HBO Sports President Talks Rigondeaux

[ИATAS]

Don't blame HBO blame boxing "fans". People dont appreciate amazing boxing skills these days.

[CubanGuyNYC]

rigondeaux isn't fighting santa cruz or mares, if that's what you're implying. i wouldn't hold my breath for it, anyway.

Yes, that's exactly what I'm implying. They may or may not happen; that's why I called them "possible match-ups."

You're assuming that because Rigo is high risk/low reward, GBP won't dare match him with their higher-revenue fighters. Yet, that's exactly what Arum did. Bob knew full well that Guillermo could derail his hoped-for Filipino Golden Goose. He still took the chance. Why?

[ElChino]

Hard to argue with the television figures...

I doubt Golden Boy would sign him at this stage. It is a pity, if he was at 140-147lbs he'd have the world of fights and would be doing massive numbers. You could put him in there with Matthyse or Maidana, they'd make the fight exciting, and Rigo would be exciting too due to the volume of punches coming his way. Plus imagine Mayweather against a 2 time Olympic gold medallist with over 400 amateur wins, only 10-12 defeats.

In Rigo's last fight Agbeko only landed 2 punches in a round, he wasn't throwing anything. Rigo needs an aggressive opponent who throws a high volume of punches to look good. He would have had many chances at 140-147 to look good and get higher viewing numbers.

Thats not it, Agbeko throws plenty of punches in fights in the past and has been in exciting fights himself, the problem here is Rigo mentality. Rigo is happy to just win a dull non fan(casual) friendly Decisions, He has no urge or desire to try and win an impressive bout.

HBO has proved to try and work with him giving him another main event fight (after they had clearly voiced their disapproval of his style etc) and what did Rigo do with his 2nd chance at Main Event status? Nothing,Only that he has no intentions of trying to step up his excitement in the slightest. Against Agbeko who Rigo out classed clearly was his chance to do something outside his norm but he chose not to, even well knowing that HBO was looking at him closely and the ratings he decided to dull his way to a uncontested victory.

I do not think because a fighter is so talented he has the right to bore a fight down and its up to his opponent to make it interesting, if a fighter is that talented why cant he step it up a gear himself rather then depending on the outclassed fighter to try something and put himself at risk of getting KO when the talented fighter wont even try it himself.

[_original_]

A paycut is not good enough..I hate to say this becaue again I'm a purist but there are limits to even a purist..he is boring.

He needs to be punished until he changes his style and approach to boxing. You know he should be punished...because he knew what was at stake especially after the ridicule he received from the fight he had prior and Arum had to pull out all the stops to get him this date and he still delivered the same boring performance.

Even with the fans booing, he didn't care...he already got our money and said to himself "I'm going to fight my boring style and win"

Sometimes it isn't about just winning, it's about how you win especially when you are fighting an opponent not in your league.

Punishment is in order, let him fight off US television until El Chacel and his moronic manager realizes that fighting on HBO is a privilege....NOT A RIGHT!!!

I don't know how you can call yourself a "purist" and find Rigo boring to the point that you can't even respect his style. I personally watch Rigondeaux fights on youtube all the time. Then again, I can't sit through many Andre Ward fights because of his holding/dirty tactics style but that's just my opinion and it's all rather subjective. I hate to sound like a boxing hipster but you really need to have a high understanding of the sweet science to enjoy a Rigo fight, the guy is a master at his craft. Also, I strongly disagree with Donaire-Rigo being boring, I was dumbfounded when I heard the media shit storm on that fight, I thought it was one of the most entertaining and interesting fights in years. The Agbeko fight I could understand, that was a stinker in which Rigo should have taken the offensive initiative and put the guy out of his misery. It also didn't help that Kirkland-Tapia had just bashed each other's heads in like drunk cavemen.

Anyhow, I think the biggest issue with Rigo is that he's not "marketable" to the American public. People will forgive "boring" fighters if they give them something emotionally to connect with or capture their imaginations outside of the ring.

[New England]

Yes, that's exactly what I'm implying. They may or may not happen; that's why I called them "possible match-ups."

You're assuming that because Rigo is high risk/low reward, GBP won't dare match him with their higher-revenue fighters. Yet, that's exactly what Arum did. Bob knew full well that Guillermo could derail his hoped-for Filipino Golden Goose. He still took the chance. Why?

rigondeaux had never boxed that well for 12 rounds.
arum and his matchmakers very obviously thought donaire would knock rigondeaux out. so did i.

[Vasyl’s dad]

That's disappointing from HBO. After all Boxing has done for HBO sports, they still want to take the cheap route. No loyalty, no honor.

Rigo is clearly a Master of the Sweet Science, and his skills should be celebrated. Maybe if they Promoted him the way they Promoted Andre Berto, he would get more attention.

At the end of the day, Boxing is the sport that I love, and Rigondeaux is a master of it, so I will always watch him fight.

Money isn't everything, and I lost loyalty and respect for HBO today, because they have shown none to my sport.

At the end of the day, Rigo needs to go for the KO. He can obviously do it. He chooses not to.

[Queen_Leia]

I don't know how you can call yourself a "purist" and find Rigo boring to the point that you can't even respect his style. I personally watch Rigondeaux fights on youtube all the time. Then again, I can't sit through many Andre Ward fights because of his holding/dirty tactics style but that's just my opinion and it's all rather subjective. I hate to sound like a boxing hipster but you really need to have a high understanding of the sweet science to enjoy a Rigo fight, the guy is a master at his craft. Also, I strongly disagree with Donaire-Rigo being boring, I was dumbfounded when I heard the media shit storm on that fight, I thought it was one of the most entertaining and interesting fights in years. The Agbeko fight I could understand, that was a stinker in which Rigo should have taken the offensive initiative and put the guy out of his misery. It also didn't help that Kirkland-Tapia had just bashed each other's heads in like drunk cavemen.

Anyhow, I think the biggest issue with Rigo is that he's not "marketable" to the American public. People will forgive "boring" fighters if they give them something emotionally to connect with or capture their imaginations outside of the ring.

Just because you are a purist doesn't mean you don't want to be entertained. El Chacal is technically sound but so is Money and Son of God but the difference is El Chacal is boring and doesn't care.

If Money and Son of God would receive these complaint, they woul change their style according because a boxer sole job in the ring is to entertain the fans who are paying for you...Or else why are they boxing? take away the dirty tactics from Money and Son of God...they are far more entertaining in the ring than El Chacal who is a great fighter but is boring and worst....doesn't care and want to blame HBO for his inability to garner crowd support.

He needs to be punished

[koolttt]

What did you expect the guy puts viewers to sleep.

Too defensive for his own good.

People want to see fighting...they don't want you to wait for an opponent to throw a punch at you, for you to throw one back.

bye bye Rigo you wont be missed.

[BMWM3P]

The simple thruth is that Rigo fights like he is in the amateurs and just like amateurs he will end up not getting paid.

[Vasyl’s dad]

Lol. Yeah I agree. But at the same time I would love to see him take on some international champions in Japan and Europe too in front of bigger crowds.

That should be requested of american fighters as well.