Vasyl Lomachenko vs Guillermo Rigondeaux the early Christmas for boxing fans that deserves the hype

Christmas comes early for boxing fans tonight, as two of the best fighters of this generation finally meet inside the squared circle. Vasyl Lomachenko and Guillermo Rigondeaux both encapsulate everything that is magnificent about sport, and their list of accomplishments in both the amateur and professional ranks are unparalleled in modern boxing.

Make no mistake, this is as good as it gets for true connoisseurs of the fighting game. It’s a Roger Federer/Rafael Nadal Grand Slam showdown, a World Cup Final and a Super Bowl all wrapped into 36 minutes of scintillating action. Yes the WBO super featherweight title is on the line, but here we have a fight which goes beyond belts, money and records. Instead, it’s an examination of athletic prowess, intelligence and adaptability.

At 29 years old, Lomachenko is the younger man by eight years, is taller, leaner and significantly more comfortable in the super featherweight division. The Ukrainian enjoyed an outrageously successful amateur record which yielded hundreds of victories and just one defeat. Two Olympic gold medals and two world championship titles reflect his amateur dominance, while his professional career has seen further success.

Lomachenko’s professional journey began in October 2013 where he outclassed Jose Ramirez, before he attempted to win a world title in just his second fight. That mission failed after Orlando Salido used every dirty trick in the book to eke out a split decision win, but unperturbed, Lomachenko has dominated all who have followed since.

The likes of Gary Russell Jr, Nicholas Walters, Roman Martinez and Jason Sosa have all been gunned down and outclassed, with Lomachenko’s speed and skill unparalleled against genuinely quality rivals. Once criticised for too many feints and not enough spite, Lomachenko has stopped his last six opponents, while his speed and guile continue to improve.

So with all those qualities, all the records, the titles and the physical attributes, why are some people giving a 37-year-old inactive Guillermo Rigondeaux a chance tonight? It’s simple really, because Rigondeaux was Vasyl Lomachenko before anybody had heard of the Eastern European enigma, and was arguably even more impressive too.

Undefeated since 2003, Rigondeaux also won two Olympic gold medals and two AIBA World Championships, as well as seven Cuban national championships. Following the amateur success which saw him intimidate all who he fought, the Cuban star defected to the west in 2009, and began his professional career which has resulted in 18 peculiar fights.

The Cuban has fought all over the world over the past eight years, from Miami Beach to Cardiff, by way of Osaka and Dublin, but with the exception of a legendary victory over Nonito Donaire in 2013, he has yet to face the best of the best on a regular basis. There are plenty of reasons for that, be it promotional issues, criticisms of style, or schedule conflicts, but the reality is, the key problem has always been Rigondeaux himself. A contrary attitude and a refusal to compromise has cost him many millions, and though plenty at the top level have refused to sign a contract to fight him, the reward of potential victory has never quite matched the risk.

And that’s why we’re here tonight. That’s why after all these years, the superfight many thought would never happen, is coming. Nothing is conventional in boxing, and even though this bout is as mouthwatering as a piece of bacon wrapped round a chipolata, there are caveats to the excitement. There is the age gap, plus the inactivity of Rigondeaux which has seen him fight just twice in 25 months. More crucially, however, there’s the weight.

Lomachenko is a comfortable super featherweight, while Rigondeaux is moving up two weight classes. Any sudden jump in weight is risky, but moving up two for a huge clash can often result in disaster. The most recent example saw Kell Brook jump from welterweight to middleweight, and he ended up with a broken orbital bone courtesy of Gennady Golovkin.

But let’s put aside the statistics and celebrate the artistry. We have two fighters with their own unique skills which both overlap in many ways. Defensively, they’re both incredibly hard to hit, with reflexes and footwork that defy convention. Offensively, they each have power, though Lomachenko’s is more attritional, while Rigondeaux has the one-punch knockout in his locker. Movement is the attribute to look out for most though. Who will remain switched on for longer, and who will have the lapse of concentration that could define the fight?

On another card tonight, James DeGale returns to action against Caleb Truax. DeGale spoke beforehand about his desire for an "easy fight" upon his return to the ring. One where he could "look good".DeGale is a world champion, yet he’ll be competing in front of a half-full venue and nobody will care about the result the minute the fight finishes.

While it’s unfair to compare a beautiful steak with a Rustlers burger, it makes events like Lomachenko/Rigondeaux seem all the more important. This is the fight to set your alarm to, the fight to focus on, and the one that makes following this sport worth it.