Big Fight Report: The Jackal Ends Dickens' Dream With One Punch

By Peter Silkov

It took just one punch for Guillermo Rigondeaux to show tonight, July 16th, why he is boxing’s most avoided champion. ‘The Jackal’ successfully defended his WBA world super-bantamweight title at the Ice Arena, in Cardiff, Wales, when challenger, Jazza Dickens, was pulled out by his corner after the 2nd round with a broken jaw. The injury was caused in the 2nd round, when Rigondeaux landed the punch of the fight, a left hand to the side of Dickens face, which the challenger did well to take without going down.  However when Dickens returned to his corner a few minutes later, it was found that his jaw was broken and despite his protests, he was pulled out of the fight.

It’s hard to think of a more heartbreaking result for Dickens, who was holding his own, aside from that one big punch from the champion. The brief fight had been uneventful up to the point of impact, with Rigondeaux making his usual slow start in the 1st round as he studied his challenger and Dickens himself trying not to give anything away.  What few punches did connect cleanly in the 1st round came from Rigondeaux. 

The second round followed a similar pattern as the 1st, with both champion and challenger boxing cautiously, but even at this cautious pace, it was easy to see the class in Rigondeaux work. What punches Dickens did throw were missing by mere fractions of inches, as the champion moved his head and upper body to slip the punches almost imperceptibly.  This is where Rigondeaux’s genius lays, he is a master counter-puncher, almost a lost art in this ancient sport, and an art which is certainly undervalued by many of today’s so called experts and certain promoters.

The Jackal waits for one chance, one opening, then he strikes.  This is what happened when he landed with that one punch on Dickens’ face.  The challenger had been fighting an intelligent fight, trying not to give anything away, yet also attempting at times to land some punches of his own, while remaining cagey.  In the end, Rigo landed that one, dynamite left hand, and that was all he needed.

It was a bittersweet victory for The Jackal, whose appearance in front of the Welsh fans was disappointingly brief.  On one hand the champion had showed that his reflexes look to have remained sharp, despite his age and recent inactivity, he also showed the potency of his punching power, which is a big clue as to why his opponents are so often unwilling to come forwards against him.

Photo:Sky sports

Unfortunately for Rigo, he was unable to gain many rounds, which he probably regrets.   

Rigondeaux now seems to be set for a return to Wales on September 17, 2016,  with his opponent unknown.  Once again it is unlikely that ’The Jackal’ will find too many fighters that are eager to face him, and we all know why.

Watch the fight:

Copyright © 2016 The Boxing Glove, Inc. Peter Silkov Art. All Rights Reserved. Peter Silkov contributes to www.theboxingglove.com

Preview & Prediction: Guillermo Rigondeaux vs. James ‘Jazza’ Dickens

By Peter Silkov

This Saturday, July 16th, will be the return of Guillermo Rigondeaux (16-0, 10koes) to the ring, defending his WBA world super-bantamweight championship against England’s James ‘Jazza’ Dickens (22-1,), at the Ice Arena in Cardiff, Wales.  Rigondeaux is very possibly the best, pound-for-pound, boxer in the world when it comes to pure boxing skill.  Yet, he can also claim to be the worst treated boxer in the world as well.  For all his ability, indeed because of it, Rigondeaux has become the most avoided boxer in the sport, with other fighters stating that he is too boring, and too unpopular with the fans, to merit fighting.

Since he out-classed Nonito Donaire in April 2013, Guillermo Rigondeaux has been essentially blacklisted.  After he beat Donaire, promoter, Bob Arum, turned what should have been a breakthrough victory for The Jackal, onto its head. Arum, who promoted both Rigondeaux and Donaire seemed to take great exception to Rigondeaux beating Donaire, and from that point on set out to criticize, belittle, and discredit Rigondeaux.  Eventually ’The Jackal’ cut his promotional ties with Bob Arum and Top Rank, but the damage has already been done to his reputation.  When your own promoter is branding you too ‘boring’ and describing executives as being prone to ‘throwing up’ when your name is mentioned, then the effect can be quite devastating.

In the 3 years and 3 months since his bittersweet victory over Donaire, ‘The Jackal’ has fought just 4 times, and the big fights that he had wished for against the likes of Carl Frampton, Scott Quigg, and Leo Santa Cruz, have been no where to be seen.  Rigondeaux’s prospective opponents excuse themselves from fighting him by citing the fact that he is boring and cannot draw big money for fights.

Ironically, Frampton and Quigg ended up fighting each other in a ‘super fight’ showdown, which tunrned out to be a dud, and showed just why both boxers had been so keen not to meet Rigondeaux in the ring.

Jazza Dickens, who holds the British Super-bantamweight title, deserves a great amount of respect for taking on the fight that so many ’big names’ have avoided.

Dickens is a boxer with a nicely balanced style, but in Rigondeaux he will be meeting a man who is in a class by himself in many ways.  ’The Jackal’ is a counter-puncher with exceptional speed, accuracy, and power, when he chooses to use it.

Against Dickens, we should see ’The Jackal’ produce a dominating performance, which will culminate in him stopping Dickens by the mid-way point of the fight.

For Dickens, this is the kind of fight that can enhance his career, even if he loses, but for Rigondeaux, this fight represents a chance for Rigondeaux to show just what so many fighters at super-bantamweight are so afraid of.



iFL TV Interviews Rigondeaux from Cardiff, Wales:

iFL TV Interviews Dickens from Cardiff, Wales:
 

Copyright © 2016 The Boxing Glove, Inc. Peter Silkov Art. All Rights Reserved. Peter Silkov contributes to www.theboxingglove.com