Rigondeaux-Marroquin returns to Chavez-Martinez card

Sep

LAS VEGAS — The attorneys for the manager of WBA junior featherweight beltholder Guillermo Rigondeaux and for the fighter, himself, have reached an out-of-court agreement in spite of an injunction which prevented Rigondeaux from defending his belt against Robert Marroquin on Saturday night at the Thomas and Mack Center.

Rigondeaux-Marroquin was in jeopardy of not happening on the undercard of an HBO Pay Per View-televised main between Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. and Sergio Martinez as the result of a written order from Miami-Dade County judge David Miller that forbid Rigondeaux, a two-time Olympic gold medalist, from facing Marroquin.

According to Pat English, an attorney for Rigondeaux’s Irish manager Gary Hyde, the ruling prevented Rigondeaux (10-0, 8 knockouts) from meeting Marroquin (22-1, 15 KOs) because the bout was not approved by Hyde.

But Hyde has since granted his blessing for the fight, having worked out satisfactory terms with Top Rank lawyer David Marroso, a senior attorney with the Los Angeles-based O’Melveny and Myers law firm, and Rigondeaux’s lawyer, Guy Spiegelman.

“There was a series of negotiations over the last four or five days. The injunction stays in effect, but the injunction said that it was up to Gary Hyde,” said English.

“The terms satisfactory to all of the parties were reached, and, basically, we feel comfortable that we have now protected Rigondeaux. There are some different terms. So Gary gave his permission.”

Despite the agreement between the parties, Caribe Promotions, Rigondeaux’s co-promoter, sought an injunction against Top Rank and Rigondeaux because the company felt as if its contract was being interfered with.

The hearing was heard Wednesday in Miami by Miller, who denied Caribe’s attempt to block the fight. Through all of the legal issues, Rigondeaux has continued to train, hoping there would be a resolution.

“We have negotiated a far superior deal to fight Robert Marroquin on Sept. 15,” said Hyde, in a prepared statement. “‘Rigo’ doesn’t get involved or sidetracked by legal dramas. He has promised me that he is at his all-time best and that he will KO Marroquin.”

Lem Satterfield can be reached at [email protected]