two of the most decorated amateurs in the history of the sport adds more gravitas to an already engrossing prospect.

However, in a wider context, a contest between Rigo and Loma could be a catalyst for change in the boxing world.

For Rigondeaux is not the only fighter whose greatness has led to him being ostracized from his own division. Other Elephants in the room include Andre Ward, Gennady Golovkin and Sergey Kovalev. The aforementioned fighters have all earned the most ‘avoided fighter’ moniker in their respective divisions for being too dangerous and too risky a proposition for their peers.

Sadly a boxer being the victim of their own success is a familiar theme in the fight game- Rigondeaux’s predicament mirrors that of many other fighters in boxing.

However, if Rigondeaux is able overcome Lomachenko, other fighters may follow his lead. If it’s good enough for the goose its good enough for the gander. The likes of Andre Ward, ‘Canelo’ Alvarez and Gennady Golovkin would see the merits of moving up in weight to engage in some meaningful, money spinning super fights. Contests such as Ward vs Kovalev and Canelo vs Golovkin would excite the fans and enthuse the broadcasters. A winning combination.

More importantly, from a boxer’s perspective, big fights mean big money. The financial rewards on offer could offset the risks of fighting top competition on a consistent basis. Such a strategy would surely lead to more losses on a fighters resume, but in return they would gain legitimacy and build a legacy, in both sporting and financial terms. The cost of defeat against the elite would be worth paying if the fighters were properly compensated.

At the risk of sounding like a hopeless idealist, I dare to dream that the detritus left by the disgusting mismatches polluting the sport can become a forgotten relic if more fighters follow the lead of Rigondeaux.

Let’s hope that Rigondeaux becomes the new rule and not merely an exception.
 
Jul 24, 2005
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The boy has check out he's going to lose 2mar
Chavez Jr. contemplating retirement
Victor Salazar
By Victor Salazar July 17, 2015 11:00
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Julio Cesar Chavez JrThe son of a legend looks to rebound after his knockout loss to Andrzej Fonfora. Julio Cesar Chavez, Jr, now under the tutelage of Robert Garcia and in the super-middleweight division, looks to make a run at 168.

“I took on a challenge that was tough. I fought somebody who was 175 pounds,” Chavez said on a media conference call. “I fought somebody after 13 months being inactive. There were a lot of things going on in my career, including the legal problems that I was going through at the same that I was trying to get ready for a fight. It was a tough challenge. Even though it was a defeat for me, I feel like I was a better fighter than him. But he was more prepared. I think that those were the factors. I plan to win this next fight.”

Chavez will face Marco Reyes, who isn’t exactly a super-middleweight from El Paso Texas on Showtime this Saturday night. But, Chavez feels 168 is where he should be, and he expects a fight from Reyes.

“I think 168 is a good weight class for me,” said Chavez, “Going into my last fight, I had an extended period of time off and I didn’t know how my body would respond. I feel more comfortable in the ring, and I feel like I have the right tools to win this fight on Saturday. Each fight you must prove something. You need to win and put on a good show. I think the fans will see a great fight on Saturday between two Mexican fighters. When I fight, I try to do my best in the ring.”

The big change will be Robert Garcia and for Chavez this is his third trainer in as many fights. But, he feels he has the right chemistry with Garcia.

“Training with Robert Garcia has been great. I have a great connection with him because he knows how fighters are feeling in the ring,” explained Chavez. “I am working more on my jab; I have changed a little bit of my style under Robert Garcia.”

Chavez says he has two more fights after this bout should he win. Should he lose, he will contemplate retirement.

“I’m not planning on losing. I’m planning on winning. When I fight at my weight, I can beat anybody,” Chavez said. “There’s nobody in boxing who can beat me when I fight at my weight. I feel right now that I’m at the best. I feel this is the best part of my career. And on [Saturday] I’m going to win. If I lost this fight, then it would make me think about retiring because this is not the type of rival that should beat me. The [other] type of rivals that I fought are much better and tougher than this rival.”
 
Jul 24, 2005
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Dan Rafael chat wrap 7/17:

