What I think about Rigondeaux

[Luilun]

Rigoondeaux is the best Boxer at this moment is he was a Welter weight he would make the shoulder roll look foolish . He would win 9 or 10 rounds against the self proclaimed TBE

[Luilun]

I'm a boxing fan, have been since I was a kid, it's something that's always been on at my house and I took part in the ams for many years. So this is an informed opinion on Rigondeaux, not something the casuals would have, what with their Pac/May obsession and thinking all fights will be Rocky.

My major concern with Rigondeaux and what makes me turn him off at times is the fact that he refuses to pull the trigger at the highest level. All his KOs have come at c or d class but every time he has taken a step up, and it's happened a grand total of three times: Donaire, Marroquin and Agbeko, Rigondeaux has been unable to st op guys he easily dominated.

After winning 5 or 6 rounds, he takes the foot off the gas, doesn't want to engage and just doesn't have that killer instinct. Now, schooling someone to a 12 round decision is impressive but when you talk about a fighter as a P4P entrant, someone who is considered to be "great" by many, then he must be held to the same standard as previous P4P entrants and greats. They would go for the kill when the fighter was hurt or completely dominated/outclassed.

Rigondeaux falls far short of that standard...so that's what makes me not want to watch someone who is clearly an exceptional talent. His unwillingness to put his foot on the gas and take care of opponents who are clearly a rung or two below him. The Agbeko fight is the best example, Rigo can hit and possesses some power and by the half way point, Agbeko looked like he had accepted defeat...this was the time for Rigo to jump forward, lean into his punches, set his feet and **** away for a KO. Would he have gotten it? WHo knows but at least show the intent, the killer instinct. Rigo is content to amateur his way to wins.

It has earned him a world title and a couple good wins but he is far from a fan favourite and may never be. Rigo has to show more if he wants the status he claims he can and sometimes says has already achieved.

So he doesn't KO Top A guys when has Floyd KO'D a Top A level guy ? Sucker Punch doesn't count

[Black Barty]

I agree. I don't think Rigo and Lara give a shit about all that. But I think Gamboa does. Yuri seems conscious about image, although he's yet to learn English. Juan Pablo Hernandez learned German, FFS. He's a star out there. Mike Perez learned English and married an Irish woman. If you care, you'll learn. If you don't you won't.

That's fine and good, but if they don't give a sh.it about what the public wants, then how can they expect the public to give a sh.it about them? My main issue with them is their huge sense of entitlement. If you refuse to put in the work to be more than a cult favourite, don't be mad at the world for not recognizing your greatness.

I agree with you on Gamboa. He had (and maybe still has) some star potential with his flashier personality and explosive style. Too bad he shot himself in the foot twice.

[soul_survivor]

Imo the problem with these Cuban guys (mostly Rigo and Lara) is that they refuse to understand that, without a "built-in" fan base, if they don't want to stay cult favorites forever, they can't afford to be all technique.

GGG was in a similar situation, and he is shaping up to be a global star. He accomplished that by having a crowd pleasing style (and taking the time to learn English didn't hurt either).

It's a far cry from the cuban greats of the 60s and 70s, they were all exceptional boxers but they also had dog in them, they could fight when they had to and they knocked out top level fighters.

i dont think its them refusing to understand. i think its just them not giving a phuck about it LOL.. its too late for rigo to learn english now.

**** english, Cotto can barely speak it now and his been a star for 10 years lol

I'm a big Rigo fan. I've been following him since his early Olympic days. I went to watch him school Donaire. That being said, I agree with everything you wrote. All I can offer are some observations.

Guillermo was utterly in complete command of the Donaire fight. He exchanged on many occasions and he out-boxed Nonito the rest of the way. By the final frame, Donaire was literally running around backwards, trying to avoid getting KTFO. It was actually humorous. When was the last time you saw a P4P fighter running for his life? If Rigo didn't have to chase him in the final moments of that fight, the KO would've come.

I get the sense that Rigo is just extremely cautious. He doesn't like to get hit. (Probably because he barely knows what it feels like. lol) And he's clearly content with winning in a manner that doesn't require too much risk-taking. He rightfully considers himself great, and he doesn't feel he needs to prove anything to anyone. You saw the video, man. Guillermo was joking...but he wasn't joking.

