Rigondeaux Makes Top Rank Debut Saturday Night

Two-time Olympic gold medalist GUILLERMO RIGONDEAUX will make his Top Rank debut on Saturday, August 21, in Mexico.

Rigondeaux, born in Cuba and now living in Miami, is trained by Ronnie Shields in Houston.  “He really had a phenominal camp and is eager to get into the ring,” Shields said.

Rigondeaux has a record of 5-0, 4 KOs at 122 pounds. He is ranked WBA #8 and scheduled for eight rounds, taking on Jose Angel Beranza, 33-18-2, 26 KOs, of Mexico City on a Top Rank Live! event at The Auditorium in Tijuana.

Rigondeaux/Photo by Rafael Soto

The Rigondeaux vs. Beranza fight will be the first bout on the live telecast (Fox Sports Espanol – 10 pm eastern/7 pm pacific).

Rigondeaux won Olympic gold in 2000 and 2004. He was an international amateur star who won World Championships, Pan American Games and other prestigious tournaments.

KELLY PAVLIK FAN – IN AFGHANISTAN

Master Sgt Jeff Clapper, stationed in Afganistan, says he is a huge KELLY PAVLIK fan.

“My team are I are big fans of Kelly and boxing,” he wrote in a letter to Top Rank.  “In a place like Afganistan, it is a nice escape to enjoy the sweet science.”

Kelly, in Youngstown, plans to sent MSgt Clapper and his team autographed photographs, ‘Ghost’ tee shirts and more.

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Chief Warren officer Steven Badgley, who fought for Top Rank earlier this year at Madison Square Garden, is now stationed in Fort Carson, Colorado. He is training for a deployment to Afganistan.