Rigonomics depends on supply and demand as its backbone. Quite simply, if demand is high, prices usually will go higher??
?Demand creates its own supply.??John Maynard Keynes, the founder of Keynesianism
?Rigondeaux?s plight will enrage many, but it?s the reality of boxing in the 21st century.??Kevin Iole (Yahoo Sports, July 17, 2013)
Supply and demand is the most fundamental concept of economics and it is the backbone of a market economy. Demand refers to how much (quantity) of a product or service is desired by buyers. The quantity demanded is the amount of a product people are willing to buy at a certain price; the relationship between price and quantity demanded is known as the demand relationship.
Rigonomics also depends on supply and demand as its backbone. Quite simply, if demand is high, prices usually will go higher. This is pretty basic stuff and a lot less difficult to understand than Economics 101.
If Floyd Mayweather Jr. agreed to fight Gennady Golovkin at a catchweight (which likely won?t happen), the demand to watch such a fight would be off the charts. The price could and would be increased accordingly; PPV could probably charge something close to $ 00.
And this brings us to the plight of Guillermo Rigondeaux who possesses Mayweather-like skills but woefully lacks Mayweather-like charisma and flamboyance, and above all, Mayweather?s product appeal.
Rigondeaux
?Rigondeaux is extremely talented, but his defensive style won?t make him a star. The electricity that ran through the arena for most of the night and in the first few rounds?turned stale and quiet as the fight wore on, with Rigondeaux ? a southpaw ? boxing, moving and spending long chunks of the fight going backward.??Dan Rafael
?Every time I mention him (Rigondeaux), they (HBO) throw up.??Bob Arum
?I don?t think it?s right for them to abandon Rigondeaux, whatever his style is?He?s still an amazing talent. We have to get him in with a guy who is aggressive.??Arum, more recently.
?The people I grew up watching fights with, all of us right now are compelled to watch Rigondeaux whenever he fights because he?s the best in the world at what he does. He just shutout a dominant, three-division champion.??Max Kellerman
This skillful fighter found himself in the strange (and disturbing to some) predicament of having no immediate fight lined up since he soundly beat and dethroned Nonito Donaire on April 13 on HBO and this after only 12 bouts in the pro ranks. After the fight, Rigo found his style of boxing under attack from all quarters including his own paymasters.
After two gold medals, a professional world title, and nearly 500 amateur and pro fights combined, Rigo is a purist?s delight, but that?s the rub. He has faced harsh, if not unfair, criticism with his own promoter stating that fans of the sweet science do not enjoy watching his style
Kevin Iole puts it more bluntly??Rigondeaux, and the hardcore fans who appreciate him, are [sic] learning a very difficult reality: The percentage of those who appreciate the technical purity of Rigondeaux?s defensive game is minute.?
Rigondeaux said to BoxingScene Radio, ?I don?t think I need to change anything. I am a champion. I am a champion for a reason. I am not going to change. I am just going to keep doing what I am doing and that has been working for me.?
Colman Corrigan is in Rigo?s corner and asserts, ?The Cuban fighter? has been a winner?he should not jeopardize his flawless professional record to satisfy blood-thirsty viewers and commentators.?
Really, though, does the opposite of boring have to be bloodthirsty?
Next Fight
Finally, and according to ?man in the know? Dan Rafael of ESPN, the highly skilled Cuban will next fight on HBO on either December 7 or December 14, though It?s not clear whom the WBA/WBO super bantamweight champion (12-0) will be fighting. The choice could come from one of the following less-than-scintillating names: Victor Terrazas, Jeffrey Mathebula, Jesse Magdaleno, Johnathan Romero, Fernando Montiel, Cristian Mijares, Hugo Cazares, Nehomar Cermeno, Wilfredo Vazquez Jr., or Hozumi Hasegawa. If it?s any one softer, the interest (demand) will be close to zero?if not there now.
With the possible exception of Wilfredo Vazquez Jr., any matchup involving these fighters will not enhance Rigo?s fortunes unless he becomes aggressive-minded and comes out banging and bombing and, more importantly, take some risks. It?s time for Rigo to alter his style and go on the offensive
It?s also time for Rigo and his management team to get a handle on how Economics 101 works in the business of Boxing. Rigondeaux?s current style is not compelling to the majority of today?s boxing fans. Again, Iole nails it: ?If he doesn?t [change his style], he?ll spend the rest of his career in anonymity, fighting meaningless bouts off TV.?
Hidden Agenda
Bob Arum is no dummy and his business acumen should never be underestimated. Maybe what he and HBO have in mind here is to have as Donaire?s next opponent (i.e., Vic Darchinyan) someone who possesses little threat and someone against whom the ?Flash? can look flashy. Meanwhile Guillermo gets back on HBO against an opponent with whom he can be far more aggressive-minded while still ensuring victory. Then Donaire and Rigo can meet in an interesting rematch next year on a PPV undercard, or if both win spectacularly, in a PPV main event, though that seems unlikely given the harsh reality of Rigonomics.
