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Right now, 3 of the hottest rising stars in boxing are Cuban : Gamboa, Rigondeaux and Lara.
But why is it that every other day on Boxingscene I see an article about Erislandy Lara or Guillermo Rigondeaux begging for a fight or Gamboa having contract issues. These are three incredibly gifted boxers with extraordinary amateur backgrounds. Let's take a look at the career progression of these 3 fighters so far:
Rigondeaux - 10 fights into his professional career. Became interim champion after 7 with a close victory over Cordoba. Since then: He's fought Willie Casey in Dublin Ireland, Rico Ramos in Vegas on a ShoBox event and Teon Kennedy in Vegas on a Pacquiao undercard. It looks like Top Rank has no major plans for him.
Lara - Coming off a win over Paul Williams (which was taken from him), he fights Ronald Hearns in Biloxi Mississippi on an undercard of a Jermain Taylor bout and now will go to California to fight Freddy Hernandez on a Bundrage/Spinks undercard.
Gamboa - We all know what recently went down with him. No need to explain.
Why do these talented fighters continue to get ignored by their promoters and get placed on undercards against C level competition?
In Lara's case he goes from pulling a major upset, to fighting in Biloxi Mississippi against an opponent that shouldn't have been in the ring with him. Rigondeaux got a more high profile undercard, but the seats were empty, the opponent was outclassed and it still didn't do much for his marketability.
Why aren't they being built up as superstars like their Mexican and Puerto Rican counterparts?
You often see young Mexican fighters headline major events in Texas or California and build up their fanbases. Large Mexican populations in these states. You often see Puerto Rican fighters headline events in New York. Same case. Cuban fighters, don't get his same treatment. The promoters don't showcase their talents and build their fanbases the same way.
Miami has the largest Cuban population in the U.S. Yet these Cuban fighters are fighting on undercards in Vegas, Texas, California and in Lara's case; Biloxi Mississippi. It's rare a major boxing event is ever held in Miami. I have a hard time believing that if Gamboa, Rigo, Lara or a combination of the 3, headlined an event at American Airlines Arena, that it would flop.
It seems to me that these fighters talents are being wasted away.
Is it the promoters fault, or do these fighters just not have large enough fanbases to generate any interest?
But why is it that every other day on Boxingscene I see an article about Erislandy Lara or Guillermo Rigondeaux begging for a fight or Gamboa having contract issues. These are three incredibly gifted boxers with extraordinary amateur backgrounds. Let's take a look at the career progression of these 3 fighters so far:
Rigondeaux - 10 fights into his professional career. Became interim champion after 7 with a close victory over Cordoba. Since then: He's fought Willie Casey in Dublin Ireland, Rico Ramos in Vegas on a ShoBox event and Teon Kennedy in Vegas on a Pacquiao undercard. It looks like Top Rank has no major plans for him.
Lara - Coming off a win over Paul Williams (which was taken from him), he fights Ronald Hearns in Biloxi Mississippi on an undercard of a Jermain Taylor bout and now will go to California to fight Freddy Hernandez on a Bundrage/Spinks undercard.
Gamboa - We all know what recently went down with him. No need to explain.
Why do these talented fighters continue to get ignored by their promoters and get placed on undercards against C level competition?
In Lara's case he goes from pulling a major upset, to fighting in Biloxi Mississippi against an opponent that shouldn't have been in the ring with him. Rigondeaux got a more high profile undercard, but the seats were empty, the opponent was outclassed and it still didn't do much for his marketability.
Why aren't they being built up as superstars like their Mexican and Puerto Rican counterparts?
You often see young Mexican fighters headline major events in Texas or California and build up their fanbases. Large Mexican populations in these states. You often see Puerto Rican fighters headline events in New York. Same case. Cuban fighters, don't get his same treatment. The promoters don't showcase their talents and build their fanbases the same way.
Miami has the largest Cuban population in the U.S. Yet these Cuban fighters are fighting on undercards in Vegas, Texas, California and in Lara's case; Biloxi Mississippi. It's rare a major boxing event is ever held in Miami. I have a hard time believing that if Gamboa, Rigo, Lara or a combination of the 3, headlined an event at American Airlines Arena, that it would flop.
It seems to me that these fighters talents are being wasted away.
Is it the promoters fault, or do these fighters just not have large enough fanbases to generate any interest?
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