By Jake Donovan

Contrary to recent reports of a fallout due to visa issues, promoter Frank Warren insists hope is not yet lost regarding the super featherweight matchup between Guillermo Rigondeaux and Jazza Dickens.

As penned by BoxingScene.com reporter Elliot Foster on Tuesday morning, Rigondeaux' immediate training team believes this weekend's showdown will not happen due to issues with the boxer's travel visa. The two-time Olympic Gold medalist and reigning lineal super bantamweight champ had been training in Russia for the past month ahead of Saturday's bill, serving in chief support to Terry Flanagan's lightweight title defense versus Derry Mathews in Liverpool, England.

However, rumors began to swirl on Monday of his visa status. It doesn't affect the headlining bout or the BoxNation telecast as a whole, but does impact whether or not the show will carry the same intended co-feature battle.

The initial claim was that he would not be able to arrive in country any earlier than just prior to Friday's weigh-in. Head trainer Pedro Diaz had a vastly different take on Tuesday, claiming through social media that “[w]e do not have a visa. The application made [for the visa], it wasn’t the right one [and] we can’t be in the fight.”

Despit such insistence, the event handlers are taking a “wait-and-see” approach, hopeful that everything will be worked out in the end.

“Some recent comments have appeared on social media and web sites concerning the arrival into the UK of Guillermo Rigondeaux for his fight against Jazza Dickens this Saturday,” Warren acknowledged via statement released through the Queensberry Promotions press office. “To clarify, Queensberry Promotions are the promoter of the event that Rigondeaux will feature on and the application for his Visa has been handled by his promoter’s RocNation and Caribe Promotions for his entry into the UK.

”Queensberry Promotions are working alongside Dino Duva from RocNation in order to assist Rigondeaux’s with his Visa issues and travel to the UK from Russia, where he has been at training camp. Mr. Duva has been in constant contact with Queensberry Promotions with updates on the situation and just last night sent a message to promoter Frank Warren:

Frank,

Pursuant to our discussion a few minutes ago, I just wanted to update and clarify for you the status of the Guillermo Rigondeaux visa matter.

As a fellow promoter, I know and respect that this is frustrating for you , and I sincerely apologize for any inconvenience this may be causing your March 12 event promotion.

Rigondeaux went to Russia to train for the Dickens fight, and has been attempting to get his UK visa expedited there as quickly as possible.

Unfortunately they have encountered obstacles the past week or so due to a Russian Holiday that prevented the process from getting done.

Rigondeaux and his training team were at the embassy in Moscow again today trying to work on it, but unfortunately were unsuccessful.

Please be assured that we will continue to work on this matter with all our efforts, and are hopeful that we can get this taken care of in time to get to Liverpool for the event.

I will contact you on Tuesday to keep you updated on the status.

Best regards, Dino Duva

Should the go on as planned, it will mark the second ring appearance in less than four months for Rigondeaux following an 11-month ring absence. The supremely gifted boxer from Miami by way of Cuba is recognized as one of the best pure talents in the game, but whose career has been stalled due to a lack of network backing as well as hesitance from his divisional peers who've found success without having to step to him. 

Rigondeaux (16-0, 10KOs) picked up the full version of the World Boxing Association (WBA) super bantamweight title in just his ninth pro fight, battering Rico Ramos in six rounds in Jan. '12. Just 15 months later, he schooled Nonito Donaire in their April '13 title unification bout - coming just two days after Donaire accepted the 2012 Fighter of the Year award from the Boxing Writers Association of America. 

The win was the high point of an otherwise frustrating career, which has included alienation by his own promoter (Top Rank) and U.S. cable outlets. Just three fights have followed, but two fights in a span of more than 30 months led to the World Boxing Organization (WBO) stripping the southpaw of its super bantamweight title last October. 

The WBA was more forgiving of his recent struggles, merely downgrading him to "Champion in Recess." The move allowed Scott Quigg to receive an upgrade on his version of the WBA title, permitting him to move forward with a recent - and long-awaited - unification match with longtime rival Carl Frampton.

Such bout took place in late February, with Frampton claiming a split decision win to become a unified champion. He is now pressed with two mandatory challenges, including a forthcoming defense versus Rigondeaux due no later than June 26.

That deadline remains non-negotiable, as long as Rigondeaux doesn't lose this weekend. Of course, you cannot lose if you do not fight, but the intention was to take on Dickens (21-1, 6KOs) as means to remain active - and perhaps remove some of the bad taste left behind in a pedestrian win over Drian Francisco last November.

At present moment, it appears that Rigondeaux' camp needs to communicate with his promoter, with the latter insisting to Warren's team that all hope is not yet lost. 

"All parties are working extremely hard to resolve the situation to ensure that Rigondeaux receives his Visa," Warren insists. "[O]nce confirmed a statement will be released via RocNation and Queensberry Promotions."

Jake Donovan is the managing editor of BoxingScene.com. Twitter: @JakeNDaBox