Dan Rafael chat wrap 5/22:
- Skeptical that GGG-Froch gets made, but hopes it does. It is being discussed between promotional companies, but is a long ways from being completed. GGG is willing to go to the UK and Froch has said he would like to fight in Las Vegas. If made the fight could take place in either location, but most likely wherever makes most financial sense. Gives it a 25% chance of being made.
- Excited to see Thurman on ESPN because he is exciting. He could have a better opponent, but Collazo is a professional and at least will try and the fight could be exciting.
- Errol Spence is close to a title shot. Thinks he gets one within the next year.
- Unlikely Hopkins fights the winner of Dirrell-DeGale.
- Are Fedosov or Dennis contenders if they win the Boxcino belt? No.
- Dirrell vs. DeGale? DeGale by decision.
- Thoughts on JCC talking trash about GGG recently? JCC is a baffoon. He got thoroughly beaten in his last fight, GGG agreed to fight him at 168 and JCC turned it down. JCC is a waste of time prima dona. GGG is a star.
- ODH still working on a US TV deal for Lemiuex-N'Dam.
- TR's fighter they are promoting in Macau (Ik Yang) is pretty good, but untested.
- Floyd will not fight GGG.
- Hearn is hoping to be able to have news on US TV broadcast for Kell Brook's next fight.
- Anthony Joshua probably gets a bigger name opponent by the end of the year (Ustinov, Pulev, Thompson). Joseph Parker is moving slower, so he probably doesn't take that type of fight yet.
- ESPN's deal with Haymon does not stop ESPN from purchasing other fights if they so choose to (ie, Perez-Povetkin).
- Does Floyd ever fight on network TV? No.
- Lara vs. GGG? Lara is with Haymon and Haymon is banned from HBO, while GGG is an exclusive HBO fighter. Lara also brings no money or fans to the table. And does anyone really want to see it?
- Dream fights for Roman Gonzalez? Estrada rematch, Segura, and Inoue.
- GGG and Gonzalez should fight on the same broadcasts going forward again.
- GGG fights are becoming events. Putting Roman Gonzalez on the undercard is a great way to build Roman into an attraction.
- Popo Freitas is scheduled to fight June 6 in Brazil.
- Froch a HOF'er? Borderline.
- Rios vs. Ruslan this year? Doubt it.
- Remains skeptical that the GB-Haymon lawsuit ever goes to trial.
- Showtime's schedule remains barren.
- Does not like the weight clause for Porter. It is going to make him not at his best.
- Uchiyama is out for a bit due to elbow surgery.
- It is nice being able to do chats and not have the constant Mayweather-Pacquiao questions.
- Marv Albert is supposed to announce all cards on NBC this year.
- Will Walters-Lomachenko get made this year? Arum says that if Walters wins June 13 he intends to make the fight this fall.
- GGG-Lemiuex would be an absolute barnburner of a fight.
- GGG-Lee? Not right now, but down the road, yes. Lee is out with an injury and he owes Saunders a mandatory defense.
- GGG vs. Lemiuex/Lee? Think GGG knocks both out.
- Tony Harrison? A good prospect, fun style, skills, and power. Great talker too.
- Regarding HBO and PBC - competition is good, the cream will rise to the top.
- Spoke with Devon Alexander's trainer and they are eyeing a July return.
- Canelo vs. Cotto's date will depend on when Mayweather decides to fight.
- Beltran vs. Soto is not done and may not get done, but is being talked about.
- Geale is a very live opponent for Cotto.
- Khan should handle Algieri pretty easily.
- Ward vs. Kovalev? Thinks it happens eventually.
- No truth to a Canelo-Mayweather rematch.
- MGM-AEG Arena is set to open next year. Could Mayweather-Pacquiao 2 be the first boxing event held there? Possibly.
- Kovalev vs. Beterbiev? Exciting match, but not possible right now. Kovalev is signed to HBO and Beterbiev with Haymon.
- Did LSC get booed at The Forum when they showed him on the big screen? Yes, very loudly. The Mexican fans are turning against him.
- Floyd for his HOF vote, would he consider his domestic abuse history? He votes on inside the ring, not outside the ring. Floyd is one of the greatest fighters of all time, not people of all time.
- Why would GGG's team say a Lara fight is possible, but not Ward? They could get Lara as an opponent for a low purse. Andre will want a lot of money.
- Was surprised by how loudly the crowd booed Ward in GGG's post fight interview.
- Escalente should not be fighting any more.
- Surprised and disappointed by BJ Flores' tweets regarding Gonzalez and the lower weight classes.
- How high in weight can Roman Gonzalez go? 115 and maybe 118. Interviewed him in person and he really is a little guy. His hands are tiny. It is amazing he has the power that he does.
- No news on Gamboa.
- Mayweather opponent for September? Thurman is out. No Pacquiao rematch. Could be Khan, Garcia or possibly Broner-Porter winner. Really no clues on who it could be yet.
- Would love to see Thurman vs. Khan.
- Does not know why Paulie hates Pacquiao so much, but he obviously does.
- Ricardo Lopez vs. Roman Gonzalez? He loves Chocolatito, but Lopez is his best ever at 105 and 108, so Lopez.
- In two years who is at the top of the PFP rankings? No order: Lomachenko, GGG, Crawford, Roman Gonzalez.
- Believes Andre is the more talented of the Dirrell brothers.
- Final PPV numbers for Mayweather-Pacquiao? We won't know for many months. The number is currently 4.4 million and will grow. Mayweather-ODH was announced at 2.2 million a week after the fight. After a couple months they updated it to 2.4 and now it stands at almost 2.5 million buys.
- Wilder-Povetkin or Wilder-Perez? Wilder-Povetkin.
- Linares beats Danny Garcia at 140? No.
- Live gate of GGG's fight last weekend was a bit over $1 million.
- Live gate for Canelo-Kirkland? $4 million.
- Believes that Pacquiao was injured in training leading up to the fight.
- Will JMM fight again? Thinks we may have seen the last of JMM.
- Tim Bradley has done a very nice job commentating.
- No talk of Crawford-Matthysse being next.
- How likely is a Matthysse-Rios fight? A good chance.
- GGG could hold a fight in Mexico City.
- Freddie Roach was ringside for GGG-Monroe.
- HBO did not renew Steve Weisfeld's contract. He is back to official judging.
- Promoter Artie Pellulo is talking to other networks about doing more tournaments (Boxcino), but they won't be on ESPN.
- Does not agree that Lara would be GGG's toughest fight so far. Thinks GGG would give Lara the beat down of his life.
- Maidana's manager told him Maidana could be back late summer.
just came for some lunch money....they aint have to do em like this
at that craiglist ref they had that kept trying to get dudes beaten to death. nikka gave no fukks. 
at Adams being a brides maid again. 
at the Perez KO.
