Interview With Guillermo Rigondeaux pre-Donaire Fight

I waited until the end of Rigondeaux and Donaire's press conference to approach him with a couple questions. Before I had a chance to ask them Rigondeaux caught me in the corner of his eye approaching and ambushed me with a hug. "How long have you been following me now?!"

So I asked him, "At your lowest point back in Cuba did you ever think you'd really get here today, with this opportunity, to have a chance at your dream?"

I won't even try to describe the smile he offered. His reply was this, "You better be here April 13th."

What a day to see after first meeting him 6 years ago, at the worst point in his life back in Havana.

Rigondeaux, Donaire, Conte, VADA Testing, Press conference Live Coverage

@brinicio on twitter will provide live coverage with Team Rigondeaux at today's 12 noon press conference announcing (hopefully) the April 13th fight here in New York.

Looking to clarify the VADA testing situation etc while in attendance also.

Guillermo Rigondeaux vs. Nonito Donaire Press Conference Coverage from NYC

I'm going to take a crack at updating twitter about the events surrounding Thursday's press conference at the Radio City Music Hall in NYC. Something tells me with the back and forth drama thus far, there'll be more of it in a public setting.

I'll be attending the event with Rigondeaux's manager. If you're interested in tagging along for the ride, you can follow me at @brinicio on twitter.

Guillermo Rigondeaux and Nonito Donaire Press Conference in NYC Next Thursday

Thursday February the 23rd has been confirmed for the formal press conference announcing the April 13th unification bout between Guillermo Rigondeaux and Nonito Donaire in Manhattan, at either the Radio City Music Hall (where the fight will take place) or Madison Square Garden. Reports vary on the location.

This is very good news.

In other more selfishly good news, ESPN has hired me on to write a profile of Rigondeaux for this upcoming championship match and I'm to work with them on that.

Six years after meeting Rigondeaux for the first time in Havana back in 2007, I'm still shaking my head that this moment is finally on the horizon for him. What he had to give up to get here is beyond comprehension. Best of luck...

Guillermo Rigondeaux vs. Nonito Donaire Update via Freddie Roach

Freddie Roach's summation over the phone a couple hours ago of the fight between Donaire and Rigondeaux was succinct and enticing, "This one will end with a bang."

Rigondeaux vs. Donaire Turning Into Gamboa vs. Rios

Bob Arum called Yuriorkis Gamboa's decision to agree to a fight against Brandon Rios for a million-plus payday, conditional on two press conferences in Miami and LA to promote the fight, and then going AWOL for both press conferences while everyone else attended, and, finally, backing out of the fight without so much as a formal announcement, unprecedented in his promoting career.

Charming distinction to have as a feather in your cap at the age of 30 as your boxing career moves forward. There were issues with his wife also, where Gamboa was arrested for domestic violence (later dropped). Now PEDs are being linked to Gamboa also.

Gamboa's also coming off of perhaps the sloppiest performance of his career as a pro. His skill set, like Mike Tyson's before him, doesn't age all that well. And he was a fighter to be hit well before his foot-speed or reflexes reflected his age (and inactivity).

Fast forward to the last week with Guillermo Rigondeaux receiving 750k for the biggest fight of his career against Nonito Donaire. His biggest purse to date is 220k. Nice jump. So what does he do leading into the fight? Refuse to sign his contract on the condition that Bob Arum settle a lawsuit with Rigo's co-promoter. Arum has basically responded by telling him to go fuck himself and that he's fully content to replace Rigo with a cheaper opponent. Rigondeaux of course headlined a fight not long ago that had a gate of less than 15k despite his own 50k payday.

If you're embarking on a career as a promoter, this isn't exactly the kind of fight that would have you licking your chops to sign him up as your star attraction.

So where Gamboa left off with maybe the most self-defeating career move in boxing of the last decade or two, leave it to Rigo to pick up the slack on the snatch defeat from the jaws of victory.

Very, very annoying.

And this opportunity, which he left for in the first place, stands a very good chance of never coming around again...

Cuban Sports Defectors Welcomed Back In Havana

In Havana Jose Contreras was met with a huge welcome 10 years after his high profile defection for the United States and massive, lucrative success in the big leagues. 

Contreras is the first athlete, according to the Associated Press, to take advantage of the new migratory law that allows state deemed "traitors" to visit their home.

Contreras was met with a "hero's welcome" in Pinar del Rio.

Contreras abandoned Cuba for Mexico in 2002 and was signed by the Yankees a year later. 

Cuba's new legislation renews hope that many such "defectors" who sought opportunity to better their own and their families lives may be able to reunite. 

Guillermo Rigondeaux left behind a wife and two children in Havana. During my interview with them  in one of the most politically radioactive homes in Cuba, his wife and son stressed how dearly they awaited seeing the father and husband. 

Hopefully these new measures in Cuba take that dream, along with countless other ruptured families, one step closer to being a reality. 

Cuba ready to end 50 year ban on professional boxing

There's some major news regarding sports in Cuba. After over 50 years, Cuba may be prepared to open up and allow athletes in the sport of boxing to box professionally.

"Our athletes are and always have been an example," Fidel Castro once said, and the word were hung over boxing gyms across the country. However, this famous expression spoke as profoundly on behalf of the athletes who left Cuba as those who stayed, in terms of the health of that system.

This is what I have tried to always explore in my film splitdecisionfilm.com. Without judging the people forced to make the decision of staying or leaving, exploring the factors involved in compelling people to make such a hopelessly impossible choice given the stakes.

Now of course, those boxers who fled the island, face a reexamination by their home. "Traitors" (and recently a very famous baseball player deemed a traitor by the Cuban state returned to Havana to see his family for the first time in 10 years) may be pardoned and welcomed back. Families may once again, finally, be reunited.

What fascinating times for Cuba...