Analyst lambasts Rigondeaux's performance: 'He would have put Sleeping Beauty to sleep for another 100 years'

Veteran boxing analyst Ed Tolentino lambasted Cuban Olympic gold medalist Guillermo Rigondeaux for his losing performance against WBO world bantamweight world champion John Riel Casimero this past weekend at the Dignity Health Sports Park in California, USA.

“This was a fight that would have put Sleeping Beauty to sleep for another 100 years. Even if all the princes and kings to kiss her she would have remained asleep given that kind of fight,” Tolentino said.

“I pity Rigondeaux because he is a good fighter. I still stick to my belief that he is a good counter-puncher and a good tactician. If he is still an amateur he could easily win one or two gold medals for Cuba.”

Casimero, 32, was left to chase the gun shy Guillermo the whole evening as the latter refused to engage and run all night drawing massive boos from the crowd. Such style according to Tolentino would work in the amateur but not in the pros especially in a world title fight.

“This is pro boxing. I am not saying that he be an all-out slugger because that is not his style, but at least amplify a bit because he was hitting Casimero,” he said.

The fight ended with less than a hundred punches landed from both fighters with Casimero emerging as the winner via split decision. And even though the Ormoc City native emerged victorious, Tolentino believes that his performance could have been better too.

“What's bad was they were both deficient. Casimero was incomplete with his aggression, while the other really did nothing,” he noted.

“As I say, styles make fights and they did not mesh. I think the complexion changed in the opening round when he was hit by Casimero.”

—JMB, GMA News