Greg Leon: How did everything go in preparation for [former WBC 122-pound title holder] Julio Ceja [32-3]? What can we expect to see from you on June 23rd? Guillermo Rigondeaux: "Everything went great in preparation for Ceja. I'm down here in Houston, Texas with my team of Ronnie Shields and Ramon Garbey and I feel great. I'm just getting ready for this fight." GL: Your last fight [a first-round stoppage of Giovanni Delgado] iwas your first action in more than a year and it didn't even a round. Have you basically been living in the gym since then? GR: "Yeah, you know I'm a guy who's always in the gym. I'm always in great shape and I'm just ready to go. I'm just happy to be getting back into the ring so fast."

 

GL: What do you know about Ceja? What do you think of him as a fighter?

 

GR: "I don't know too much about him. I do know he's a former world champion and obviously he's a Mexican fighter. I'm sure he's coming to do his best because Mexicans always fight with pride. He's a credible opponent and I'm taking him seriously."

 

GL: What do you want a win in this fight to lead to?

 

GR: "This fight is a world title eliminator for the winner of Vargas vs. Kameda. That's the fight I want at 122 pounds, I'm also willing to campaign at 118 lbs if a major world title opportunity comes up. I've been campaigning for a world title shot and it's something I want right away."

 

GL: Are you expecting this fight to go the distance?

 

GR: "I don't ever make predictions or say I'm going to knock somebody out, but I'm going to go out there and do my best and we'll see what happens."

 

GL: One way or the other you haven't gone the distance since 2015. 

 

GR: "That's true, but I still don't get into the predictions. I'm just happy to be active and I"ve been able to stay sharp and at 122 pounds I feel like I'm really strong right now. This is my weight class and I feel like I can knock anybody out in this division."

 

GL: Who do you like in the Rey Vargas vs. Tomoki Kameda fight [for the WBC 122-pound champiojnship]?

 

GR: "I don't know enough about each guy to really go into that. I know their names, I haven't watched enough to give you an honest opinion, I just hope whoever wins fights me."

 

GL: Closing thoughts.

 

GR: "I just obviously want to thank you for the interview and I want all of the boxing fans around the world to tune into Fox on June 23rd to watch the best 122 pound fighter in the world. This is going to be a great fight between two former world champions who are looking to become champion again."