Dan Rafael chat wrap 10/16:
GGG vs. Lemieux:
- The fight was designed with a lower cost structure (for a PPV). The event needs to get about 200k buys to start turning a profit. He expects it to sell high 200's to low 300k's. If the fight sells over 300k, all parties involved will consider it a huge success.
- Gonzalez may have been struggling to make weight. The day before he looked fine and was pleasant to deal with, but he would sip water and spit it back out.
- He believes GGG is the single most must see fighter in boxing.
- Wouldn't be surprised if the fight was like Matthysse-Garcia and Lemieux turned out to be Garcia.
- Weak year for fighter of the year candidates. Wouldn't rank GGG there, even with a win tonight. Honorable mention, yes.
- Will GGG be knocked down? Interesting...will say, no.
- Other full venue sell outs at MSG? Remembers that Cotto-Judah and Cotto-Margarito 2 were.
- GGG vs. Lee, before fighting the Canelo-Cotto winner? Possible. It would take WBC approval and step aside agreement by the Canelo-Cotto winner.
- GGG is very well preserved for his age of 33. He was poorly promoted by his past promoter (Universum), which caused his delay in getting into the US market. He hasn't taken a lot of punishment in the pro's.
- Picking: GGG by KO6, and Gonzalez by KO9.
- Lemieux is a cool guy. He is supremely confident and has a lot of swagger, but isn't over the top in how he presents himself.
- Ortiz has incredible power. Expects him to win rather easily.
- Johnson vs. O'Kane is an eliminator to become the mandatory for the winner of GGG-Lemieux.
- GGG and Abel Sanchez is like the new Manny and Freddie.
- The drums and bells fans brought for Trinidad-Joppy at MSG were insane. There were also people tailgating hours before the fight on 7th avenue in Manhattan.
- Does not agree with Teddy Atlas that Thurman has more potential to be a bigger boxing star than GGG. GGG has Pacquiao potential.
The rest of boxing:
- RJJ is not a legit contender at CW.
- Khan hasn't backed out of negotiations with Pacquiao, but is mouthing off. He needs to learn to quit being so vocal during key negotiation moments. It works to his detriment.
- Bracero is unlikely to take a fight against Algieri.
- Around the Juan Urango fight thought Devon Alexander was the next big thing and had skills comparable to Floyd's. What happened?
- Thought Alexander deserved to win in a close, but bad performance.
- No word on what is next for LSC.
- PBC is still not making money, but that is too be expected - they had planned on still not making money at this point.
- Guerrero vs. Alexander? Actually not a bad fight.
- Does not think we see Postol vs. Crawford in 2016.
- Dejan Zavec is the mandatory for Linares, but it probably does not have to be his next fight.
- Prime Pacquiao vs. prime Whitaker? Whitaker.
- Kovalev vs. Pascal rematch? Likely not in 2016.
- Doubt we see Kovalev vs. Fonfara. But would like to see it.
- The winner of Cotto-Canelo is a good contender for FOTY. Mayweather is probably the frontrunner.
- Wlad's next mandatory, after Fury, is Glazkov.
- Ward will be on the undercard for Cotto-Canelo. Expect it to be announced sometime after the GGG-Lemieux fight.
- Juan Diaz will not be back until early next year. He wants to keep fighting at 135.
- It is Kirkland, not his manager, who makes these business decisions.
- Andrade messed up not taking some past fights and believes that he realizes it.
- It is criminal that James Toney is still allowed to fight.
- Monaghan is a nice guy and hard worker, but very limited skill wise.
- Did not include Randall Bailey in his top 10 hardest punchers because he is no longer very active or a top fighter.
- Has seen some of the payout sheets for PBC and the purses for cards are starting to drop, especially for the lower tier fights on the cards.
- Toney vs. Hopkins at 160? Toney.
- Kell Brook out of the Chaves fight with a rib injury. Showtime cancelled the telecast.
- Asked Duran if he would have beaten Floyd. He said "No problem", flexed and kissed his bicep and then drank his Corona. He agrees that Duran would win.
- Duran vs. Hatton in a drinking contest? Duran via upset.
- Stiverne is supposed to be on the GRJ card next month.
- Montiel fought well and doesn't look done. Probably better for him to fight at 122.