Comments Thread For: Photos: Rigondeaux is Honored Before 10,000 in Florida

[HeroBando]

Then release him or do your job as a promoter, nonitos was in 4 boring fights one after the other and now he is fighting darchynan, common, why didn't he offer the fight to GR? It will had been a good scrap because VD is a brawler and would make Rigondeaux look good...

As a Rigo fan, why would you want him released? Seems like no lessons learned from Gamboa, Lara, etc. Even Schaefer was taking potshots at Rigo (and Gamboa) when he put down Lara as boring after the Angulo fight.

[CubanGuyNYC]

Wish I could give you a first hand view but I didn't attend.

According to people I know that went it was a full house and Rigo was received with great enthusiasm. Can't believe that place finally re-opened after so many years of debate and political bs.

Excellent. Did you see the commercial with Willie? They made that place look like one of the newer Vegas hotels, like the Cosmopolitan, if you're familiar. I know it can't be anything like that, but the ad made you hyped if you're into that scene.

[New England]

And whose running to fight Rigo???
And don't say its bc he's not a draw bc he's still a guy with 2 world championship belts!! That should be enough for anyone with or without a belt to fight him

he fought the best possible opponent, dude. whipped his ass. where did it get him?

[jqSide]

Boxing fans were in for a special surprise treat during the celebratory concert by Cuban salsa superstar Willy Chirino at the new Hialeah Park Casino in South Florida which took place Saturday August 30, 2013. Willy Chirino put his performance on pause in front of 10,000 fans of mostly Cuban heritage as new Ring Magazine top 10 P4P fighter and current WBA/WBO Jr. Featherweight World Champion Guillermo “El Chacal” Rigondeaux was brought on stage to be awarded the Ring Magazine Championship belt in the Jr. Featherweight division by former fight judge and current representative of Ring Magazine, Chuck Giampa.

[Click Here To Read More]

This is good. At least now he'll have a sense of responsibility to please the audience entertainingly, not just depend on his opponent to take risks. He's clearly been a boring fighter.

[New England]

It makes a big difference. If Mares/Rigondeaux or Santa Cruz/Rigondeaux was a realistic fight any network would jump at it in a heartbeat. You have to consider the lack of opponents. I don't think its as simple as "having trouble getting on a network". Because there are several fights out there that networks would fight over to showcase.

Second, you have to look at the minimum guarantee from his contract with Top Rank. It's too high for his lack of popularity and drawing power.

Third, selling tickets is a problem, period, not a Rigondeaux problem. Look at some talented American world champions that can't draw flies:

Chad Dawson
Devon Alexander (unless somebody fights him in STL)
Timothy Bradley
Austin Trout
Peter Quillin

None of those fighters can even headline fights and have to 1)Travel, 2)Co-Feature/Fight on undercards. Fighters that are selling tickets have longevity, are from countries where boxing is popular or named Adrien Broner.

Then you have to factor in the lower weight classes: Donaire wasn't doing big gates until he fought Arce in Texas and we know who was the A-side in that fight. Mares isn't doing big gates either. And these fighters are from countries with big boxing support. What other world champions below 126 are getting dates and selling out arenas in the U.S.?

The answer you want is "Rigo is a boring Cuban" but its a LOT more to it than that.

the main reason he doesn't draw is that he's cuban. if he were mexican he'd be a star. next you've got the weight, and then the style. casuals don't want to hear "122 lbs." they have girlfriends bigger than that. that is what you're seeing here. i've outlined it over and over again in this thread and others. the biggest factor holding rigondeaux back is the fact that he's cuban. it kept him out of the pros when he was young, and it's limited his fanbase in a country he's had to move to to actually be able to get paid to fight.

i know it's evidently tough for some to handle, but that's the truth. prove me wrong. don't blame bob arum. he'd put money into this kid if he knew he'd get some out on the other end. if they put him on a card in miami i want to see you ringside. buy those tickets the second they come out on sale.

[New England]

if not after the donaire fight, then when?

[kozone]

he fought the best possible opponent, dude. whipped his ass. where did it get him?

And who's fault is that? Rigos?
The place was packed that night and Rigo worked magic on him while Donaire looked like the amateur with no adjust or response for Rigo! Yet Donaire gets rewarded with a fight already!! For what for losing, for stinking it up, for throwing and landing less punches than Rigo or for losing his belt?

[damit305]

Excellent. Did you see the commercial with Willie? They made that place look like one of the newer Vegas hotels, like the Cosmopolitan, if you're familiar. I know it can't be anything like that, but the ad made you hyped if you're into that scene.

Bro, the place has been untouched for years until now. They're actually still touching up some of the outer areas but the casino is done.
The exterior still has many of the original stuff including the chairs, pictures on the wall, statues, flamingos. There is even ancient looking jockey scale which I ran into while checking out the track which to my surprised was on point and accurate.
Check out the movie "The Champ" from 1979. The movie had plenty filming at Hialeah and you can see how it was then at least. It's a classic site.

I took part in the opening of the casino as I work for one of the major slots vendor. According director of slots if things keep up they'll be expanding the casino and hopefully hosting big events.

[HeroBando]

And who's fault is that? Rigos?
The place was packed that night and Rigo worked magic on him while Donaire looked like the amateur with no adjust or response for Rigo! Yet Donaire gets rewarded with a fight already!! For what for losing, for stinking it up, for throwing and landing less punches than Rigo or for losing his belt?

Rigo was offered that undercard, he wanted a 12 week training camp. HBO was impressed that Donaire would fight top tenners 12 weeks apart. Donaire gets an undercard as well, but remember Donaire paid his dues many times over. He was fighting for peanuts off HBO years after he KOed Vic, and ruled 112-115. Rigo has had a much smoother ride up, too much complaining.

[New England]

And who's fault is that? Rigos?
The place was packed that night and Rigo worked magic on him while Donaire looked like the amateur with no adjust or response for Rigo! Yet Donaire gets rewarded with a fight already!! For what for losing, for stinking it up, for throwing and landing less punches than Rigo or for losing his belt?

not once have i blamed rigondeaux for being good at boxing.


all i'm doing is explaining what's going on.