Chavez Jr vs Martinez Undercard: Guillermo Rigondeaux to Face Robert Marroquin

Guillermo Rigondeaux will defend the WBA super bantamweight title on the Julio Cesar Chavez Jr vs Sergio Martinez undercard on September 15, facing prospect Robert Marroquin.

Rigondeaux (10-0, 8 KO) last fought on June 9, easily disposing of Teon Kennedy on the Pacquiao vs Bradley undercard. The 31-year-old Cuban standout won his title in January, when he just as easily dominated Rico Ramos on ShoBox.

Like Kennedy and Ramos, it would be a fair early guess that the 22-year-old Texan Marroquin is overmatched here. Marroquin (22-1, 15 KO) is still a good prospect, but this is a big, big step for him. He lost a fight last year to Francisco Leal, an exciting bout on Top Rank Live that flew under the radar. Since then, he's won three straight over very limited opposition. Just when he's starting to get back in stride, Top Rank has decided to feed him to Rigondeaux.

There are a few explanations for that, I figure. The first is that the top guys at 122 aren't exactly dying to face Rigondeaux. The second is that Rigondeaux and Marroquin are both Top Rank fights, thus it's an easy fight to sign. The third is that, and this is just speculation, Top Rank doesn't see a real future in Marroquin, and they're not worried about putting another L on his record instead of protecting and nurturing him for the future.

I wish Rigondeaux were facing a better opponent, which isn't a shot at Marroquin as a fighter as much as it is, I guess, a shot at the stage Marroquin's career is at. He's not ready for this and I'll be surprised if it looks much different from the Ramos and Kennedy fights. Plus, what good is this doing Rigondeaux?

IT IS WHAT IT IS AT THE END OF THE DAY, etc.