Rigo could have been an ATG.

Rigo is a LEGEND off is his Amateur and Olympic Career ALONE for sure one of the MOST Accomplished Amateur boxers EVER! The Pro Career is just a Bonus...lets be honest it was never suppose to happen. Typically Legendary Cubans don't defect like the late great Teofilo Stevenson and Felix Savon but Rigo did and honestly he had himself a excellent Pro Career despite all the Critics and POLITICS against him! F#CK the Internet Boxing Fans and what we think, Rigo is well respected by his boxing brothers/peers and will be considered a Legend to them. I would LOVE to see Nordine Ouabaali vs Rigondeaux! That would be a GREAT FIGHT! Nordine lets his hands go and he can Punch!

I don’t disagree. I think Rigo came into the fight disinterested, but it’s also possible he lost interest the moment he felt Lomo’s attributes. Either way, Guillermo simply made no effort whatsoever. Seems to me he went six rounds to pretend he actually tried. It was just bullshit. It was complete BS and a woeful effort from Rigo, I’m a huge Loma fan too so didn’t exactly have a horse in the race. (aside from betting on Loma by stoppage) I was really hoping Rigo would give a good account of himself though and would gain more credibility from his many critics. Unfortunately, it was probably the worst showing of his career.

Those years were terrible, Rafael was on Rigo 24/7! Rigo will never be most fans cup of tea but you really need someone like Paulie on the broadcast team to point out the subtleties of Rigo's craft. That Rafael is arrogant, self important w*nker. I always remember him being a complete a-hole to some young kid during Canelo-GGG 2 fight week, the kid just asked him his prediction on the fight and he passive aggressively said “if you want a prediction then read my stories bro”. I just thought you conceited fat pr***. The way he used to try and disparage Rigo was DISGRACEFUL. He’s supposed to be an impartial journalist but instead he constantly mocked and insulted a man who’s a billion times more talented than he ever will be. I’ve got no respect for that dude.

Those years were terrible, Rafael was on Rigo 24/7! Rigo will never be most fans cup of tea but you really need someone like Paulie on the broadcast team to point out the subtleties of Rigo's craft. I’ve been very critical of Rigo over the years, but I like to believe I’m relatively objective. Rafael was very disparaging about the Donaire fight; yet, I thought it was a masterclass by Rigondeaux. In the first few rounds, Guillermo was willing to exchange and took an early lead. He backed off the gas in the middle rounds, and nursed his points without becoming purely defensive. By the late rounds, he had Nonito’s face tenderized. And by the end of the fight, Donaire was backpedaling, trying to avoid a KO in the making. The hunted had become the hunter.

Rigo must have felt like fighters feel when they face him. Do you think Arum risks Inoue against Rigo to "avenge" what Rigo did to Nonito years ago? That’s exactly it. Rigo almost looked amazed he was being outboxed. Maybe... I would pick Inoue to beat this version of Rigo so maybe Arum thinks it’s good matchmaking. It’s still an interesting fight though, hopefully Wilder-Fury opens the door for more TR/PBC crossover fights.

I think a better analogy is Rigo to Mozart. I get your point about people wanting to be refined, but the analogy works better with something refined and highly controlled or tempered like scripted classical music. Free jazz is the opposite of Rigo and Mozart. No rules, all risk, could be a disaster, etc. But I get the posturing of refinement. Great post. Maybe Julio Cesar Martinez is something closer to free jazz.....

People talk about Rigo the same way they talk about free jazz. I'm pretty sure half the people that claim to like either are just pretending to, hoping it makes them look refined..... I think a better analogy is Rigo to Mozart. I get your point about people wanting to be refined, but the analogy works better with something refined and highly controlled or tempered like scripted classical music. Free jazz is the opposite of Rigo and Mozart. No rules, all risk, could be a disaster, etc. But I get the posturing of refinement.

I genuinely don’t find it boring though. There’s the odd fight, I remember one on the Kovalev-Ward undercard were he was overly negative but I thought that wasn’t a negative performance last night. He stood and traded in the first round, and exchanged when necessary later on, like in round 7. I don’t think Rigo’s style is that dissimilar from Mayweather’s style throughout the 10’s. He’s a counter puncher, people can’t expect him to be coming forward initiating attacks. I think he gets unfairly labelled boring cause fat slobs like Dan Rafael have disparaged him for years. He’s not Gatti by any means but for the purists he’s still captivating to watch. Those years were terrible, Rafael was on Rigo 24/7! Rigo will never be most fans cup of tea but you really need someone like Paulie on the broadcast team to point out the subtleties of Rigo's craft.

Loma is the only guy (Am or Pro) I’ve ever seen outmanoeuvre him. The size difference definitely helped but I think Loma’s unique style combined with his supreme athleticism left Rigo completely befuddled. Rigo must have felt like fighters feel when they face him. Do you think Arum risks Inoue against Rigo to "avenge" what Rigo did to Nonito years ago?

If you look back at the Loma fight...The nail in the coffin and what made him quit was when Loma just turned his back on him and walked away. That killed him on the inside, killed his pride.