- This year is not even close to the best year of boxing ever.
- Remembers Froch as always being in shape and professional, fought the best and was willing to travel, confident in how great he was, and was a salty SOB.
- Will vote for Froch in the HOF.
- Thinks Mares vs. LSC is a 50/50 fight and doesn't know who to pick yet.
- If he was forced to watch one Rigo fight, it would be Rigo vs. Loma. He will believe the fight is made when he sees it.
- Matthysse and Postol are negotiating, no deal yet. 10/3 at StubHub is a possibility.
- Floyd says he is in training camp and will fight Sept. 12. Believes the opponent will be Berto.
- Would love to see Thurman vs. Maidana...but Maidana needs to get into shape.
- Salido vs. Martinez could be a FOTY candidate (has been a weak year so far for FOTY candidates).
- Andrade will not fight Mundine. Andrade's promoter says that Mundine backed out.
- Picking Quigg vs. Martinez.
- JCC should win. Reyes is smaller, slower, less powerful, and not very skilled. This is supposed to be a JCC layup.
- Does not know JCC purse, but assumes it is low seven figures.
- Wlad has improved over the years by learning to use his height more, tie up when necessary, and Steward instilled confidence that when he gets hit to be more determined.
- Showtime has said they will have bigger fights the second half of the year.
- Ward's camp told him they prefer to fight GGG before Kovalev. Ward would not go to LH and then move back down to fight GGG. The goal is to face GGG at a weight that needs to be negotiated (as well as the overall purse and split) , possibly as early as this fall. If all went well there, Ward would consider moving up to 175 after GGG and fighting Kovalev.
- He is very skeptical GGG vs. Ward actually gets made.
- Unlikely we see Danny Garcia vs. Provodnikov in the future.
- Frampton could make himself popular in the US. He is very good, has an interesting style, and a good personality.
- Does he think JCC will be at his best ever after being trained by Garcia? No.
- Most of the people writing in to the chat think JCC is a bum with no work ethic and hope he loses.
- Hopkins wants one more fight.
- Mosley has become a bit of a talker lately. Different than when he was in his prime and on top.
- Jean, Herrera and Benavidez are on the list for Crawford's next fight. Not sure Herrera's cut will be ready.
- Considers Vitali and Wlad among the best HW's ever, but they would not be that high on the list with the others nominated for best ever.
- Picking Abraham to beat Steiglitz.
- Canelo vs. Cotto might be finalized as early as today. Should be announced next week. The fight will take place in Vegas or MSG. It is not set in stone to be in Vegas. MSG has made a very good offer. GB and Roc Nation met yesterday in LA to talk with HBO on fight related stuff, discussing dates Nov. 7 or Nov. 21, and which venue.
- Better chance of an upset on Aug.1, Malignaggi or Mora? Mora.
- Still believes Floyd fights and tries to go 50-0.
- Probably puts Froch in his top 10 at 168. Others would be (no order): RJJ, Calzaghe, Toney, Eubank, Benn, and Ward.
- Does not believe Froch comes out of retirement. Thinks he is done for good.
- Sergio and Froch will be on the same HOF ballet...the two of them fighting would have been interesting. Froch's size and power vs. Sergio's speed and movement.
- Does not remember his scorecard for Mosley-Winky 2, but sure he had Winky winning.
- The ring for Thurman-Collazo was standard size, 20x20.
- Anthony Joshua is the biggest prospect in the HW division.
- Disagrees that Thurman is the best athlete in boxing.
- In regards to PBC and press releases, a PBC insider recently told him: "what do you think it is like to work in communications for a company that doesn't want to communicate?".
- Will not vote Toney into the HOF on the first ballet because he twice failed drug tests for steroids. He considers being a first ballot HOF an honor above being being voted in at a later date.
- Would vote Ivan Calderon as a first ballot HOF. Best little man he has seen outside of Ricardo Lopez.
- Possibility for Crawford vs. Pacquiao one day. Arum has talked about it.
- Would not vote Arthur Abraham into the HOF.
- Buy or sell, Adrian Broner starts to take his career seriously? Sell.
- JCC probably has been told not to take pictures of his fight checks and put them online again.
- Doesn't get Anthony Peterson's career. Outside of Rios it has all been low level fights, while Lamont's resume is battle tested.
- Believes the possibility for Rios vs. Brook being made is dead.
- Until Arum becomes involved in the Rigo vs. Loma negotiations and talk money is when the negotiations become something real.
- On paper Hyde may be Rigo's manager, but he has been told that Rigo won't even talk to him anymore and they have zero relationship.
- Believes Walters goes to 130, he is done at 126.
- Does not find it weird that GGG wants a catchweight vs. Ward. GGG is the A-side, so he gets to dictate some terms.
- Seth Mitchell retired.
- Arum made out great on selling JCC's contract to PBC. He no longer has to deal with the headache of JCC and is getting exposed in the ring.
- Nice to see Crolla coming back from his injuries, but picking Perez to beat him all day long.
- UniMas is airing Ramirez over a title fight because Ramirez plays to UniMas' core audience (Mexican American), rather than seeing a fighter from China and Argentina fight. He is being groomed for bigger and better things and Arum is pushing to have him on TV.
- HBO is planning on showing the Wlad vs. Fury fight.
- Doesn't think Mike Perez is shot, just never thought he was much to begin with.
- Quillin will fight Sept. 6 on CBS, opponent TBA.
- Best boxing book? Four kings.
- Loves watching Huck fight. Can punch and take a good punch. Always comes to fight.
- Thurman could make a good home arena out of Tampa. The crowd was good and the local reporters showed up.
- Believes we will see Thurman vs. Brook later this year.
- Imam's fight is another mismatch, easy work.
- Lamont Peterson probably fights in Sept/Oct at the Patriot Center.
- Gives Mohammedi a 5% chance to beat Kovalev.
- True or false, with 6 months of training Lennox Lewis could get back in the ring and beat Wilder? True.
- Shiming is recovering from a shoulder injury.
- Vernon Forrest is not a HOF'er.
 
