A Cuban Boxer's Journey: Rigondeaux, from Castro's Traitor to American Champion

[Loque-san]

LMAO at Americas champion.... No one outside the hardcore boxing world has ever even heard his name or seen his face.

AmericAN champion.

[Aztekkas]

LMAO at Americas champion.... No one outside the hardcore boxing world has ever even heard his name or seen his face.

It's, "American Champion", not meaning America's representer. The title has a deeper meaning, one has to grasp in order to fully comprehend. The transition for a Cuban from the mainland into a citizen of the US is very difficult. In fact the title itself is the moral of this story if you think about it. He doesn't represent America, for his heart is and will always belong to Cuba, however, America has granted him a championship along with the spoils it brings..and for that he is grateful.

[PRchamp]

I remember meeting Rigo when he first got here in Miami at a boxing card in Miccosukkee Casino, he was acting just like the author describe meeting him. I remember asking for a pic and he was pretty scared to take one, he was definitely out his comfort zone.

[DannYankee]

Him living here it's kind of a rehabilitation process, but I didn't know the **** about the grill that is the most bad ass **** I have ever heard of. You have to be petty sick of the system to literally melt the proof of your greatest achievement. It's that true or was he just fking with the writer? The dude is known to be funny even if he don't look like it.

[Godsfly]

Him living here it's kind of a rehabilitation process, but I didn't know the **** about the grill that is the most bad ass **** I have ever heard of. You have to be petty sick of the system to literally melt the proof of your greatest achievement. It's that true or was he just fking with the writer? The dude is known to be funny even if he don't look like it.

other people have mentioned rigo melting down one of his medals before creating A solid gold grill (it's true) i guess he just didn't give a ****

[CubanGuyNYC]

No problem, it was indeed a page turner. It doesn't only discuss Rigo but it also dives into Cuba's deep athletic prowess and the difficult decisions many of Her boxers made in the past. One example is found when 3 time heavy weight Olympic champion Felix Savon turned down a 25 million( or so) dollar deal from Don King to leave Cuba and face Mike Tyson. His reply to King, and i quote, "I'm already a millionaire. If I need to, i can knock on any door in my country and find a million friends to offer me a peso or a piece of bread. I would never trade the love of my people for all the money in the world."

Damn it man***8230; that there is just***8230; beyond words when i read it lol.

That's a nice quote -- one clearly modeled after Stevenson's reply to fighting Ali, I might add -- but I wonder how Savon feels now. Times are changing, and island Cubans are having their eyes opened by the success of their countrymen abroad.

[CubanGuyNYC]

other people have mentioned rigo melting down one of his medals before creating A solid gold grill (it's true) i guess he just didn't give a ****

Olympic gold medals are not solid gold. According to Wikipedia, they're required to be "at least 92.5% silver, and must contain a minimum of six grams of gold."

[CubanGuyNYC]

I remember meeting Rigo when he first got here in Miami at a boxing card in Miccosukkee Casino, he was acting just like the author describe meeting him. I remember asking for a pic and he was pretty scared to take one, he was definitely out his comfort zone.

It's sad, bro. Some of these people, when they first arrive in the United States, are like deer in the headlights. They're amazed at even the things we take for granted every single day. I have an uncle visiting us right now. It's his first trip outside the island. He's in his late sixties, and a fairly bright man. He walks around in wonderment, like a child at an amusement park for the first time. He has trouble comprehending how private citizens actually own nearly everything you see. Strange as it may seem to us, it takes a while to acclimate. I suppose it would be like us trying to settle down in Beijing, or something.

[.:: JSFD26 ::.]

Just finished reading it and i have to say it's a very well written book. I'm just amazed by how much ground it covered over the span of 13 chapters.The insight on Rigo and the mystery that engulfs him is very intriguing. The difficult choices he made and the burden of regret he wears everyday are dreadful. To have reached what he has reached is outstanding, a true champion. Sadly it's as if Rigo's greatness is overlooked by America and labeled as defiance by his homeland, thus ignored in both lands. New found respect for Cuba's "traitor" champions and what they stand for. Good read.

Hmmm now Im wondering, have you seen the little documentary on Cuban boxing and what these kids go thru?

[BendOver]

LMAO at Americas champion.... No one outside the hardcore boxing world has ever even heard his name or seen his face.

He is a two time Olympic Champion millions know him and had watched him capture his Gold Medals, there more (millions) ppl watching an Olympic final that any professional boxing event, by the way you know who Rigondeaux is...