Thread: Rigo to lose his WBO belt soon

Because the other top guys won't fight him. The sad thing is after this title and his WBA are stripped he may be better off. Then he can get into the rankings and force the others at 122 to fight him.

Sad that this is what it comes to, and even more sad that the guys that won't fight him are becoming stars for going around him.

I agree here. People talk about Quigg-Frampton not happening as if it were some Floyd-PAc scenario. While it's a huge domestic fight that would make sense, as long as they aren't fighting for whatever reason, what excuse do either of them have for not even mentioning the clear top dog in the division? In no other sport would this not be a joke, literally nobody worth a shit will fight Rigo it seems.

It is too bad that rigos name has not been mentioned in forever. Most everyone thinks of him as the best fighter in the weight class and maybe even one of the best p4p fighters yet he can't get fights.

Originally Posted by powerpuncher

It is too bad that rigos name has not been mentioned in forever. Most everyone thinks of him as the best fighter in the weight class and maybe even one of the best p4p fighters yet he can't get fights.

Too good for his own good? Yes. Has a style most fans don't like or can't accept? Yes. Is unable or doesn't care enough to change his fighting style? Yes. Doesn't seem to have a personality like a block of cheese? Yes, in my opinion.
I think he's getting screwed too, but some of the fault belongs to him. I can't even remember the guy smiling, can you?
When Bob Arum has one of the best boxers ever under contract and then releases him, you have to think something is wrong with that boxer. Right? I do!

Inactivity is killing boxing... no matter what the reason.

He's out of promotional and management contracts now and managers and promoters don't seem to be queuing up to sign him. It might be a while before you see him back on TV in any kind of meaningful fight, if at all.

If I was Rigo I would stay busy and active even if it means signing to a promoter on a fight by fight basis.

I can see not being able to unify as a reason none of the big name players will fight you. Losing your belt is a result of not paying sanctioning fees or fighting mandatories (which is entirely possible if your attached to a network that wont approve opponents for a televised fight. That though is the result of the contract with the network, or the named fighters.

I agree with you about getting into the rankings. Its an interesting scenario for once because, we see the division between notoriety, earning power and technical skill. Believe it or not its good for boxing in that the steering of the division by a single talent with an undefeated record, does not automatically equate to rule changing and demands. I'm sure there are plenty of people that will fight Rigo for notoriety. They may not have a chance in hell. but some have to be ranked and some have to be waiting for their long awaited mandatory shot. People used to pick apart roy for fighting his mandatories. But he defended all his belts. Now you can drop the belts and chase the money or be a proud champion. Rigo is finding out that no matter what floyd pulled in vegas or with his douchey money persona. Sometimes you can't have both. With 15 fights, he has no reason to cry that he's earned some kind of leniency. That's just my opinion of course.

p.s. Now the interesting thing to me is the guy who lost the belt to rigo (30 months ago) and been trying to reinvent himself or at least get back to his old style by fighting in obscurity (since being ko'd by walters), would be in line to fight for this vacant strap. Sometimes a little humility goes a long way.

Originally Posted by p4pking

I agree here. People talk about Quigg-Frampton not happening as if it were some Floyd-PAc scenario. While it's a huge domestic fight that would make sense, as long as they aren't fighting for whatever reason, what excuse do either of them have for not even mentioning the clear top dog in the division? In no other sport would this not be a joke, literally nobody worth a shit will fight Rigo it seems.

In Quigg's and Frampton's defence, both would fancy beating each other than beating Rigondeaux. They also make more money by fighting each other, and surely that should be the main reason you are in the sport?!

Rigondeaux has to either change his style or find a benefactor who is willing to pay the sort of money to get Guillermo the fights we think he deserves.

@ J_Undisputed ....Great perspective.

Originally Posted by SlimTrae

@ J_Undisputed ....Great perspective.

Thanks, Slim. I can appreciate the guys dilemma but there a lot of primadonnas trying to move the sport away from the traditions it was founded on. Change can be good but....

- the idea that they on not fighters, theyre "entertainers" is bull$h*t. Its not called prize entertaining. Not only that notice the guys that subscribe to this notion the most, are the least entertaining.

- "The fighter makes the belts not the other way around"-- then why is every fighter searching for a bum with a strap to fight... to win a useless strap so that they can get more at the bargaining table for a big fight

- "I don't think this guy is worthy of a shot..i choose...." How exactly is it that you got to be champ again? After these guys earn their shots... oh well its different now.. the sanctioning bodies don't know what they're talking about anymore and i should be able to fight whoever gets me the most money. i want to skip around and make my own sweepstakes... but still have a legacy for being unbeaten, and however many title defenses (of a belt that doesnt mean squat by a sanctioning body who does know what theyre talking about anymore).

- "This guys not an easy fight, he's a former champion" - I've already conceded i am old and on the way out and that i have hand picked opposition in the past couple of fights but this guy is a tough fight and the most credible opponent available. its for that reason i am picking his weight, the kind of gloves he can wear, the venue, the drug testing, the day of the fight and will veto till we agree on a ref that i deem suitable.

Im just sick of this mess. How many great feats in the past were accomplished by "fighters" that didnt need anything more than their mitts, a good strategy and the testicular fortitude to see it through..

Originally Posted by Ron Swanson

Because the other top guys won't fight him. The sad thing is after this title and his WBA are stripped he may be better off. Then he can get into the rankings and force the others at 122 to fight him.

Sad that this is what it comes to, and even more sad that the guys that won't fight him are becoming stars for going around him.

I think this is somewhat simplifying the issue. After he beat the best in the division, Rigo had opportunities to move up and fight at 126, and he decided not to do so. He is as difficult from a business standpoint to promote, as he is to his opponents to fight. He could have faced Nicolas Walters or Loma at 126. Instead, he thought he deserved big money to continue fighting at 122. I don't blame him the same way I don't blame GGG. I would just have preferred him moving up, the same way I'd prefer GGG moving up.

Even if he does get stripped of his belts he's even less likely to get any kind of meaningful fight. At least when he had the belts there's a reason for people to fight him. With no belt he's arguably the pound for pound best boxer in the world who can beat you easily yet no TV company is interested in paying dollars to show him. Even if there are fighters out there who want to fight him (even at 126) no promoters want to know because they can't sell it to TV.

I wouldn't be surprised if his next fight is in Japan again on the undercard of one of their big year end bills against some journeyman Jap, just like his last fight.