Dan Rafael chat wrap 1/2/15:
- Are there things he knows about Mayweather-Pacquiao negotiations that he can't say publicly? Yes.
- No news on Robert Guerrero. Guerrero told him his next fight would be a big one, but nothing yet.
- Still doesn't see anything happening with JCC until his legal issues with Arum are resolved and they are not. Cannot remember a time in which TR lost in court. Most likely this gets settled out of court.
- LSC fight isn't putrid, but no exciting.
- Does not think we see Walters vs. Gonzales.
- WBO needs to sort out who fights for the vacant belt. Top contenders are: Matthysse, Algieri, Crawford, and Provodnikov.
- Cotto is allowed one interim fight (Canelo or anyone) defending the WBC belt. After that he must fight GGG or give up the belt. Does think it is possible we see GGG vs. Canelo or Cotto, more likely Canelo wants to make the fight.
- Andre Ward's legal issues are the same. His contract has been ruled valid, so he needs something to happen or be bought out.
- Doubts Brook-Khan is their next fight (even if Mayweather-Khan is not made).
- Stevenson's next fight makes sense in that it gets rid of his mandatory, so he would be eligible to fight the winner of Kovalev-Pascal. Pascal fight would be more likely as Stevenson-Kovalev still suffers from Haymon-HBO issues.
- Rigo's chin has been questionable since the amateurs, but it rarely is an issue because his defense is so good.
- Broner's people told him they will fight March 7, but no opponent or site.
- Duva is trying to make Chilemba vs. Beterbiev. HBO wants the fight.
- Marquez says he is not interested in fighting Pacquiao a 5th time. He doubts it will happen, but never say never.
- Povetkin vs. Perez was ordered by the WBC, but that doesn't mean it will happen. It has not been scheduled or negotiated.
- Thinks Gilberto Ramirez is more contender than pretender.
- Hopes that HBO or Showtime start to buy Roman Gonzalez's fights.
- He has never heard rumors of a Khan-Maidana rematch.
- TR has told him repeatedly that they want Walters-Lomachenko to happen in 2015.
- Inoue is a great prospect and has a great career ahead of him.
- Dusty Hernandez Harrison is a work in progress. He is good, but had a disappointing 2014.
- Any fighters he would favor over GGG from 154-168? Maybe Ward, maybe Froch.
- Pacquiao's lawyer, is saying it is Arum holding up Pacquiao-Mayweather. His lawyer said Pacquiao could sign with GB after he signed with TR...so he doesn't have much faith in his word.
- No real challenge for Klitschko, but would love to see him fight Jennings in the US, Fury, and the winner of Stiverne-Wilder would all be interesting.
- The zero is overrated on any fighter's record.
- It is true that Mayweather's team called Cotto to talk about a rematch. He hasn't heard any updates and thinks that Cotto is actively looking to negotiate a fight vs. Canelo.
- Expects Haymon's fights on NBC to start in March.
- The fights he most wants to see (not named Pacquiao-Mayweather or Canelo-Cotto): Lomachenko-Walters, Maidana-Matthysse, Broner-Matthysse, Crawford-Provodnikov, Stevenson-Kovalev/Pascal winner, Garcia-Peterson, Gonzalez-Estrada 2, Klitshko-Stiverne/Wilder winner, GGG-Cotto/Canelo winner, GGG-Froch or Chavez, and Thurman-Khan.
- HBO would want to make Crawford-Provodnikov, so there would be money to make it.
- Omotoso was released by TR and is now with Haymon.
- Linares should have some good fights coming up and is interesting to watch. Does not think we see Linares-Figueroa, as he expects Figueroa to move up to 140.
- Would love to see Cuellar against Gradovich or Mares.
- Very good chance that Klitschko-Fury gets made for the summer of 2015, unless Klitschko decided to negotiate with the winner of Stiverne-Wilder.
- Would not be shocked in Sadam Ali lands on the Klitschko-Jennings undercard.
- Joseph Parker from New Zealand could be an interesting fight at HW.
- Saw Broner in Vegas a few weeks ago. He has put on some weight, but was not as big as many made it out to be.
- Thinks Joseph Parker is more advanced as a pro, but Anthony Joshua has the higher upside.
- Thinks that Tyson's opponents level was not pretty weak...actually similar to Wlad's.
- Likely we could see LSC-Mares in 2015.
- More shocked by Douglas beating Tyson, than Foreman beating Moorer.
- Could see Cuellar vs. GRJ happening.
- There is not one fight he would be interested in watching with Miguel Vazquez.
- Brook vs. Bradley? Bradley.
- He gets no positive reaction from the fans regarding a Mayweather-Cotto 2 fight. He hears that people want to see Floyd-Manny and Canelo-Cotto.
- Thinks we eventually see Bradley-Provodnikov 2.
- If he could make a tournament of 4 fighters from any era and any weight class (but all part of the same division) who would he want to watch? Ali, Louis, Tyson and Klitschko.
w that bs
