HBO Sports President Talks Rigondeaux

[Queen_Leia]

Here is an exceprt from Dan Rafael chat today -


Ralphie (Houston)


Why all of the hate towards Rigo? Doesn't the networks have an obligation to provide us the best in the world, despite what some reporters think?


Dan Rafael (3:00 PM)
No, they have an obligation to provide entertainment to those who spend $15 a month on their service and the net deserves to see a return on its investment as calculated by ratings. HBO's subscribers ran from the last Rigo fight. He provided no entertainment and no ratings.


I think that about sums it up.

[CubanGuyNYC]

To be honest HBO are about business, if they see a business opportunity in Rigo then they would exploit it, my problem isn't really with HBO or Rigo but the Cuban population in America. I don't know what the population of Cuban American but I would still expect a large chunk of the population to come out and support all their boxers that deflect from Cuba. Most of them are great fighters but most of them have alway been in the same boat as Rigo.

The last count I'm aware of is 1.6 million, but that was a few years ago. Let's just say it's under 2 million. By contrast, the Mexican/Mexican-American population is over 30 million -- not to mention the fact that Mexican citizens can make their way to the U.S., while most Cubans are trapped on a communist island.

This topic has been discussed before many times. Suffice it to say that the reasons for lack of Cuban support is complicated. But let's say, for the sake of argument, that Cubans supported their fighters on the same level as Mexicans. Our population is still too small to make a great impact.

[Deevel916]

Sick with all this " he is boring to watch " talk !
American PPV king is "a boring boxer" to watch, less skillful, coward outside the ring, with crime record of beating his wife and insulting his own dad !

Rigondeaux main problem is being a non-american from Cuba, with relatively smaller patriotic fan base, if he was a Mexican, PR , he would be called " The latino master" !

or he needs to commit a crime, walk nude in front of cameras, throw money on hookers' backs, shot a **** movie to be an American celebrity !

Despite floyds boring style at least he has mastered the art of making the casuals hate him enough in order for them to tune in to see if someone can beat him. Rigo on the other hand just makes u want to change the channel or fall asleep.

[Queen_Leia]

hardindr (Fayetteville, NY)


Do you still think Rigo has a chance to fight Lomachenko on HBO?



Dan Rafael
(3:08 PM)


Seems doubtful. But that might be the one fight they might look at for Rigondull.

[LoadedWraps]

I just came across this statement (as reported by Dan Rafael on 12/20) by Ken Hershman, president of HBO Sports, regarding Guillermo Rigondeaux:

"I'm very torn, I have to say. I was expecting more from him," Hershman said. "This is one where you listen to the fans. The fans voted by turning off the channel. At the end of the day we're a TV network and we have to please our subscribers. If they're not interested we have to respect that. In the right match maybe there will be another opportunity, but it's not something getting done in the near future. I have tremendous respect for what he does but it's not something our subscribers responded to."

I certainly respect Hershman's statement. We all know Rigo isn't selling, and business is business. However, as a fan, I still want to see "El Chacal" fight. HBO no longer does business with Golden Boy and relies on Top Rank for their match-ups. I'm hoping Rigo simply goes over to GBP after his contract with TR is over (one more fight). Maybe it'll help, maybe it won't, but something has to be tried. Showtime has expressed interest in Rigo before. Maybe they can pick up the baton.

It's pathetic, but it is business. As Foreman said, "boxing is like jazz, the better it is, the less people appreciate it".

[CubanGuyNYC]

hardindr (Fayetteville, NY)


Do you still think Rigo has a chance to fight Lomachenko on HBO?



Dan Rafael
(3:08 PM)


Seems doubtful. But that might be the one fight they might look at for Rigondull.

I can just hear the gnashing of teeth when Rigo beats yet another fair-haired child. (This time, literally.)

[jas]

Wow, the hbo president was pretty blunt.

[Ray*]

The last count I'm aware of is 1.6 million, but that was a few years ago. Let's just say it's under 2 million. By contrast, the Mexican/Mexican-American population is over 30 million -- not to mention the fact that Mexican citizens can make their way to the U.S., while most Cubans are trapped on a communist island.

This topic has been discussed before many times. Suffice it to say that the reasons for lack of Cuban support is complicated. But let's say, for the sake of argument, that Cubans supported their fighters on the same level as Mexicans. Our population is still too small to make a great impact.

Cool I stand corrected. It's just sad when you see a talent like that ruled out just because he doesn't have that much "Followings".

[-Kev-]

I blame Arum. He purposely made Rigondeaux vs Agbeko so that it can be an ugly fight and put fans away.

Meanwhile, he happily gets Montiel, Arce, WV Jr for Donaire so he can look good. We saw how Donaire looked like against Narvaez.

Get Rigondeaux the same come forward attackers and watch him have to raise his work rate and in turn, make for a more watchable fight. No way in hell Arum and TR matchmakers looked at Rigondeaux vs Agbeko and thought of it as a fire fight. This was deliberately done to turn HBO and fans away from Rigondeaux IMO, and I would go as far as to say it is clear as day what Arum did.

[-Kev-]

Arum is basically wasting Rigondeaux away until his contract is up. He was disgusted at him beating Donaire and he happily reiterated what HBO was saying about Rigo. You could tell in Arum's voice that he was in agreement of HBO's opinion on Rigondeaux after the Donaire fight. Arum just wants out of Rigondeaux.