Robert Guerrero Responds to Malignaggi: "You're Not HBO or Showtime Approved"

by Scott Christ on Feb 10, 2012 6:09 PM EST in Boxing News Analysis

Robert Guerrero says he won't fight Paulie Malignaggi unless HBO or Showtime approve the fight. (Photo by Daisy Rosas)

As expected, Robert Guerrero has quickly responded to Paulie Malignaggi's open letter. Malignaggi claims that Guerrero has turned him down for a fight on May 5, on the Mayweather vs Cotto PPV undercard, and called him out earlier today.

Here's Guerrero's short response:

"Look at the facts Paulie, why did I turn you down? You're a tremendous puncher? NO! You make for fan friendly fights? NO! You are a HBO or Showtime approved fighter? NO! Fact is, Eric Gomez at Golden Boy said you wouldn't be approved to fight on a date that isn't a Pay Per View. So if our promoter can convince a network that you are worthy enough to be on your own date, then let's rumble. I got a Shark Tank waiting."

Malignaggi (30-4, 6 KO) has been absent from regular HBO since his one-sided beating at the hands of Amir Khan in May 2010, but was featured on a pair of pay-per-views last year. He opened both the Morales vs Maidana (beating Jose Miguel Cotto) and Hopkins vs Dawson (beating Orlando Lora) shows, both of which were huge flops seen live by very, very few viewers (reported 50K and 40K buys, respectively).

But Guerrero (29-1-1, 18 KO) also hasn't been on regular HBO in a good while. He fought just once last year, beating Michael Katsidis on the same Morales vs Maidana show. He was set to face Maidana in August, but that was canceled due to an injury.

Guerrero vs Malignaggi is not an HBO main event. It's not a Showtime main event. The reason? Neither of them are worth that kind of money. This is a co-feature fight at best -- and I don't see either of them getting anything better on U.S. TV at this point, either.

Malignaggi also recently turned down a $250,000 payday in Ukraine against Vyacheslav Senchenko, or at least all but officially turned it down. Guerrero has been attempting to land fights with Floyd Mayweather Jr and Victor Ortiz, unsuccessfully in both cases.

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that is a nasty pic

The struggle to free myself of restraints, becomes my very shackles

by battle axe of doom on Feb 10, 2012 6:32 PM EST reply actions

Just checking:

Is Guerrero saying he won’t fight on the Mayweather undercard? That he wants his own TV date?

Why on Earth wouldn’t Guerrero want to fight as the main support to a Mayweather fight, in front of millions of viewers worldwide?

by Olbas on Feb 10, 2012 6:35 PM EST reply actions

Is Guerrero saying he won’t fight on the Mayweather undercard? That he wants his own TV date?

Yes.

Why on Earth wouldn’t Guerrero want to fight as the main support to a Mayweather fight, in front of millions of viewers worldwide?

It wouldn’t be the main support (that’ll be Canelo), but it would still be on the show. Guerrero’s getting bizarre. He really needs to fight someone. This is about as good as he’s actually being offered, not his dream world where he goes from fighting Katsidis for $125K to fighting Mayweather or Ortiz. It’s nice that he wants to, but those fights aren’t happening. I want a Corvette. My wife and I have a Suzuki Aerio. Instead.

Bad Left Hook
"The internet has undermined professionalism in journalism, which is a good thing." - Bill James

by Scott Christ on Feb 10, 2012 8:03 PM EST up reply actions

When you get your Corvette, I’ll gladly take the Aerio off your hands. As long as it’s free.

by Olbas on Feb 10, 2012 8:22 PM EST up reply actions

And comes with a full tank of gas.

by Olbas on Feb 10, 2012 8:24 PM EST up reply actions

I’ll let you know in 2040.

Bad Left Hook
"The internet has undermined professionalism in journalism, which is a good thing." - Bill James

by Scott Christ on Feb 10, 2012 8:31 PM EST up reply actions

He thinks he's the shot caller & he's delusional

"The tempt for greatness is the biggest drug in the world."
—Mike Tyson

by honorablecbm on Feb 12, 2012 9:17 AM EST via iPhone app up reply actions

Don’t know what Paulie would of made for fighting Guerrero. But I’m just about positive there is no way it would of been more than the $250,000 he’s being offered to fight Senchenko.

by Eugene Banks on Feb 10, 2012 6:44 PM EST reply actions

I won’t be even close. I asked Paulie about that on twitter and he admitted that it wouldn’t be about the money but exposure.

"The bell that tolls for all in boxing belongs to a cash register."
-Bob Verdi

by Waldo Rastel on Feb 10, 2012 6:58 PM EST up reply actions

Exposure? I don’t see Paulie getting any more popular. Should of took the quarter million

by Eugene Banks on Feb 10, 2012 8:02 PM EST up reply actions

I think they’re both overestimating themselves to some degree. I’d prefer they just shut up and fight. Winner can move on to something better.

Bad Left Hook
"The internet has undermined professionalism in journalism, which is a good thing." - Bill James

by Scott Christ on Feb 10, 2012 8:06 PM EST up reply actions

Hugely. I really like the a Paulie fight for Robert because the Ghost should win easily and it will announce his move to 147. Maybe he could try to get the winner (or loser) of the Maidana-Alexander fight. Could set up an interesting tournament-ish where the winner’s of Berto-Ortiz and Maidana-Alexander meet and the losers could get Senchenko and Guerrero.

"The bell that tolls for all in boxing belongs to a cash register."
-Bob Verdi

by Waldo Rastel on Feb 10, 2012 8:36 PM EST up reply actions

Senchenko isn’t going to fight any of these guys unless he’s forced to and they want to travel to Ukraine, because his team will win every purse bid he’s involved in.

Bad Left Hook
"The internet has undermined professionalism in journalism, which is a good thing." - Bill James

by Scott Christ on Feb 10, 2012 8:54 PM EST up reply actions

My, my, what a day brings.

I had no idea that a Guerreo-Malignaggi fight was even in consideration.

I really don’t understand why Guerrero even saw fit to respond. Malignaggi is a very pretty fighter, but in all honesty I think that Guerrero deserves better.

by DrRck on Feb 10, 2012 7:13 PM EST reply actions

I have to say also that I’m a bit disappointed that Guerrero even responded. He should have let Malignaggi’s comments go by.

by DrRck on Feb 10, 2012 7:15 PM EST reply actions

It appears as if he has become a press junkie of sorts and in fairness, someone has to get his name into the mix.

"Silence is golden when you can't think of a good answer"
---- Muhammed Ali

by pakinpower on Feb 10, 2012 9:57 PM EST up reply actions

He seems, to me at least, to be campaigning as hard as he can to get a fight that people will notice. I give him credit for that. However wild and unlikely these attempts have been, I think he’s dead serious about them.

by DrRck on Feb 11, 2012 8:41 AM EST up reply actions

Not responded?

At this point thats all Guerrero is, an internet warrior.

by I'm going slightly mad on Feb 10, 2012 7:23 PM EST reply actions

i think guerrero is right in turn down this fight, he is better than paulie, i would like to someone giving a chance to guerrero, if guerrero would have fought maidana this story would be very different….

by EL CIERTO (VEN) on Feb 10, 2012 7:41 PM EST reply actions