Comments Thread For: Merchant Agrees With HBO For Rejecting Rigondeaux

[tito_bandito]

Seeing how Rigo doesn't know English he might as well use Mayorga tactics to sell his fights.

[KickAzz]

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...."

this is pretty obtuse... Wlad is white and he ain't on HBO airwaves... racism got nothing to do with it... the only color HBO sees is green

[turnedup]

The casual fan is a larger market than boxing loyalists..flat out. There is no argument to be made here. Baseball hit its height when mofo's were bealting 60 homers like it was a piece of cake..same applies to all sports. See why Miami Heat have a gazillion fans..people enjoy a trouncing more than they enjoy a showcase. Floyd has been an exception because he's undefeated and gets under people's skin. Hell Marquez has been a great fighter his entire career and it took a earth shaking KO to get him to superstar status. Pit patting your way through a fight does not get the casual fan to pay attention.

[kozone]

No you're just a cuban ****head who'll ride any cuban **** they put in front off.

Excellence the guy just beat one guy worth mentioning and has been put on his ass by tomato cans and you are comparing him to a future hall of famer who has consitently fought the top P4P fighters in the world. Lol, delusional much.

Here is hoping to see is you can ever watch him fight again in front of a tv.

The only **** riding Es la puta de tu madre . Mamame la pinga maricon

[turnedup]

this is pretty obtuse... Wlad is white and he ain't on HBO airwaves... racism got nothing to do with it... the only color HBO sees is green

+1...people don't care what color you are as long as you are knocking mofo's the fuuuuuk out.

[al-Xander]

Rigo got what he wanted. He beat the DLH in his division. He's supposed to be on his own now and start making waves.

You can't fight DLH all your boxing life to make money. It's ******.

He can accept undercard fights for less money.

[Grimgash]

All these red k posters coming with hate for Larry Merchant, but Merchant actually put his view across very well and he told it how it is.

This is professional boxing, prize fighting - people are paying to watch so there is a need to entertain.

If you don't entertain, people won't pay to watch. Simple.

Exactly, Ward connects, albeit not well but enough. Floyd is a walking hype-man for his fights... his style doesn't sell his mouth does. HBO isn't showcasing boxers out of love of the sport....no one does.... its for money and if you can't get anyone to watch you, you're not going to get showcased. It's that simple.

[BMWM3P]

The only **** riding Es la puta de tu madre . Mamame la pinga maricon

Ja, ja que pendejo eres.

[CubanGuyNYC]

if race was a factor then there would be no "puig mania" in LA and people wouldnt be wearing "viva puig" shirts

Race is a factor, but it's not the only factor. Two things: 1. Puig is a charismatic and exciting athlete. 2. Yasiel plays in a team sport, where people tend to root for "the team." Additionally, team sports are more about results than about how you get those results. If Puig was a relatively boring, uncharismatic, black Cuban who doesn't speak English, he would get Rigo's treatment. No doubt in my mind. On the flip side, I'll bet anything that a "boring" white American fighter who's kicking ass would not be rejected from any network. If you don't agree, then there's nothing I can say to convince you otherwise.

[kozone]

Ja, ja que pendejo eres.

Haha y tu maricon