Dan Rafael
1,538 articles · USA Today
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Francisco Vargas-Orlando Salido carries fight of the year expectations
By Dan Rafael
CARSON, Calif. -- Every once in a while there is a fight that is simply a no-brainer to make, and it actually gets made. It's one that fans want to see. It…
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Notes: Flyweight titlist Casimero calls for ‘Chocolatito’ showdown
By Dan Rafael
A few notes from around the boxing world: Last June, Filipino flyweight Johnriel Casimero (22-3, 14 KOs), a former junior flyweight titleholder, lost a decision in Thailand challenging Amnat Ruenroeng for his…
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Professional boxers in Olympics is a bad idea, say fighters, others
By Dan Rafael
In theory, the idea of professional boxers competing in the Olympics sounds fun and interesting. Who wouldn't want to watch national dream teams of fighters going for gold in Rio de Janeiro…
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Scorecard: Shane Mosley loses fight, title opportunity
By Dan Rafael
A roundup of the past week's notable boxing results from around the world: Sunday at Liverpool, England Tony Bellew KO3 Ilunga "Junior" Makabu Wins a vacant cruiserweight title Records: Bellew (27-2-1, 17…
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Canelo-GGG: Give the people what they want
By Dan Rafael
Once again, boxing fans are being played for fools. It happens all the time, and we're suckers for putting up with it. But we also know what we want and too often…
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Brook-Vargas welterweight unification deal getting closer
By Dan Rafael
Welterweight titleholders Jessie Vargas and Kell Brook both want a major fight, and a unification clash certainly would fit the bill, so the sides have been talking and are nearing a deal.…
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WBA won’t stand in way of Canelo Alvarez-Gennady Golovkin talks
By Dan Rafael
Even the sanctioning bodies are getting out of the way of a possible juggernaut fight between middleweight champion Canelo Alvarez and unified titleholder Gennady Golovkin, who has two belts but is also…
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Luis Ortiz and Alexander Ustinov camps reach deal for heavyweight clash
By Dan Rafael
Interim heavyweight titleholder Luis "King Kong" Ortiz and mandatory challenger Alexander Ustinov have come to terms and will meet on a date to be determined in August or September, Golden Boy Promotions…
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Manny Pacquiao all but locks up seat in Philippines senate
By Dan Rafael
Boxing legend Manny Pacquiao, already a two-term congressman in the Philippines, has apparently won a seat in the nation's senate, his next stop on the way to what many believe will be…
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Khan has nothing to be ashamed of
By Dan Rafael
LAS VEGAS -- Amir Khan, the former junior welterweight world titleholder and welterweight contender, dared to be great by moving up to middleweight to challenge world champion Canelo Alvarez. Although it certainly…
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Scorecard: Victory adds pressure to make Canelo Alvarez-Gennady Golovkin fight
By Dan Rafael
A roundup of the past week's notable boxing results from around the world: Sunday at Tokyo Naoya Inoue W12 David Carmona retains a junior bantamweight title Scores: 118-109 (twice), 116-111 Records: Inoue…
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Canelo Alvarez now eyes mandatory challenger Gennady Golovkin
By Dan Rafael
LAS VEGAS -- Even before middleweight champion Canelo Alvarez knocked Amir Khan out cold with a monstrous right hand in the sixth round Saturday night, the pressure was on him to face…
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Canelo Alvarez scores devastating 6th-round knockout of Amir Khan
By Dan Rafael
LAS VEGAS -- Middleweight champion Canelo Alvarez was having a lot of problems with the speed and movement of Amir Khan, just the way Khan and his team planned. And then Alvarez…
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Can Canelo Alvarez be the new face of boxing?
By Dan Rafael
LAS VEGAS -- When Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao finally squared off last May in the richest fight in boxing history, a disappointing stinkeroo that nonetheless shattered all boxing revenue records, it…
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Canelo Alvarez: ‘I’ve never been afraid of anyone’
By Dan Rafael
LAS VEGAS -- Middleweight champion Canelo Alvarez basically defied Golden Boy promoter Oscar De La Hoya and his braintrust when he demanded that they make a junior middleweight unification fight with Austin…
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Canelo-GGG situation is Sulaiman’s moment of truth
By Dan Rafael
LAS VEGAS -- It's no secret that I have had my (massive) differences of opinion with the WBC over the years on one topic after another. But on this we agree: Middleweight…
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Amir Khan: ‘What beats Canelo, in my eyes, is speed’
By Dan Rafael
There are many who believe middleweight champion Canelo Alvarez is simply too big and strong for Amir Khan, who is moving up in weight to challenge him at a catch weight of…
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Arum planning ‘Hands Across the Border’ PPV card
By Dan Rafael
When Top Rank promoter Bob Arum filled out the pay-per-view undercard of Manny Pacquiao-Timothy Bradley III on April 9 he dubbed it the ?No Trump? undercard because it included three of the…
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If Mayweather is considering a return, who should he fight?
By Dan Rafael
WASHINGTON -- When Floyd Mayweather is around, naturally the subject of his possible ring return comes up. And it did again on Saturday night at the DC Armory, where Mayweather Promotions promoted…
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Canelo Alvarez not concerned about status of middleweight belt
By Dan Rafael
Gennady Golovkin has wanted nothing more than to claim all four major belts in the middleweight division. He owns two already and, because he also has an interim belt, he is the…