Comments Thread For: Merchant Agrees With HBO For Rejecting Rigondeaux

[jbpanama]

This is dumb. Is that why they promoted the **** out of Broner? Meanwhile Wlad hasn't been on HBO since when?

A BOORING Mother Grabber is Boring, be he Black, Brown or White!!!

[DanboSmitty]

This has less to do with marketing Rigondeaux and more to do with racism. I'm absolutely certain that if Rigondeaux was a blond haired blue eyed Cuban HBO would've said "Sign him up...we can market a White Cuban in America easy." That's the truth. The fact he beat one of the best pound for pound fighters in the world apparently means squat to HBO executives because their mindset says to them "We can't market him to white folks they won't like him". Let's just forget he made Donaire look like a b-level amateur. Unfortunately, the executives are right. White America has zero interest in tuning in to watch a Black Communist from Cuba. Zero!

This mindset is the same of movie executives who portray every superhero as some white guy on the big screen. They know using Wesley Snipes as Spiderman, Superman, The Hulk, or any other superhero will be shunned by the majority white population in this country so unfortunately all superhero's must be white. Blacks can't be super in the movies only in real life on the gridiron, basketball courts and baseball fields where the truth of physical superiority is shown. Dammit, I almost forgot, there are two Black superhero's, one is from hell and the other is a drunk- enter-Spawn and Han****. Lovely portrayals.

Hit it Don "Only in America...."

Your partially right, but your saying it like its malicious intent on the part of the execs. THEY DON't DISLIKE RIGO BECAUSE HE IS BLACK. The primary market for boxing is America (a 75% White? country) and if you have a non American fighter you want to promote it helps greatly if they;
A) Speak English
B) Look Personable/Appealing
C) Crowd pleasing fighter.

The fact that rigo is black has something to do with it on some level, but it's the major factor here for why he is such a poor draw regardless of his inherent talent. It would help if he look Canelo alvarez no doubt, but the guy should make an effort to learn english so he can communicate with fans and the networks and get himself out there.

Your superhero analogy is ****** as **** I'm not even going to pick that apart, you need to face reality.

[HeroBando]

It's only dumb to you because you have difficulty comprehending the reality of such truth. Let's be clear, Broner is a marketing phenom, he's arrogant, flashy, trash-talking, ignorant and he's one hell of a fighter. America loves to hate this version of the Black male because while most white families would never invite Broner into their homes they enjoy his foolishness and fighting skills.

Rigondeaux is a non-English speaking Black Cuban Communist. In reality, he has three strikes against him the Black one being the biggest. If Rigondeaux looked like Canelo or De La Hoya HBO would've totally disregarded his safe performance against Donaire and signed him immediately. This dismissal of opportunity is about looks, period. Shame on HBO for not being a fair and impartial entity that denies opportunity to people just based upon their physical marketability in America.

And Merchant is an idiot...but, you probably already knew that.

The biggest boxing stars in the past 30 years: Tyson, Holyfield, Floyd, Pac, DLH. Yes, I see your point.

There are super obvious reasons why they're not interested, don't have to make a racial conspiracy out of it:

1. Fights in a division HBO doesn't normally showcase
2. No decent comp at that weight, other than 2 GBP/Showtime guys
3. His style is boring to a casual fan
4. Speaks no English
5. Not a live draw
6. Commands a very high purse given the above

[Tweezy316]

when floyd fought baldomir he put on a clinic in the same fashion and was booed but the very next fight broke all records so a lot of these arguments make no sense

[simms601]

when floyd fought baldomir he put on a clinic in the same fashion and was booed but the very next fight broke all records so a lot of these arguments make no sense

Great point!

[Reg_One]

