Mayweather was like Rigondeaux for a long time

[Ray*]

I really now actually believe that a lot of people on Boxingscene on started watching boxing towards the end of Oscar de la Hoya career, the sad part is non seem to actually go back and watch or study old fights. Mayweather and Rigo's early career were totally different, if people are so dumb that they had to use words that commentators like Larry "racist senile" Merchant use E.g "People are leaving the fight early" or "He can't sell out the arena" etc thn you know they need some boxing schooling.

[SCEN3RY]

After the Donaire fight, somebody asked Bob Arum if Rigondeaux reminded him of a young Mayweather, Arum said "no" then saying Floyd was a lot more offensive, Rigondeaux is more defensive.

Rigo is great at what he does, but Floyd was more of a show man which is why it was easier to get Floyd dates and eventually get him on ppvs pre-oscar.

[Grimgash]

From 2002:

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1026151/2/index.htm

He was going through this SAME ****. Were you even watching boxing back then? If your a Floyd fan you should know this because you would have been mad the way HBO and Arum used to talk about him all the time.

I do remember him, but you're comparing things wrong imo. He had a hard time being a big star and getting PPV dates. HBO execs didn't vomit when they heard his name though. He was shown on TV. HBO literally hears Ri- and then they say get out. Also that's a Arum quote btw...HBO executives vomit at the mention of Rigo's name.

[.:: JSFD26 ::.]

Mayweather had 30+ fights and they were still claiming he couldn't sell tickets. Rigo with 13 people expect him to pack AC.


Posted from Boxingscene.com App for Android

[-PBP-]

I do remember him, but you're comparing things wrong imo. He had a hard time being a big star and getting PPV dates. HBO execs didn't vomit when they heard his name though. He was shown on TV. HBO literally hears Ri- and then they say get out. Also that's a Arum quote btw...HBO executives vomit at the mention of Rigo's name.

Its the same thing because:

1. Arum does not believe he can sell defensive, technically sound fighters to the public
2. Both fighters drawing power and popularity was not reflective of their level of talent and the media was critical of both

The other differences I already know about. I know Rigo is not star material because of reasons I already mentioned and Floyd had much bigger upside potential. But when Mayweather was with Top Rank, he was shoved aside because Arum didn't want him touching his cash cows. He didn't believe he could sell him the way he could sell De La Hoya and Cotto.

[HarvardBlue]

I don't the understand all these comparisons with Rigondeaux and Mayweather.
Yeah, people talked smack about Mayweather back then but at least his fights were watchable. I found it hard to watch Rigondeaux/Agbeko last Saturday night. How did HBO put Rigondeaux on after a bout with James Kirkland vs a hometown guy and not expect it to be a let down? At this pace Rigondeaux will not be a star boxer. At the same time the gap between the superstars of boxing (Mayweather, Pacquiao) and next level boxers is night and day. That include some of the favorites here on BS. Unfortunately Rigondeaux is at the very bottom of the popularity list but if you keep putting him in against good competitions as an under card with some of the better known fighters, he'll be fine.

[IronDanHamza]

I really now actually believe that a lot of people on Boxingscene on started watching boxing towards the end of Oscar de la Hoya career, the sad part is non seem to actually go back and watch or study old fights. Mayweather and Rigo's early career were totally different, if people are so dumb that they had to use words that commentators like Larry "racist senile" Merchant use E.g "People are leaving the fight early" or "He can't sell out the arena" etc thn you know they need some boxing schooling.

Most people on Boxingscene today started watching Boxing after "The World Awaits" era.

"The World Awaits" may have brought in a mass of idiots. But the "Mayweather-Pacquaio" era took it to a whole other level.

[Grimgash]

Its the same thing because:

1. Arum does not believe he can sell defensive, technically sound fighters to the public
2. Both fighters drawing power and popularity was not reflective of their level of talent and the media was critical of both

The other differences I already know about. I know Rigo is not star material because of reasons I already mentioned and Floyd had much bigger upside potential. But when Mayweather was with Top Rank, he was shoved aside because Arum didn't want him touching his cash cows. He didn't believe he could sell him the way he could sell De La Hoya and Cotto.

While your points valid it's different because of that upside. Arum had a hard time marketing him like he would a de la hoya or cotto. No one could've done that except himself. He invented himself as Money May and made his own name. Rigo doesn't have the upside and faces way more challenges than Floyd did. Floyd was hard to market as a big superstar until HE changed. Rigo is hard to market to even be on BAD cards. That's where I think the comparison is unfair.

Also, as I said before...Rigo has to change something about himself to make himself marketable. He has 1/10th the excitment of old mayweather fights and zero upside with how he can change his persona. He has to take risks and chances or he'll never be a big star. He could've been more offensive but chose not to. He wasn't facing a dangerous defensive counter puncher who didn't throw...he was facing a guy who was mainly offense who didn't throw....when those fighters do that they are pretty much D level fighters because there is no strengths.

[mrlopez]

Ummmm

how long has the ts watched boxing, floyd in particular?
FMJ from 130 and below was beasting on opponents. smdh

[-PBP-]

While your points valid it's different because of that upside. Arum had a hard time marketing him like he would a de la hoya or cotto. No one could've done that except himself. He invented himself as Money May and made his own name. Rigo doesn't have the upside and faces way more challenges than Floyd did. Floyd was hard to market as a big superstar until HE changed. Rigo is hard to market to even be on BAD cards. That's where I think the comparison is unfair.

Also, as I said before...Rigo has to change something about himself to make himself marketable. He has 1/10th the excitment of old mayweather fights and zero upside with how he can change his persona. He has to take risks and chances or he'll never be a big star. He could've been more offensive but chose not to. He wasn't facing a dangerous defensive counter puncher who didn't throw...he was facing a guy who was mainly offense who didn't throw....when those fighters do that they are pretty much D level fighters because there is no strengths.

In Rigos case he won't be a draw no matter what he does in the ring. So I hope he doesn't water down his style for fans.

His money will come from big name opponents and travelling overseas. And the only way he gets those opportunities is if he's undefeated and holds titles. Taking risks costs him more than your typical fighter. He takes an L and he's done.