Rigondeaux's comments about Mexican boxing

[_original_]

When it comes to the sport of boxing...it is.
When it comes to the business of boxing...it is not.

How do we know it's a superior form of boxing? Because it looks nicer? What Mexican greats have Cubans defeated in the pros to prove this notion?

[_original_]

Lol @ the fact that everytime a new latino country is trying to get themselves on the boxing map they feal that they have to attack and hate on Mexican boxing, why is that? Get of our nuts Mexico has BEEN on the map, boxing wouldn't be the same without Mexicans and truth be told that if we had to many Rigo's and laras running around it would probably ruin boxing because of there booring ass style, they got skills but are not entertaining, I think with time they will get the point and make a few adjustments to there style.

Mexico has been a boxing powerhouse for decades, only the US can rival it as far as being an elite boxing nation. Not all Americans, Puerto Ricans, Asians, and Russians fighters fight the same yet people want to group all Mexicans into one derogatory style. Hell even JCC, arguably Mexico's best fighter and one that is associated with the brawling style of fighting, showed great technique and subtle skills.

[ramses07]

I'm pretty sure Rigo could give two ****s. He still winning and getting paid.


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im pretty sure he does, otherwise why lash out?

[billeau2]

Perhaps you're right, maybe I'm interpreting it wrong and gotta give it another listen. However, Rigo definitely comes across as a guy who feels that the Cuban school of boxing is vastly superior to Mexico's.

I am a fanboy for the Cuban school of boxing...a school which also is expressed in Puerto Rican fighters as well at times. There seems to be an emphasis on technique, not muscling everything, form, footwork and mentorship. These guys were olympic prodigies for a reason....and even though they were amateurs, guys like Stephenson and Savon could have easily been exceptional talents.

Mexican fighters are indeed culturally expressive....They have great applications as well. Things like altering the speed of punches, an emphasis on the hook, body attacks with the hook, etc. Yet the archetype for the Mexican fighter is a guy like Margarito...

Growing up in East Harlem I remember Puerto Rican families, seeing grandfathers instructing their kids on how to techically throw punches, move the feet ect....the emphasis was on superior technique and this is what grabs me as a fan of the Cuban fighters.

[torosboxing75]

Perhaps you're right, maybe I'm interpreting it wrong and gotta give it another listen. However, Rigo definitely comes across as a guy who feels that the Cuban school of boxing is vastly superior to Mexico's.

Cuban school of boxing is better then most or equal.

[billeau2]

How do we know it's a superior form of boxing? Because it looks nicer? What Mexican greats have Cubans defeated in the pros to prove this notion?

Well I won't get into "superior" and "inferior" but you do have to consider how incredible the Cuban's are: Given the size of Cuba, and the influence on the rest of the Islands....consider how many great Cuban fighters have been. There have probably been more than Mexico and Mexico is a lot bigger country. You have to consider great amateur fighters as well and the influence. For example, Take Cotto, Cotto has many qualities of a Cuban fighter. He really does everything well...not perfect, but well. People questioned Cotto when he boxed Mosley but he had the skill to do so.

Also I have to agree that many of the Mexican greats did not fight in the Mexican style. With the Cuban fighters they all fight in the Cuban mold...and...while they are not all super stars you would be hard pressed to find a really bad Cuban fighter! they all have good technical ability. For example, you would never see a "POnce" like Cuban fighter haha.

You cannot look at a head to head match up of Mexican and Cuban fighters....you have to look at the amount of professional fighters, the success of the fighters as a group, and then perhaps, exceptional talents who fight in the style deemed superior.

Also, there are styles of fighting in this country. Philly traditionaly emphasizes a body attack "hit the body then whack the head off" ...the peekaboo defense, and imo the Michigan style which like the /Cubans is very technically based: Setting up a false line of atttack so the guy fights your shoulder, setting up the counter punch with the shoulder, etc.

There are in fact many styles of fighting but what makes american fighters better than orthodox european fighters is the emphasis on freedom if movement. Orthodox fighters are too rigid and this has become a universally acceptd fact.

[Beater_of_ass]

Perhaps you're right, maybe I'm interpreting it wrong and gotta give it another listen. However, Rigo definitely comes across as a guy who feels that the Cuban school of boxing is vastly superior to Mexico's.

Well... yea, he is Cuban.

[ИATAS]

When RigonGOD speaks you don't question it. End.

[_original_]

Well I won't get into "superior" and "inferior" but you do have to consider how incredible the Cuban's are: Given the size of Cuba, and the influence on the rest of the Islands....consider how many great Cuban fighters have been. There have probably been more than Mexico and Mexico is a lot bigger country. You have to consider great amateur fighters as well and the influence. For example, Take Cotto, Cotto has many qualities of a Cuban fighter. He really does everything well...not perfect, but well. People questioned Cotto when he boxed Mosley but he had the skill to do so.

Also I have to agree that many of the Mexican greats did not fight in the Mexican style. With the Cuban fighters they all fight in the Cuban mold...and...while they are not all super stars you would be hard pressed to find a really bad Cuban fighter! they all have good technical ability. For example, you would never see a "POnce" like Cuban fighter haha.

You cannot look at a head to head match up of Mexican and Cuban fighters....you have to look at the amount of professional fighters, the success of the fighters as a group, and then perhaps, exceptional talents who fight in the style deemed superior.

Also, there are styles of fighting in this country. Philly traditionaly emphasizes a body attack "hit the body then whack the head off" ...the peekaboo defense, and imo the Michigan style which like the /Cubans is very technically based: Setting up a false line of atttack so the guy fights your shoulder, setting up the counter punch with the shoulder, etc.

There are in fact many styles of fighting but what makes american fighters better than orthodox european fighters is the emphasis on freedom if movement. Orthodox fighters are too rigid and this has become a universally acceptd fact.

Bill, very good posts and valid points. However, we haven't seen as many Cuban pros to really rule out a "Ponce" or "Margarito." I'm sure they're out there, but not good enough to reach the highest level. Mexico has produced a very large sample of fighters that we have to examine unlike the Cubans. Right now the top pro Cuban fighters are Gamboa, Rigo, Lara, Abril, and Solis. They don't all necessarily fight the same, perhaps only Lara and Rigo, but they aren't exactly replicas. We could say they're all "good boxers." but that's an obvious and vague generalization since after all they are good enough to be talked about and shown on network TV. What I'm getting at is that yes there are fighting characteristics that nations/countries/cultures share but it's foolish to think there is one prototype per boxing nation. I think as more Cubans are able to leave Cuba and go pro we'll start to see a lot more different styles from them.