Let's not forget that "El Chacal" only has a handful of professional fights. We expect so much of him, yet he's still a rookie pro. Unlike Lomachenko, Rigo isn't an aggressive fighter by nature. I'm afraid we're going to have to wait a few more fights before we see whether Guillermo "gets" the pro game or not.

You make some good points, and Donaire did run a bit but at times, in the championship rounds, Donaire, with a fast swelling eye was actually trying to make the fight whereas Rigo was content with what he'd done...let's be honest, he had the fight won by the 8th round but when a fighter is damaged, other great fighters tend to take them out. It's what separates the merely very good from the truly great.

Imo, there is no better technical boxer on the planet than Rigo...but that doesn't make him great.

So he doesn't KO Top A guys when has Floyd KO'D a Top A level guy ? Sucker Punch doesn't count

**** floyd, you think I give a ****? people tune in to watch him because A he had that fight with Oscar and B because of his hip hop, wanabe gangster image.

As somebody else said on this thread, if the likes of Rigo and Lara don't care about what the fans wana see then why complain about not getting the big money fights and not headlining shows, especially Rigo.

I want to highlight one recent Cuban fighter, a certain Gamboa, who is technically gifted but managed to make his fights exciting and it's not because he is any less skilled that Lara or Rigo (well maybe a little when compared to Rigo) but because he was willing to get a KO, in the process he got KD and hurt but almost always came back and won well. below 135 he was a damn impressive fighter and for a time a real p4p guy.

[CubanGuyNYC]

That's fine and good, but if they don't give a sh.it about what the public wants, then how can they expect the public to give a sh.it about them? My main issue with them is their huge sense of entitlement. If you refuse to put in the work to be more than a cult favourite, don't be mad at the world for not recognizing your greatness.

I agree with you on Gamboa. He had (and maybe still has) some star potential with his flashier personality and explosive style. Too bad he shot himself in the foot twice.

You won't get any arguments from me here.

[PRchamp]

Last time I checked Bernard Hopkins is the same fighter as Rigo he will live with a 12 round decision. When was the last time a great fighter like Hopkins got a KO??? Even against C and D fighters he couldn't KO them so what's the difference because the way Hopkins has been fighting lately he been fighting like a Cuban.

Since he's American we have to give him a pass but if Hopkins were Cuban we wouldn't here the end of it.

[CubanGuyNYC]

Last time I checked Bernard Hopkins is the same fighter as Rigo he will live with a 12 round decision. When was the last time a great fighter like Hopkins got a KO??? Even against C and D fighters he couldn't KO them so what's the difference because the way Hopkins has been fighting lately he been fighting like a Cuban.

Since he's American we have to give him a pass but if Hopkins were Cuban we wouldn't here the end of it.

If you win long enough, you gain another kind of credibility. I imagine that, if Rigo's around long enough and continues to win, people will eventually take notice. Unfortunately for him, your prime earning years are only so long; and he's not getting any younger.

[Grimmer]

Proof that remarkable talent just isn't enough.

Usually the very best rise to the top in any sport.

But boxing isn't a purists sport.

[dibzvincent143]

Lara and rigo forget that this is prize fighting. This is business. They played it safe rather than to step it up and ultimately grab their destiny. Pacquiao had his chance against barrera and he step it up. Floyd with corales. They did their part, took risks and chase greatness. Now they are just reaping what theyve sown. Rigo had his chance with nonito. Lara had his chance with canelo. They didn't step it up. They didnt accomplish what they could have. Thats the difference between the greats and those who are just wishing to be. Extreme talents, they just lacked the x factor at their very perfect moments. Imagine if rigo knocked out donaire in five? And lara knocking canelo in 8? With their skills they could've, they should've.

[-PBP-]

Lara and rigo forget that this is prize fighting. This is business. They played it safe rather than to step it up and ultimately grab their destiny. Pacquiao had his chance against barrera and he step it up. Floyd with corales. They did their part, took risks and chase greatness. Now they are just reaping what theyve sown. Rigo had his chance with nonito. Lara had his chance with canelo. They didn't step it up. They didnt accomplish what they could have. Thats the difference between the greats and those who are just wishing to be. Extreme talents, they just lacked the x factor at their very perfect moments. Imagine if rigo knocked out donaire in five? And lara knocking canelo in 8? With their skills they could've, they should've.

No. Has nothing to to with being great. Great fighters win.