Dan Rafael chat wrap 6/23:
Ward vs. Kovalev:
- Kovalev acted like the schoolyard bully and got checked.
- He had Kovalev ahead 68-65 at the time of the stoppage. It was a common score at ringside.
- The last punch may have been a bit low, but the others were legal. The right hand was the one that really turned the fight. Agrees with Weeks' stoppage.
- Weeks could have ruled it a KD because Kovalev was sitting on the rope. The fact that Kovalev didn't protest at all shows it was probably a good stoppage.
- The atmosphere was extremely weak. Bad for what should be a big fight.
- Expects that Kovalev and JDJ will part ways.
- Main Events will have no success in protesting that the stoppage was due to a low blow.
- Agrees that Kovalev needs to take full responsibility for his loss. He was dumb in refusing not to go for Ward's body. If he felt Ward was fighting dirty, he needs to do it back.
- Ward mentioning Joshua as a future opponent was due to excitement of the moment.
- Ideally we will see Ward vs. Stevenson next, but will doubt it until it actually happens. Stevenson has put off the Alvarez mandatory for a long time and that is supposed to be next.
- Kovalev will make at least $1 million for the fight.
- The Rigo replay decision was screwed up because the commission only had access to the video, not audio. That will change after this.
- There probably was some acting with the late Rigo punch. It was not intentional so a DQ is not the right call. The ND is the right outcome.
- Guesses that Ward is done with RN. Believes the frontrunner to sign him will be TR. Arum likes Ward and speaks well of him. Arum also has other J Prince clients.
The rest of boxing:
- Lomachenko will fight Salido, if Salido decides to duck that is on him. Salido has also been offered a fight vs. Linares.
- If Salido wins another title is he a HOF'er? No.
- People are idiots, in response to the odds on Mayweather-McGregor.
- Wilder vs. Whyte would be a nice fight, but it won't happen. Wilder has a mandatory, they probably would let him delay it for a unification, but not for Whyte.
- Co feature for Broner vs. Garcia likely will be Charlo vs. Heiland 160 title eliminator. Trash fight.
- Broner vs. Garcia will be at Barclay's.
- Broner should be allowed a short beard, but his normal everyday length is ridiculous.
- Indongo is the plan for Crawford's next fight. Should be in Lincoln, Nebraska.
- Bryant Jennings is slated to return on Crawford's undercard.
- If Chocolatito beats Sor will he be PFP #1 again? Doubt it.
- The Chocolatito headlining card will either be at The Forum or Mandalay Bay.
- If Linares fights Mendez and HBO accepts it that is a joke.
- Danny Jacobs is a possibility to appear on the GGG-Canelo undercard.
- Hopes that Lemieux vs. BJS happens.
- Doesn't make much of Valdez calling out GRJ. That fight won't happen.
- Teddy Atlas not including GGG in his top 10 PFP is ridiculous.
- Showtime has a bigger budget and better matchmaking than HBO.
- Can see someone like ESPN picking up HBO's share of the boxing market.
- No idea what Lampley's contract is like, but if he were a competing network looking to show boxing, his first move would be to go get him.
- Doesn't believe GGG retirement talk for a second.
- Holyfield vs. Foreman was the first PPV he ever watched and it was the first PPV of the modern era.
- Still adding fighters for the SMW and CW tournaments (CW lineup looks fantastic). They will hold a drawing next month for the matchups.
- Joshua's contract with Showtime is up, but his understanding is that Showtime has the rights to the Joshua vs. Wlad rematch.
- The TV portion of the Pacquiao-Horn card on ESPN will be: Mosley Jr., Conlan, Jr. Bantamweight title fight, then Pacquiao vs. Horn.
- Broner for the HOF? When he buys a ticket.
- Magdaleno likely fights his mandatory Cesar Juarez next.
- Prime RJJ was:
- Called the chat short due to an abundance of crappy questions, mostly regarding Ward being overrated and only winning his fights by controversy (even pre-Kovalev fights).
