Dan Rafael chat wrap 7/24:
- There is medical concern around Katsidis, but he has been cleared and will unfortunately fight on.
- No new news on Crawford's next opponent. Orozco and Soto are out because they will fight each other.
- BHop says he will fight in early 2016 and then retire.
- Kovalev is very intense, but also is pretty funny.
- GGG vs. Lemiuex is in real negotiations right now. GGG-Ward will not happen this year. Along with weight being an issue, there is also money concerns as the purse is not big enough to satisfy both parties.
- GGG vs Lemiuex is being discussed to be put on HBO PPV.
- Lemiuex is a wicked puncher and legit top 10 MW. GGG's number one goal is to unify. Hopes this fight gets made.
- Kovalev tickets have been slow. They are trying to build him a presence in Las Vegas.
- PPV buys Mosley-Mayorga 2 will get? Less than 25,000. Price point at $49.95 is ridiculously high. It will take place at The Forum.
- No information, but just off opinion believes Canelo vs. Cotto will take place in Las Vegas.
- If Kovalev cannot get a Ward or Stevenson fight he will continue to stay at 175. He is not looking to move up to CW.
- The Rios vs. Brook fight talks are not entirely dead, but nearly are. Rios will fight in the fall, Provodnikov and Jessie Vargas are potential opponents.
- Arreola still could get the Wilder fight.
- Berto nor fighting on CBS are 100% set for Mayweather yet.
- Heard rumors that Stevenson's next fight could be Edwin Rodriguez.
- Would Berto KO'ing Mayweather be a bigger upset than Douglas-Tyson? No.
- What will happen first: Ward-GGG or Ward-Kovalev? Ward-GGG.
- Picking Shumenov to beat Flores by decision.
- Doubts we get Rigo vs. Lomachenko. The talks between them are not real.
- Walters vs. Gamboa at 130 is possible, but unlikely. A lot of risk and little payoff (money) for both fighters.
- Hopkins said he was interested in fighting Froch in England, Froch said he was interested as well. Nothing ever materialized.
- Froch is basically doing to DeGale what he thought Calzaghe did to him.
- Yunieski Gonzalez looks like a bad ass, very scary. He looked in good shape and has good size. It wouldn't be much of an upset for him to beat Pascal.
- Salido and Martinez are planning for a rematch in September.
- FOTY that was on PPV? Barrera-Morales 3, Bowe-Holyfield.
- Believes that if Kovalev wins, his next fight likely will be a homecoming in Russia and a rematch with Pascal is likely for early 2016.
- Jeff Mayweather's reputation (and what a lot of people call him), is the "normal Mayweather".
- RJJ will not be on the television card this weekend, Hopkins will and he was not part of Pascal's camp. Chris Byrd was and helped Pascal work on defense.
- Would Floyd vs. Berto break 1 million PPV buys? Doubtful.
- Mosley's admission of steroids makes it less likely he would vote for him as a first ballot HOF'er.
- Jack vs. Groves is not officially set, but likely Sept. 12 on Mayweather's undercard.
- Lamont Peterson likely will fight in Sept/Oct. at the Patriot Center.
- After Fury, Klitschko won't fight for the rest of the year. Glazkov is his IBF mandatory, but he could put it off if he were to fight Wilder. The IBF allows unification's to trump mandatories.
- He does not count interim belts as real championships. (ie, Donaire is only a 4 division champ, not 5 because the JBW belt was an interim).
- Believes Mosley is delusional in saying that the 3 big promoters are holding boxing hostage.
- Andre Ward is expected to fight again this year.
- Froch vs. Kovalev? Kovalev by KO.
- There will be two ShoBox cards in August.
- Wlad vs. Fury? Wlad by KO.
- Showtime announced Showtime International and put on a Kell Brook card. Other than that there has been no effort by Showtime to show any International fights. Abraham-Stieglitz would have been a good one.
- Crolla probably eked out a win with the two points Perez was deducted.
- Will Wlad ever fight Anthony Joshua? Wlad says he will fight 5 more times, it is possible Joshua could be ready by fight 5.
- Canelo vs. Cotto PPV prediction? It will not reach 1 million, but will do high 6 figures.
- Loves a Quigg vs. Donaire fight. It would be Quigg's best opponent.
- True or False: Vitali could train for 3 months and would KO Wilder? True.
- A young Mike Tyson was the most hostile fighter he has ever interviewed. Never had any problems with Tyson since that interview and the next time he interviewed Tyson, Tyson told him they were cool.
- GGG is the mandotory for Cotto/Canelo. To make the fight he will not have to give in to weight demands. If Canelo or Cotto do not fight him, GGG will be moved from interim WBC titleholder to full titleholder.
- All PBC's television deals are for at least 2 years. NBC is two years, Spike is three years, ESPN is 2 years with an extra six month option.
- Kovalev by mid round KO.
- Earl vs. Katsidis 1 is a classic fight.
- Top 3 punchers at LHW? Foster, Spinks...you could put Kovalev up there. Also, Archie Moore.
- Legit and marketable opponent for Pacquiao, besides Crawford? Matthysse.
- Canelo and Cotto would like to do a 5-6 city press tour. Likely NY, LA, San Juan, Puerto Rico, and at least one stop in Texas.
- LSC vs. Mares is the best fight on paper that PBC has put on, or will put on. Peterson-Garcia is right there too.
- Doubtful Frampton vs. Quigg is this year.
- Are the rumors of GGG handling Kovalev in sparring true? Yes. Abel says that Kovalev was young and new to the pro game, so yes he was schooled, but he is much better now.
- Stiverne's manager told him they are looking to fight again soon.
- 50 Cent will not return any calls, emails, or texts to his fighters. Their careers are in limbo, prospect Ryan Martin has hired a lawyer to get 50 Cent to communicate.
- What are "options" in boxing? Promoters ask for them in case their fighter loses, they have the option to help be involved in the promotion of the other fighter's next fight to help recoup the lost income they incurred from their fighter losing.
- A Cuban fighter he does like? Luis Ortiz. Despite his failed steroid test...he is a big bull who comes to fight and crush.
- Canelo didn't demand the 155 lb weight in Canelo vs. Cotto.
- Matthysse vs. Postol will be at StubHub. The Ukraine rumors are not true.
- Matthysse vs. Postol is a very dangerous fight for both fighters.
- Who does Porter fight next? Believes it will be Thurman later this year.
- Stands by his story 100% that meetings for Floyd's fight took place (Espinoza says they did not).
- Was Tony Harrison all hype? No. He was winning and lost focus.
- David Price is a nice guy, big puncher, hard worker, and no chin.
- There are fighters who enjoyed being promoted by Arum and King. Hagler loves Bob Arum.
Should of had this fight at the stub hub or kept him on the east coast.
the poster........
