Guillermo Rigondeaux fulfilled his commitment to trainer Ronnie Shields on Saturday evening. Seven months after his strenuous bout with Julio Ceja, which Shields deemed unnecessary, Rigondeaux reverted to his defensive and strategic style. While his performance may not have electrified the audience at the PPL Center or those tuning in to Showtime, he managed to defeat Liborio Solis, securing a world title in a new weight class.
The 39-year-old southpaw demonstrated a conservative yet efficient approach, occasionally unleashing his hands with effectiveness. Rigondeaux, hailing from Cuba, scored a knockdown against Solis in the seventh round and inflicted further damage in the 10th, ultimately clinching a 12-round split decision victory to claim the vacant WBA world bantamweight championship.
Judges Ron McNair (116-111) and Kevin Morgan (115-112) both favored Rigondeaux in his debut within the 118-pound division. However, Judge Don Ackerman scored the fight 115-112 for Solis from Panama, who, despite his aggression, struggled to land significant punches.
Rigondeaux's triumph potentially paves the way for a showdown with undefeated Japanese sensation Naoya Inoue. Inoue, known for his formidable punching power, holds the WBA's "super" championship in the 118-pound division, although the WBA typically doesn't mandate "super" champions to face their "world" counterparts.
Inoue, who also holds the IBF's 118-pound title, is slated to face Johnriel Casimero from the Philippines in a championship unification bout on April 25 at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas. Casimero currently holds the WBO 118-pound crown.
Despite its lack of excitement, Rigondeaux's latest bout posed fewer challenges than his previous encounter. In his clash with Ceja, Rigondeaux deviated from his usual tactical approach, engaging in a more crowd-pleasing exchange and trailing on scorecards until securing a late victory.
Prior to Rigondeaux's victory, Solis had secured five consecutive wins against relatively low-level opponents.
After staggering Solis for the second time in the 10th round, Rigondeaux opted for a defensive strategy in the remaining rounds, with neither fighter landing significant blows in the lackluster closing minutes.
Although Rigondeaux's performance was characterized by caution, he managed to score a knockdown in the seventh round. However, he resumed his defensive stance in the ensuing uneventful rounds.
Rigondeaux's strategic approach frustrated Solis, who urged him to engage in the sixth round. Unfortunately, the subsequent rounds failed to deliver excitement, with Rigondeaux's evasive maneuvers thwarting Solis' attempts to land punches.
Fans grew increasingly impatient as Rigondeaux's defensive tactics dominated the third and fourth rounds, with minimal action and engagement from both fighters.
In the opening round, Rigondeaux showcased his prowess with back-to-back straight left hands, although Solis managed to land a significant right hand just before the bell.
Overall, Rigondeaux's victory underscored his mastery of defensive boxing, despite criticism for his lack of aggression.
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