Guillermo Rigondeaux takes a split decision against Liborio Solis!
Former unified super bantamweight champion and top Pound For Pound fighter Guillermo “Rigo” Rigondeaux (20-1, 13KO) decided to move down in weight to take on former WBA super flyweight champion Liborio Solis (30-6-1, 14KO).
The move down at age 39 for the Cuban was surprising but the real question leading up to this bout would involve the type of style he would employ.
Before stopping former WBC super bantamweight champion Julio Ceja in eight rounds in his last fight, fans witnessed the normally slick boxer sitting in the pocket and taking vicious shots while being down on the scorecards.
IN THE POCKET AND HURT AGAIN!
In the opening round, the aforementioned concerns about Rigo were immediately answered! To start, Solis elected to apply heavy pressure in an attempt to not allow the former unified champ to get comfortable.
In response, Rigondeaux welcomed the pressure and stayed in the pocket. Similar to how he was repeatedly hit by Ceja, Solis was able to land several hooks that had the Cuban rocked and looking to hold.
For a moment, it seemed the Venezuelan would score a first round stoppage as he continuously moved inside and landed clean on the once un-hittable fighter. At the end of the round, Rigo displayed uncomfortable body language and gave Solis a nod of approval and touched his glove as if to say “you got me!”
PLAYING IT SAFE
After almost experiencing a major scare, the Cuban completely abandoned his offense for the next five rounds! To be quite honest, both fighters were offensively inept which made this one of the hardest fights to watch this year!
While Rigo utilized the ring and movement to stay out of harms way, Solis just kept following him around the ring without utilizing a jab. In addition, he often tried to barrel his way in, which made his attack look sloppy and uneducated.
Meanwhile, the former unified champ was happy just trying to counter and moving. Hell, him trying to counter is an “overstatement” as he barely stayed in place long enough to attempt to counter! If Solis did get close enough, Rigo would throw one shot and immediately hold.
The boos the crowd would rain down in unison were deafening! It sounded as if a choir was being orchestrated to chant on cue!
At the end of both the third and fifth rounds, Solis would put his hands up, motioning his opponent to fight. A formerly cordial Rigo would get agitated and feint as if he was going to attack Solis after the bell sounded.
THE POWER IS STILL THERE
Then an explosion of action came in the seventh. As Solis stepped in trying to push the action, his cerebral opponent stepped back and unleashed a counter uppercut right on the money! This immediately wobbled the Venezuelan and prompted the Cuban to maul him.
Another left would nearly send Solis through the ropes! Rigo would continue to throw punches but referee Benjy Esteves Jr. stepped in and administered a count since the ropes kept Solis from hitting the canvas.
Upon recovery, Solis would be hurt again! Rigondeaux would land another left square on the chin that would make Solis’ legs stiffen up like someone stood a piece of plywood upright!
However, instead of taking the risk to try and stop him, the former unified champ went back on the defensive and allowed his wounded prey to survive.
DOMINATING IN BORING FASHION
While he barely mounted much of an attack in this fight, Solis didn’t do anything of note outside of the first round. The Venezuelan could have won rounds simply off the fact that he tried to fight more. However, he still did not land anything of note at any point after the first round.
If you look at the four criteria for judging, Rigo would actually win in three of the four categories.
Defense because Solis could not find him. Accuracy, since regardless of his limited offense, when he landed he was money and was able to hurt his opponent much more than being hurt. Lastly, ring generalship because he was allowed to fight his own fight!
Nevertheless, the judges would bring a split decision by the scores of 115-112 for Solis and 116-111, 115-112 for Rigo.
3kingsboxing.com scored the fight 116-111 for Rigondeaux as well!
With this win, the Cuban holds a piece of the WBA bantamweight crown and may be looking in the direction of unified champion and Pound For Pound fighter Naoya Inoue!
By: EJ Williams
