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Guillermo RigondeauxCuban amateur boxer, two-time Olympic champion and two-time world champion
Date of Birth: 30.09.1980
Country:  Cuba |
Content:
Biography of Guillermo Rigondeaux
Guillermo Rigondeaux Ortiz was born on September 30, 1980, in the Cuban city of Santiago de Cuba. He began his boxing career as an amateur and quickly rose to become a two-time Olympic champion and two-time world champion. Rigondeaux competed in the bantamweight division throughout his career.
Amateur Career
Rigondeaux made his international debut in June 1999 at the Giraldo Cordova Cardin tournament in Santa Clara, Cuba, where he claimed the top spot. In 2000, he joined the Cuban national team and won the gold medal at the Summer Olympics in Sydney, defeating Russia's Raimkul Malakhbekov in the final. The following year, Rigondeaux became the world champion at the championship held in Belfast, but he failed to replicate his success at the 2003 World Championships in Bangkok.
In 2004, Rigondeaux was the clear favorite to win the gold medal at the Athens Olympics in his weight class, and he lived up to expectations by defeating Thailand's Worapoj Petchkoom in the final. His last major international triumph came at the 2005 World Championships in China.
Escape from Cuba and Professional Career
On July 22, 2007, Rigondeaux and his Cuban teammate Erislandy Lara escaped from their national team during the Pan American Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. It was later revealed that both boxers had signed contracts with German promotional company Arena Box Promotions. However, on August 2, 2007, Rigondeaux and Lara were arrested in a suburb of Rio de Janeiro and deported back to Cuba.
Upon returning to his homeland, Rigondeaux expressed regret over his escape from the national team and stated that he had never intended to leave for Germany and pursue a professional career. He hoped for an opportunity to return to the Cuban team, but President Fidel Castro, who had publicly criticized the boxers' defection, declared that they would not be allowed back.
Many journalists and experts speculated that Rigondeaux and Lara's return to Cuba was enforced due to threats made by Fidel Castro against their families and friends. There were also suggestions that their defection could lead to a boycott of the Cuban national team at the 2007 World Amateur Boxing Championships in Chicago. On August 29, 2007, it was confirmed that the Cuban team would not participate in the championship. Rigondeaux and Lara were also denied the right to compete in the Beijing Olympic Games.
In the summer of 2008, Lara managed to escape to Mexico on a motorboat and began his professional boxing career. Following his example, Rigondeaux fled to the United States in February 2009 and signed a contract with ARENA Box-Promotion in Miami, intending to pursue a career in professional boxing.
