HBO Sports President Talks Rigondeaux

[RA-Box]

I call Bullshit on HBO for this one.

Righteous got it right.

HBO's responsibility as the top class boxing broadcaster should be to showcase the proven BEST fighting against the BEST, period.

I three armed fighter, doing backflips into the ring is entertaining as fuq, but if he sucks as a fighter than he should have no place on a what is always pushed to me as the respectable boxing broadcaster.

If they want to peddle this "entertainment only" bullshit, then stop telling me that you showcase the best fighters.

Jaguares got it right. Rigo was knocking everybody down and out. No one was calling Rigo boring until he shut down Donaire.

Shame on some of you posters. The things you say "Rigo needs to be punished", wtf?

[Vasyl’s dad]

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

And deservedly so. Rigo has all the tools necessary to be exciting, but hes content with playing "tag, you're it".

**** that. Knock his ass out.

[Vasyl’s dad]

I call Bullshit on HBO for this one.

Righteous got it right.

HBO's responsibility as the top class boxing broadcaster should be to showcase the proven BEST fighting against the BEST, period.

I three armed fighter, doing backflips into the ring is entertaining as fuq, but if he sucks as a fighter than he should have no place on a what is always pushed to me as the respectable boxing broadcaster.

If they want to peddle this "entertainment only" bullshit, then stop telling me that you showcase the best fighters.

Jaguares got it right. Rigo was knocking everybody down and out. No one was calling Rigo boring until he shut down Donaire.

Says who? What rulebook?

[MDPopescu]

I have also expected more from Rigo in his last fight...

Anyway, Hershman may stay with his protege (Andre Ward) and achieve much more in the sport...

[bojangles1987]

Rigo wasn't ever going to be a real star, no matter how exciting he might be. For starters, these guys at the lower weights have a lot farther to climb than their bigger counterparts. I'd just like to keep Guillermo around simply becuase he's a maestro. It's a damn shame when "fans" of a sport can't at least support a masterful exponent of the art. But, like you say, it is what it is....

Well, a star relatively, the way Donaire was. Donaire was never going to sell PPVs, but he could headline on HBO and people would watch. Rigo's apparently at the point where they don't want him on the network at all, which is unfortunate.

He should go to Golden Boy. Maybe they don't want to match him with their best fighters around 122, but at least the option is there as long as Rigo keeps winning. Maybe Golden Boy will try harder than Arum, who did everything he could to drag Rigondeaux through mud after beating Donaire.

[mezoomozaa]

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 !

[tank17211]

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.

Damn is it really that bad. Its not super exciting but I do not mind watching Rigo.

[Godsfly]

i actually think golden boy will take him after his contract is up with hbo/arum...............

lets be honest with ourselves, golden boy has far less entertaining fighters then rigo. (carlos molina)


golden boy will have no problem picking him up and stacking him on undercards.

[RA-Box]

Says who? What rulebook?

Says them: "HBO Boxing - THE BEST FIGHTS are on HBO"

Well ok, what are the best fights? I'm pretty sure everyone can agree. It's when the the Best fight the Best.

If they're not showcasing the best fighters, then they should drop that label.

[HeroBando]

Well, a star relatively, the way Donaire was. Donaire was never going to sell PPVs, but he could headline on HBO and people would watch. Rigo's apparently at the point where they don't want him on the network at all, which is unfortunate.

He should go to Golden Boy. Maybe they don't want to match him with their best fighters around 122, but at least the option is there as long as Rigo keeps winning. Maybe Golden Boy will try harder than Arum, who did everything he could to drag Rigondeaux through mud after beating Donaire.

You mean like Schaefer dragging Lara through the mud after his most exciting win vs Angulo, and dragging Rigo along:

"I think TV networks, at least Showtime, is rewarding excitement as well. When you see a fight like a Rignodeaux or a Gamboa - they don't have very crowd pleasing styles. And I think as a result it makes them much more difficulty to sell, and it has nothing to do with promoting"