Guillermo Rigondeaux Takes Out Giovanni Andrade In 3rd-Round - Is The Cuban Sensation Ready For A Title Shot Now?

by James Slater - Two-time Olympic gold medallist Guillermo Rigondeaux of Cuba has already made a big name for himself, despite only having had three pro bouts. The 28-year-old junior-featherweight is so talented that talk has already turned towards a possible world title fight coming very, very soon. Now trained by Freddie Roach, the dynamic southpaw who had almost 250 amateur fights before defecting to the U.S may well be good enough to scale the heights of the 122-pound weight class already..

Last night in Miami, Rigondeaux took on the highly experienced Brazilian veteran Giovanni Andrade, in a fight that was shown live on ESPN. Taking the 71-bout veteran out with a left hand to the midsection at 2-minutes and 53-seconds of the 3rd-round, Rigondeaux barely broke a sweat. Now 3-0(3) the very special talent is expected to be moved up further in class fast.

Referred to as one of the finest amateur fighters in boxing history, Rigondeaux appears to have it all - speed, power, reflexes, experience, a good defence and now, in Roach, a great trainer. Indeed Freddie, talking before last night's crushing of 39-year-old Andrade, said Rigondeaux has excited him more than any fighter since the day a certain Manny Pacquiao walked into his Wild Card gym eight years ago. Post-fight, Roach said he will be looking to get his new star a title fight, "soon."

The Cuban hotshot's team have already begun to speak of a potential fight between Rigondeaux and unbeaten Puerto Rican sensation and reigning WBO 122-pound champion Juan Manuel Lopez. Such a prospect literally brings a shiver down the spine! The 3-0 contender's countryman and fellow defector Yuriorkis Gamboa might beat him to it with regards to a fight with the wickedly powerful "Juanma," but there is the very real possibility that Rigondeaux will go on to surpass the also superb Gamboa in the near future.

The Cubans may even wind up taking over the sport in certain weight divisions one day; what with gifted fighters such as Erislandy Lara, Gamboa, Rigondeaux and Felix Diaz and Yordanis Despaigne (the latter two having also fought and won in quick fashion on last night's card) currently looking like future world champions. Helping to make the sport all the more exciting as they go about their business in consummate style, these bright young things all have the potential to become superstars of the future.

It seems Rigondeaux just might be the jewel in the crown, though.