Comments Thread For: Merchant Agrees With HBO For Rejecting Rigondeaux

[New England]

i actually think this is arum's doing. i don't think HBO would ditch rigondeaux without the urgings of arum.


he ahs a ton of pull with HBO now that they aren't working with GBP all that much. arum wants doniare to be the next pinoy star. pinoys buy tickets, hbo subs, and PPV.

[The Big Dunn]

merchant is realistic.

i don't always agree with him, but he understands HBO's objective.

a 122 lber with a completely negative style and no fanbase isn't good for business. i know you guys like rigondeaux, but that doesn't mean anything beyond the implications it has for HBO financially.


hell, a lot of the NSBers stream fights and don't even buy hbo. if you're in that boat you cannot complain.

Fair points bvut hbo hasn't determined fans won't respond to rigo because they haven't featured him yet. How do they know all the people who watched nonito rigo wonbt turn in to the next rigo fight?

Hbo seems to be making a style decision, which is fine. They believe fans will watch brawlers and brawls. Cool. But maybe hbo should make sure the guys they feature are complete fighters who can deal with a rigo or a brawler. It just seems they are going to give us glorified sparring session or highly produced toughman competition style fights.

[I Love Jesus!]

ow can anyone claim they "understand" how this is a good business decision? It's not. I business reputation is everything. Nonito is only one fighter and HBO just bought themselves a reputation of showcasing losers that their rivals can capitalize on forever. The #2 network showcasing #2 fighters lol

[knockoutking565]

No larry i think you have forgotten the concept of pugilism (BOXING for dumbasses like larry who dont understand the word!)...Hit and Not be Hit, kinda ironic that he has been involved in boxing all these years but he is still as clueless and ignorant as your average casual fan, boxing is an art, a science, its not about bloody messy 12 round wars where guys block punches with their faces...its about striking your opponent and not letting your opponent strike you back! jesus christ i hope rigondeuax does go to goldenboy and showtime, at lease he will be appreciated there by people that actually know about boxing! bob arum and HBO are just dumbasses who only want blood.

[SkillspayBills]

This man has watched more fights than any of us ever have or will. It amazes me how a guy that has seen so much of the sport appreciates it's finer artists as little as he does.

[AddiX]

Rigo and his management really can't be mad at this.

Freddy Roach told rigo since the first day he trained him that this would happen. He tried to make him more offensive and constantly told rigo the American public/networks wouldn't stand for his style.

Rigo refused to listen, even decided to change trainers because roach tried making him more offensive.

I don't agree with HBO's decision, but at the same time, I don't feel bad for rigo. He's actually one of my favorite fighters in the game right now.

[Hotbox2]

Like Floyd told Merchant in the interview after the Victor Ortiz fight...YOU DON'T KNOW **** ABOUT BOXING!!

[Boxfan7819]

HaHa, you had to be drunk man. Pancho Villa from Phillipines and boxer.

get your facts straight you also probably think that kid gavilan invented the bolo punch ... anyways i favored rigo to win and i'm a fan of rigo but it's true he needs to be a little more exciting to gain new fans