Rigondeaux's Wasted Career

I see a lot of people blaming HBO for not promoting Rigo, but I honestly don't blame the former. Rigo hasn't fought any notable opponents since Donaire. I understand that every decent fighter at 122 ran to 126, but Loma was willing to fight him at 126. If Rigo beat Loma, Mares, Frampton and Santa Cruz wouldn't have any excuses to avoid him. Not only that, but it would've been an easier fight, since he was younger, only had to move up 4 pounds, and could fight a less experienced Loma. Instead, he chose to stay at 122, fighting nobodies. Now, for some odd reason, he's willing to fight Loma at 130, even though 126 was apparently too much for him in 2015. Rigo is 37 years old, jumping up 8 pounds in his first time fighting above 122, against the best boxer at 130. Honestly, if he didn't like his chances against Loma, he could've at least tried to make a name for himself at 126. It would've been better than fighting bums at 122 for 4 years, then fighting Loma at the tail-end of his career. HBO couldn't market Rigo, mainly because nobody wants to spend years watching a fighter demolish obviously outmatched opponents, especially when there's another HBO fighter destroying actual talent. Why do you guys think Rigondeaux's career went into the trashcan?

Comments (20)

chrisJS

The Amagasa fight would have gave rock em' sock em' fans orgasms but I understand where you're coming from. What I'm trying to get across is the seeds were planted long before his stinkers. Read Arums comments right after Donaire. True, Arum obviously didn't like him, but it's not like HBO made him fight boring in the Agbeko showcase and the PPV spot on Canelo-Cotto. Those were excellent opportunities that he blew and seemed to not care.

8y ago

minemax

Why do you guys think Rigondeaux's career went into the trashcan? Because his style of boxing is not appealing to a casual boxing spectator and he himself is not smart enough to understand it (always wants too much money).

8y ago

Slicc

" He's a very good fighter, but it's not a very pleasing style." -Arum Rigo has literally one of the most aesthetically pleasing styles to watch besides Floyd Maybe for the fans who can appreciate the technical side of boxing, but casual fans? I don't know about that. If you're talking about the guys he's been knocking out since Donaire, they're bums. Fights aren't as entertaining, when you can already tell who's gonna win. Amagasa was an exception, but he's just one of the many bums Rigo's fought. I CAN'T WAIT to see how Loma reacts the first time he gets nailed by Rigo's left. If Rigo's speed carries up with him Loma is going to be in for a long night. Rigo's 37, and moving up 8lb. Even if he keeps his speed, I don't think his stamina will hold up long enough for him to maintain it, going into the middle rounds. I think Rigo's best chance at winning, is to take Loma out within the first 1/2 of the match. If Rigo has to go the distance, Loma will probably wear him out.

8y ago

Slicc

I'm probably a minority here but I think a lot of it has to do with race I've heard that before, and I doubt it. You can explain to me why you think Rigo's failure is due to racism, if you want. I don't mind discussing this with you.

8y ago

Slicc

Everybody kept ducking the dude and now he has to fight the best fighter 2 weight classes above him to get a fight with a top opponent... dude has been blackballed by the sport and he couldn't do **** about it Maybe if Rigo moved up for Loma in 2015, and beat him, he would've had more opportunities to fight top level opponents. Every 122lb fighter, who could fight worth a ****, moved up to 126, so I don't understand why Rigo didn't do the same. I highly doubt HBO made him turn down Loma for cab drivers, especially since they threw the former to the wolves. Now, the odds are stacked against him, and it's his fault. It's unlikely that he'll beat Loma, and even if he does, his age will catch up to him eventually.

8y ago

Sheldon312

I'm probably a minority here but I think a lot of it has to do with race

8y ago

DuckAdonis

8y ago

TJ_highway

Rigondeaux's career was not wasted! He is who he is. He's not an A side fighter and never will be. He is not a PPV fighter and never will be! LOL! your quote on Arum! "He's a very good fighter, but it's not a very pleasing style." -Arum Hardly a vote of confidence! Funny how a lot of fight fans want to give style points for running and dancing but that **** if for Dancing with the Stars! The rest of us want to see a fight. not some fighter like we saw last weekend crying after a little boo boo! http://www.mightyfighter.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/arturo-gatti-split-lip.jpg http://www.mightyfighter.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/vitali-eye-2.jpg http://www.mightyfighter.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/morales-eye-2.jpg

8y ago

g27region

Donaire might end up in Hall of Fame, but Rigo...not likely. Even though he schooled prime Nonito He can be entertaining, look at Teon Kennedy fight but it feels like he's not that good on front foot, judging by his performance against Cordoba. He doesn't want to get out of his comfort zone to make fights more entertaining. Rigo just waits for you to make a mistake and Loma creates the opportunity for you to make a mistake, that's the difference between these styles A perfect boxer would be a mix of Loma's front foot game and Rigo's back foot game

8y ago

darius45

HBO & Bob Arum done him dirty. A few reporters/journalists have help pushed a certain narrative about him. Look at what Bob Arum says RIGHT after schooling Donaire. http://www.boxingscene.com/arum-expects-big-struggle-promote-rigondeaux--64421 " He's a very good fighter, but it's not a very pleasing style." -Arum Rigo has literally one of the most aesthetically pleasing styles to watch besides Floyd, he's always perfectly composed. Watching lesser athletes slug it out isn't, contrary to popular opinion, more "pleasing" to watch. It's like saying a Michael Bay film is more pleasing to watch than a David Lynch film because there's more action. I CAN'T WAIT to see how Loma reacts the first time he gets nailed by Rigo's left. If Rigo's speed carries up with him Loma is going to be in for a long night.

