Rigondeaux extends manager's contract, eyes Dec. 15 return

An attorney for Gary Hyde, manager of WBA junior featherweight beltholder Guillermo Rigondeaux, said Hyde and the boxer have extended their contract for three years and could make their next appearance on a Top Rank-promoted show on Dec. 15 from Marlins Park in Miami, Fla., on HBO.

Although Rigondeaux (10-0, 8 knockouts) still is considered a free agent in the wake of his HBO Pay Per View-televised unanimous decision victory over Roberto Marroquin on Sept. 15, Top Rank CEO Bob Arum said he is "still working on finishing up" a deal that will allow his company to promote the two-time Olympic gold medalist.

If signed by Top Rank, Rigondeaux would appear on a card that would also feature a defense by welterweight titleholder Tim Bradley, whose controversial split-decision in June dethroned Manny Pacquiao as the WBO's 147-pound titleholder.

"Mr. Rigondeaux extended Gary Hyde's contract for three years...The contract was actually signed on Sept. 16," said Hyde's lawyer, Patrick English, of an order from Miami-Dade County judge David Miller which extends Rigondeaux's managerial contract through Sept. 15, 2015.

"That matter was in court this morning, and the court adopted the three-year extension. There has been significant progress that would enable Mr. Rigondeaux to fight on Dec. 15. It's not a done deal, but it is moving. It's a possibility, but not a done deal."

Rigondeaux vanquished Marroquin on a card that was promoted by Top Rank and whose main event featured a unanimous decision by RING middleweight champion Sergio Martinez over Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. at the Thomas and Mack Center in Las Vegas.

Rigondeaux-Marroquin happened after English, the attorneys for Top Rank and Rigondeaux's lawyer, Guy Spiegelman, reached an out-of-court agreement in spite of an injunction which had prevented Rigondeaux from facing Marroquin

A written order from Miller had forbid Rigondeaux from facing Marroquin, but Hyde granted his blessing a few days prior to 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 Spiegelman.

English said Rigondeaux still is a free agent.

"There's also some outstanding offers from Golden Boy. Mr. Rigondeaux is entertaining offers from anybody," said English, who hopes to have Rigondeaux status resolved "by the end of the week."

"But the two leading contenders are Top Rank and Golden Boy, obviously. So until signatures are on contracts, Mr. Rigondeaux still is a promotional free agent."

Photo by Chris Farina, Top Rank

Lem Satterfield can be reached at lemuel.satterfield@gmail.com