Guillermo Rigondeaux is currently in a tough position with losing his spot on HBO but who is to blame? Many are quick to say it is the Rigondeaux is the one to blame with his performance against Nonito Donaire but in all honesty, Rigondeaux is not the one to blame.
Yes, his performance was not the most fan friendly during the fight but he is a defensive fighter and his opponent (Donaire) is an offensive fighter. Donaire did next to nothing himself against Rigondeaux and when he did he was picked apart. Donaire’s lack of action created less for a counter puncher to work with so part of the blame could be put on him but expect to see him again on HBO.
HBO should take a majority of the blame. They did after all want the fight and pushed hard for it. Before the fight took place they had high praise for Rigondeaux and his master boxing technique. They knew he was a counter puncher and his punch output yet they still expected fireworks. HBO really shot themselves in the foot with that one. Instead of punishing the fighter for doing what he normally does in his fights they should take a look at themselves and think what can we do to better ourselves from this.
As far as Top Rank goes, they knew it was going to be hard to promote Rigondeaux after that fight but were they really promoting him in the right way? Rigondeaux is a Cuban fighter who trains out of Miami, which has a large Cuban population. You think they would hold quite a few fights there to build up his fan base then slowly start to move him into other areas.
Rigondeaux is great at what he does and I myself have had doubt about him but the treatment he is getting is unfair after being pushed into a position ad doing what he had to do. HBO should feel guilt but everything is about numbers and money. But it makes one wonder, did they have in mind for Rigondeaux to lose to help build Donaire as a star? Regardless, what’s done is done.