I laugh at some of the posts that I read on this forum, because it's just straight up comedy. Some posts claim racism, others claim jealousy and some say HBO is upset because Rigo beat Donaire. It's hilarious! No one complained about Rigo before this fight because he was getting KO's. His fight before Donaire he was almost dropped "twice". That brings about excitement, KO's and the chance of being KO'd. It shouldn't be that way, but it is. Rigo/Donaire was Rigo's biggest stage of his career without a doubt, but instead of impressing the network, "casual" boxing fan he ended up stinking out the joint by "those" fans standards. Now from the hardcore boxing fan, Rigo put on a clinic, which is true he did a helluva job. But we have to remember, it's more casual boxing fans than there is Hardcore boxing fans. HBO has to be able to sell a fighter in order to get ratings. Rigo didn't impress in a way that people want to see him. Again to the hardcore boxing fan, he couldn't have fought a better fight, but to those who want to watch a good fight (casual fans) they weren't impress and their usually the ones who spend the money. It has nothing to do with race, because what people forget is that it was HBO who pushed for this fight. Not Rigo, not TP, not Donaire, not Arum, it was HBO. They thought that with the way Rigo was calling out Donaire that he was coming to knock Donaire's head off. We can say that Donaire was looking to knock Rigo's head off. I don't blame Rigo for fighting the way he fought as Donaire is a dangerous fighter from round 1-12. He did what he had to do to win, but it hurt him in the end. And for those who are saying that race has anything to do with it, remember another Cuban who fought like that Casamayor was being boo'd as well because he wasn't exciting. It wasn't until he began to get hit a little more that people wanted to see him. It sucks that the game is like that, but it is what it is.

It's fascinating how people always disregard race as if it has never applied to anything in history. It takes an extreme amount of ignorance of American and Cuban history to 'completely' disregard race as a potential factor in HBO's decision. Amazingly, it's always White Latinos or White Americans who tend to think this way while under some psychotic trans that nothing is ever race oriented. To them, it's every other alternative except the one involving Rigondeaux's race or prettiness, if you will. I have a news flash for you ignoramus's, race is a factor in the world, and it always has been, whether you have the intellect to understand that or not, it's true.

Everything in America is about 'money' and if it can't make money than it won't work. Put a hoodie on Rigondeaux and he's suddenly Trayvon Martin, the child right wing White America see's as one of those "F'ing punks that always gets away" which is clearly why White right wing America is supporting his murderer. I see supporters of Zimmerman as racists, period. I also see HBO's failure to endorse Rigondeaux as a racial slap in the face because he doesn't fit White America's beauty standards nor it's favorite boxing style and they're screwing him over just because of it.

You're right about one thing, Rigondeaux put on a clinic to us hardcore fans and us hardcore fans should be ripping HBO a new one for not recognizing his efforts. Maybe Showtime will show some class and stick it to HBO, I hope so. Rigondeaux deserves the opportunity and the cash that comes with it.

[lutenco]

Disgusting!!!!!! RIGO schooled one of HBO's lovers and P4P among the best....damn!!!

[CubanGuyNYC]

It's fascinating how people always disregard race as if it has never applied to anything in history. It takes an extreme amount of ignorance of American and Cuban history to 'completely' disregard race as a potential factor in HBO's decision. Amazingly, it's always White Latinos or White Americans who tend to think this way while under some psychotic trans that nothing is ever race oriented. To them, it's every other alternative except the one involving Rigondeaux's race or prettiness, if you will. I have a news flash for you ignoramus's, race is a factor in the world, and it always has been, whether you have the intellect to understand that or not, it's true.

Everything in America is about 'money' and if it can't make money than it won't work. Put a hoodie on Rigondeaux and he's suddenly Trayvon Martin, the child right wing White America see's as one of those "F'ing punks that always gets away" which is clearly why White right wing America is supporting his murderer. I see supporters of Zimmerman as racists, period. I also see HBO's failure to endorse Rigondeaux as a racial slap in the face because he doesn't fit White America's beauty standards nor it's favorite boxing style and they're screwing him over just because of it.

You're right about one thing, Rigondeaux put on a clinic to us hardcore fans and us hardcore fans should be ripping HBO a new one for not recognizing his efforts. Maybe Showtime will show some class and stick it to HBO, I hope so. Rigondeaux deserves the opportunity and the cash that comes with it.

Race definitely plays a role in virtually everything, especially in the United States. However, as you so accurately point out, America is all about money. If Rigo was deemed to be a money maker, whether by race, looks or style, he would be scooped up by the networks. I don't like it, but it's clear that Guillermo isn't fitting in with the executives' plans. I'd rather see the man go over to Europe, where he might be better appreciated. As much as I appreciate "El Chacal's" brand of mastery, I understand the reality of the situation. It is what it is....

[ManOnTheMoon]

HBO is right that Rigo isn't exciting, but its really a lie and a poor excuse for not putting him on. We all know that if Rigo was American he would be hyped by HBO, so they really should be saying, "we're not putting Rigondeaux on cause he's Cuban and he is not exciting."

[-PBP-]

I would love to do something about it but the most I can do is cancel my HBO subscription.

Rigo is going to have to keep winning and dominating.


There is a lot of pressure on Rigo, Lara and Gamboa. These guys really can't afford to lose a fight at this point.