Dan Rafael chat wrap 8/22:
- Thoughts on GGG vs Rubio: Rubio can land good punches, but he is slow and stationary. Tailor made for an impressive GGG KO.
- Is GGG the mandatory for Cotto if he beats Rubio? GGG already has a belt and cannot be a mandatory for another belt.
- 50 Cent is going at Floyd about not being able to read.
- Jay Z is a good alternative in the promotion game. He and Haymon do not get along.
- Kirkland is the most likely opponent for Canelo's next fight.
- SMS promotions vs. RocNation: SMS is basically a cell phone and an assistant. Roc Nation is an actual business and hiring qualified people.
- Hopkins-Kovalev to take place 11/8 at Boardwalk Hall.
- Rios-Ruslan in November is possible.
- Taylor-Soliman is a toss up fight.
- Haymon has a deal with NBC to start airing live fights in 2015. Main Events deal will be done at the end of the year.
- Brook-Lopez is a very realistic fight. Somebody with a decent name and poses no threat.
- He believes Mayweather's surprise for 2015 was absolutely nothing. Designed to get people talking, nothing else.
- Can Haymon have a contract with a TV company, doesn't that make him a promoter? He obviously has a front company to do it for him.
- Beltran has signed his side of the contract. TR is still working on Crawford's side of the deal.
- Figueroa will remain at 135 for a while longer.
- Predicting Trout to win tonight. He can still be a top 5 JMW. He lost to two top fighters and one was vs. Lara who he was mentally not prepared for (his grandmother died at his wedding).
- Loma likely ends up on the Pacquiao undercard Nov 22. Opponent TBA.
- Thurman vs Brook, he picks Thurman to win.
- He thinks Bayless is the best Nevada referee. Weeks is 2nd.
- He picks Pavlik to beat Abraham in the discussed but never made fight.
- His pointed out Julie Lederman and Michael Pernick as two of the best judges.
- Mike Tyson actually did punch holes in the locker room prior to the Spinks fight.
- Verdejo back on Oct 4th on Unimas.
- Lampley was not happy about HBO's decision to not have them at the Groves-Froch fight.
- RocNation overpaid for Quillin-Korobov, but they wanted to make a statement.
- JMM is looking at the possibility of a Fall fight.