Rigondeaux vs Flores official for Cotto-Kirkland show

As expected, Guillermo Rigondeaux will be back on February 25, featuring on the Cotto-Kirkland HBO pay-per-view, as he defends his super bantamweight championship against Moises Flores.

Rigondeaux (17-0, 11 KO) will be defending his lineal championship, as well as the WBA “super world” title, and the IBO title, if you’re into noting everything. The 36-year-old Cuban was last in action on July 16, traveling to Cardiff, Wales, for an easy defense against Jazza Dickens. Rigondeaux won in two rounds, breaking Dickens’ jaw and forcing him out of the fight.

But the same lack of action — even while breaking someone’s dang jaw — that has chased him off of U.S. TV was there again. Rigondeaux has only fought on U.S. soil once since 2013, and only fought one time in both 2015 and 2016.

Flores (25-0, 17 KO) is a legitimate contender and a fine opponent, but will be a huge underdog, because Rigondeaux, whatever you can say about lack of brawling fireworks, is one of the best fighters in the world, pound-for-pound.

The 30-year-old Flores went to Namibia last June, beating Paulus Ambunda in Flores’ only fight of 2016. In 2015, he defeated Oscar Escandon and Luis Emanuel Cusolito.

Also featured on the Cotto-Kirkland show will be Diego De La Hoya, the super bantamweight prospect and cousin of Oscar De La Hoya. De La Hoya (16-0, 9 KO) has raised his profile considerably over the last couple of years. He’ll be facing Cuba’s Yoandris Salinas (21-2-2, 14 KO) in a 10-round fight.