I’ve always hated him and would always root for the other guy. He has the skills but I disagree with how he carries himself in the ring. His choices are often bizarre or overly cautious. That’s all I’m saying. Don’t care one lick about him. Good way to put it. He is overly cautious, but bizarre choice making seems rather appropriate. There have been times I’m literally like, “Why?” It sucks because Rigo really is a rare talent. We’ve missed out on his abilities for no good reason. The guy is like a savant who just does whatever he feels like, whenever he feels like it.

I would argue Loma made him disinterested. Rigo couldn’t commit to any shot because a counter would be waiting for him every time, Loma’s physical advantages combined with technical ability were simply too high of a mountain to climb. I think Rigo is a type of guy who only wins a fight by skill, so when that skill level is equalled or surpassed he ostensibly has no way to win. He’s not the type of guy to take one to land one, he won’t throw a shot unless it’s going to land and Loma didn’t present him with any opportunities. That’s why I think he looked so passive in that fight. I don’t disagree. I think Rigo came into the fight disinterested, but it’s also possible he lost interest the moment he felt Lomo’s attributes. Either way, Guillermo simply made no effort whatsoever. Seems to me he went six rounds to pretend he actually tried. It was just bullshit.

Man.... I feel high just thinking of that Barrera vs Rigo would be such a good clash of styles. Had he turned over after 2000 or even 04, he probably would’ve fought at 118 though.

Honestly, I don’t think Rigo even tried. He seemed disinterested from the opening bell. Barely even pretended to care. I’m not saying Rigo would’ve or even could’ve beaten the larger and equally talented Lomo, but he made zero effort. I think Guillermo knew it was an uphill battle he was likely to lose, put in a few BS rounds, then saw his way out with a “hand injury.” It was a disgrace, but I also think that those who believe Vasyl was so much better aren’t seeing that exhibition for what it really was. Rigondeaux simply showed up for a paycheck. That’s all. I would argue Loma made him disinterested. Rigo couldn’t commit to any shot because a counter would be waiting for him every time, Loma’s physical advantages combined with technical ability were simply too high of a mountain to climb. I think Rigo is a type of guy who only wins a fight by skill, so when that skill level is equalled or surpassed he ostensibly has no way to win. He’s not the type of guy to take one to land one, he won’t throw a shot unless it’s going to land and Loma didn’t present him with any opportunities. That’s why I think he looked so passive in that fight.

People talk about Rigo the same way they talk about free jazz. I'm pretty sure half the people that claim to like either are just pretending to, hoping it makes them look refined..... Lol I wonder how many would get this reference, Mr. Ornette Coleman. Lol I will say this: I love watching displays of great boxing skill, but there are such lulls in Rigo’s fights that many times it can’t even be called boxing. It’s just watching paint dry. In fact, I’d say that’s a great analogy. If you’re watching a great artist paint, and he takes a ridiculously long time between brushstrokes, are you really watching him paint? Or are you simply watching paint dry, with the occasional demonstration of painting?

Loma is the only guy (Am or Pro) I’ve ever seen outmanoeuvre him. The size difference definitely helped but I think Loma’s unique style combined with his supreme athleticism left Rigo completely befuddled. Honestly, I don’t think Rigo even tried. He seemed disinterested from the opening bell. Barely even pretended to care. I’m not saying Rigo would’ve or even could’ve beaten the larger and equally talented Lomo, but he made zero effort. I think Guillermo knew it was an uphill battle he was likely to lose, put in a few BS rounds, then saw his way out with a “hand injury.” It was a disgrace, but I also think that those who believe Vasyl was so much better aren’t seeing that exhibition for what it really was. Rigondeaux simply showed up for a paycheck. That’s all.

He isn't the most exciting but any fighter would love to be able to do what he does. Really had no business going after the bigger Loma but once you start calling out a certain fighter, despite them being bigger, you have to follow through. He should've moved down awhile ago.

Rigo missed out on the party. Should've been in pro game as a young man. Fighting with the likes of Barrera, Marquez, Morales. Man.... I feel high just thinking of that

For sure. He should have started the pro game much sooner like Deontay Wilder (the poster) said. He really could have done a lot, especially with the right management. I just get a little tired of the people "don't get it" attitude I hear when people talk about Rigo. We all get it. It's still boring though.... I genuinely don’t find it boring though. There’s the odd fight, I remember one on the Kovalev-Ward undercard were he was overly negative but I thought that wasn’t a negative performance last night. He stood and traded in the first round, and exchanged when necessary later on, like in round 7. I don’t think Rigo’s style is that dissimilar from Mayweather’s style throughout the 10’s. He’s a counter puncher, people can’t expect him to be coming forward initiating attacks. I think he gets unfairly labelled boring cause fat slobs like Dan Rafael have disparaged him for years. He’s not Gatti by any means but for the purists he’s still captivating to watch.

I think if you have boxed or follow the amateur scene closely, it’s hard not to appreciate Rigo’s ability and accomplishments. For sure. He should have started the pro game much sooner like Deontay Wilder (the poster) said. He really could have done a lot, especially with the right management. I just get a little tired of the people "don't get it" attitude I hear when people talk about Rigo. We all get it. It's still boring though....