May 13, 2002
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Will other fighters follow Rigondeaux’s lead?
date July 17th, 2015 | Post FB Comment - 28 Comments

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rigondeaux3By Robbie Bannatyne: Despite being regarded as by far the best boxer in the super-bantamweight division, Guillermo Rigondeaux has found the big fights very hard to come by. For Rigo the big names have become as elusive as the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow.

However, this is set to change with the announcement that Rigondeaux will move up to 126lb to meet current WBO featherweight champion Vasyl Lomachenko. Both men’s status as the two of the most decorated amateurs in the history of the sport adds more gravitas to an already engrossing prospect.

However, in a wider context, a contest between Rigo and Loma could be a catalyst for change in the boxing world.

For Rigondeaux is not the only fighter whose greatness has led to him being ostracized from his own division. Other Elephants in the room include Andre Ward, Gennady Golovkin and Sergey Kovalev. The aforementioned fighters have all earned the most ‘avoided fighter’ moniker in their respective divisions for being too dangerous and too risky a proposition for their peers.

Sadly a boxer being the victim of their own success is a familiar theme in the fight game- Rigondeaux’s predicament mirrors that of many other fighters in boxing.

However, if Rigondeaux is able overcome Lomachenko, other fighters may follow his lead. If it’s good enough for the goose its good enough for the gander. The likes of Andre Ward, ‘Canelo’ Alvarez and Gennady Golovkin would see the merits of moving up in weight to engage in some meaningful, money spinning super fights. Contests such as Ward vs Kovalev and Canelo vs Golovkin would excite the fans and enthuse the broadcasters. A winning combination.

More importantly, from a boxer’s perspective, big fights mean big money. The financial rewards on offer could offset the risks of fighting top competition on a consistent basis. Such a strategy would surely lead to more losses on a fighters resume, but in return they would gain legitimacy and build a legacy, in both sporting and financial terms. The cost of defeat against the elite would be worth paying if the fighters were properly compensated.

At the risk of sounding like a hopeless idealist, I dare to dream that the detritus left by the disgusting mismatches polluting the sport can become a forgotten relic if more fighters follow the lead of Rigondeaux.

Let’s hope that Rigondeaux becomes the new rule and not merely an exception.
Lol there is only a measly four pound difference from 122 pounds to 126 pounds. The difference in size is much more apparent from 160 to 168 or 168 to 175 or 175 to 200.
 
Jul 24, 2005
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Rigondeaux wants Quigg after Lomachenko rejects
Ryan O'Hara
By Ryan O'Hara July 19, 2015 18:39
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Guillermo RigondeauxIt appears that talks between bantamweight titlist Guillermo Rigondeaux (15-0, 10 KO’s) and WBO World featherweight champion Vasyl Lomachenko (4-1, 2 KO’s) have fallen through, at least for now.

Last week, it was reported that Gary Hyde, Rigondeaux’s manager, issued a statement that Rigondeaux was willing to fight Lomachenko at a catch-weight of 14 lbs. and with a rehydration clause.

After Lomachenko rejected the initial offer, Rigondeaux told World Boxing News through Hyde that he was willing to fight him at the featherweight limit of 126 lbs.

Fast forward to today, Hyde has confirmed that he in talks with Matchroom Sport promoter Eddie Hearn for a fight between his fighter and WBA World super-bantamweight champion Scott Quigg (31-0-2, 23 KO’s).

Quigg fought this past Saturday, stopping Spaniard Kiko Martinez inside two rounds, making it six consecutive title defenses of his WBA title.

Hyde, speaking for Rigondeaux via RingTv.com, says the Cuban wouldn’t mind traveling to Manchester to make it happen.

“We can confirm that talks have started between Eddie Hearn and me with regards to Scott Quigg fighting Guillermo Rigondeaux in Manchester before the year is out. Eddie told me this morning that Quigg is ready to step up and take on Rigondeaux.”

However, Hearn is saying that the fight is not likely to happen, with his fighter pursuing a fight against former five-division world champion Nonito Donaire.

A fight with Donaire is a safer option for the English fighter. Donaire was out-boxed and out-classed by Rigondeaux in April 2013 and was stopped by Jamaican Nicholas Walters last October.

Fighting twice thus far in 2015, Donaire has collected two second-round stoppage victories against the likes of William Prado and Anthony Settoul. However, both men aren’t even considered to be solid contenders.

Quigg fought Prado in June 2013 and knocked him out in the third round.

“I think Nonito Donaire v. Quigg is more likely than Quigg v. Rigo,” Hearn said.

I think Quigg-Donaire would be a good, competitive fight. If Donaire can use his hand speed to obstruct Quigg’s power early, it could be a great fight.

However, it’s unknown if Donaire has recovered from the Walters fight.

As we all know, the type of beating Donaire received that evening, can have huge mental and psychological effects on a fighter.