Freddie Roach is training WBC middleweight champion Miguel Cotto for a November 21 fight against Saul "Canelo" Alvarez, in the most anticipated fight since Floyd Mayweather vs. Manny Pacquiao. Roach does not think this rates as the best possible matchup in the sport, however.
That honor belongs to featherweight Vasyl Lomachenko (4-1, 2 KO) and super bantamweight Guillermo Rigondeaux (15-0, 10 KO). Do not let their meager pro records fool you-both are among the most decorated amateur fighters of all-time, and Lomachenko's lone loss was against a grossly overweight Orlando Salido.
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"I like to be a matchmaker in my head, and the best fight in the world is Lomachenko against Rigondeaux," Roach said to Boxing Scene. "Rigondeaux is the best defensive fighter in the world, and he would be up against a very sharp offensive fighter. I'm not sure who wins. I think Lomachenko might hit too hard."
Lomachenko got a ton of exposure on the undercard of Mayweather vs. Pacquiao, when he bludgeoned Gamalier Rodriguez and knocked him out inside 10 rounds. Rigondeaux has been equally impressive in his own way, but unfortunately for him, his style is not endearing to fans.
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Rigondeaux is a defensive master, much like Mayweather, and his one-sided wins over top fighters like Nonito Donaire and Joseph Agbeko have gone largely unnoticed and unappreciated. Rigondeaux does have quick hands, and big-time power too, which makes the style he uses even more frustrating. It's worth noting that Rigondeaux has a 67 percent knockout rate, and has four knockouts that didn't make it beyond Round 2.
Neither fighter has anything lined up just yet, but the buzz for Lomachenko is a potential bout vs. Nicolas "Axe Man" Walters, rather than Rigondeaux. Walters (26-0, 21 KO), is an exciting action fighter but he missed weight in his most recent fight, and might have to move up a division soon.
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