8y ago

boliodogs

You are right. I think Rigo is just as good as Loma for his size and age but to fight Loma now at 130 gives Loma the advantage and I expect him to win. It's a great win for Rigo if he wins but I think he will lose and possibly by KO. That won't do his career any good.

8y ago

Zaroku

Rigo had the ability to make fights exciting, but he just won't do it. He is content with stunking the joint out. I enjoyed watching him take Donaire to school.

8y ago

chrisJS

HBO & Bob Arum done him dirty. A few reporters/journalists have help pushed a certain narrative about him. Look at what Bob Arum says RIGHT after schooling Donaire. http://www.boxingscene.com/arum-expects-big-struggle-promote-rigondeaux--64421 Hard to say HBO did him dirty. Fans weren't entertained when they watched him. I believe he got a headline card and took no chances against Agbeko. He also got a PPV spot on a huge PPV (Canelo-Cotto) and he fought a dull fight there too. It's hard to tell people they must enjoy his style when most are finding it dull. People just didn't like his style and he didn't really do anything to get more fans. He was content calling out champions but not facing any top contenders and content in winning boring fights. Arum didn't put much effort into Marquez, but at least Marquez fought top contenders and then when he left he switched up his style a little bit. Keeping the technical but looking to be more entertaining.

8y ago

deanrw

Many like to blame HBO and Arum for Rigo's lack of popularity. Don't blame them. Blame Rigo and his support team Caribe. Boxing is in the entertaining business and driven by fans. Fighters who partake in it should realize that. I could go on and on listing all the reasons Rigo has no real fanbase, but it would just be parroting what everyone else knows.

8y ago

Complete waste just look at the pay day he’s going out with :lol1:

8y ago

CubanGuyNYC

Yeah. I think he has the tools to entertain. Great control of distance, timing. Good power, technique and obviously a big arsenal. He's tended to not need it so not use it. Lomachenko understands the value of entertainment more. He gets it and as a result he has a bigger fan base. Lomo just has a much more exciting style. He’s super-active, fast, skilled. What’s not to like? Rigo can turn it on when needed. Only, as you said, he usually doesn’t need to. He’ll need to on December 9. Should be a good fight.

8y ago

chrisJS

He might. Then again, he might win. Lol I expected Rigo to lose versus Donaire, and he wound up putting on a clinic. In this next fight, I’m really hoping Guillermo at least makes a good account of himself. As someone said recently, he’s just too good not to. I tend to agree. And, yeah, I appreciate technical fighters myself, but Rigo has a tendency to go completely inactive. That’s just boring. I don’t care how you slice it. I had some guy argue with me over that point not long ago. I mean, watching an artist paint is one thing. Watching him stare at the canvass is quite another. Lol Yeah. I think he has the tools to entertain. Great control of distance, timing. Good power, technique and obviously a big arsenal. He's tended to not need it so not use it. Lomachenko understands the value of entertainment more. He gets it and as a result he has a bigger fan base.

8y ago

CubanGuyNYC

I think he will lose lopsided and I'm not sure where he goes next. I do think he will one day enter the IBHOF because of his amateur credentials, skills and the Donaire win. I hope he's making good money in his next fight to make up for lost time. I saw him live on an undercard in Vegas years ago and was very impressed but he's generally bored me and I usually love technical fighters. He might. Then again, he might win. Lol I expected Rigo to lose versus Donaire, and he wound up putting on a clinic. In this next fight, I’m really hoping Guillermo at least makes a good account of himself. As someone said recently, he’s just too good not to. I tend to agree. And, yeah, I appreciate technical fighters myself, but Rigo has a tendency to go completely inactive. That’s just boring. I don’t care how you slice it. I had some guy argue with me over that point not long ago. I mean, watching an artist paint is one thing. Watching him stare at the canvass is quite another. Lol

8y ago

MrClutch85

In today's era boxing the top fighters want big money fights or easy fights Rigondeaux is a talented fighter nobody wants to see hm feast on bums all the time the best fighters around his weight ducked him that's recipe for a wasted career

8y ago

chrisJS

Agree 100%. We definitely see eye-to-eye here, brother. Damn shame. I watched Rigo from the time he won his first gold medal. When he defected, I was so excited to see what he would do in the pros. I remember being laughed at on this forum when I said that Rigo was the most talented of the Cuban boxers, more talented than Gamboa. Now Guillermo’s career is winding down, and it will never rise to the promise it once showed. Maybe, just maybe, he’ll salvage a glimmer of what could have been with a victory over Lomo. That and his victory over Nonito would say something. Fingers crossed. I think he will lose lopsided and I'm not sure where he goes next. I do think he will one day enter the IBHOF because of his amateur credentials, skills and the Donaire win. I hope he's making good money in his next fight to make up for lost time. I saw him live on an undercard in Vegas years ago and was very impressed but he's generally bored me and I usually love technical fighters.

8y ago