Dan Rafael
1,538 articles · USA Today
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Pacquiao busy with more than just training
Manny Pacquiao is a busy man in the lead up to his junior middleweight title bout with Antonio Margarito on Nov. 13 (HBO PPV) at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas. That busy…
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Campbell re-testing lightweight waters
Former unified lightweight titlist Nate Campbell (33-6-1, 25 KOs), last seen losing a lopsided decision in May to Victor Ortiz in a junior welterweight bout on HBO, will return Nov. 27, adviser…
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What’s your pick: ’24/7′ or ‘Fight Camp’?
Showtime and HBO often go head-to-head with their live boxing cards, but this Saturday night it will be a little different. Instead of competing with their fights, the fierce rivals will battle…
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What’s your pick: ’24/7′ or ‘Fight Camp’?
Showtime and HBO often go head to head with their live boxing cards, but this Saturday night it will be a little different. Instead of competing with their fights, the fierce rivals…
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ESPN.com’s divisional rankings
Check out my rankings within each division by clicking on the links below. Who is the best fighter regardless of weight class? See my pound-for-pound rankings. Note: Results through Oct. 25. In…
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Pavlik eyeing possible bout with Bute
Former middleweight champion Kelly Pavlik's comeback starts with Brian Vera, but a win could lead to a super middleweight title fight against Lucian Bute in the fight after that. Pavlik promoter Top…
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Top three pound-for-pound fighters
Who is the world's best fighter regardless of weight class? See my Top 20 below. And don't forget to check out the divisional rankings, which are updated weekly. For a list of…
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Quick Hits: Kirkland close to ring return
Kirkland has split from longtime trainer Ann Wolfe. He will now train with Richard Lord in Kirkland's hometown of Austin, Texas, Dunkin said. "Richard is just training him for this fight. They…
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Murray Wilson was 72 years old
Murray Wilson, who managed Yuri Foreman to a junior middleweight world title, died of an apparent heart attack at his New York office Wednesday night. He was 72. Foreman was the only…
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Kirkland happy to be free to fight again
Junior middleweight contender James Kirkland was released from Bastrop Federal Prison outside of his hometown of Austin, Texas, on Thursday and planned to resume training immediately, co-manager Cameron Dunkin told ESPN.com. Kirkland…
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Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. gets challenger
No Miguel Cotto, no problem. Middleweight Julio Cesar Chavez Jr., hoping for a showdown with the junior middleweight star, instead will face Alfonso Gomez in the main event of a Top Rank…
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Quick hits: Hard work for Manny
The hard work is starting now as Manny Pacquiao and Antonio Margarito hunker down at their respective training camps as they prepare for their vacant junior middleweight title bout Nov. 13 (HBO…
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Quick hits: Showtime saves Super Six
? It's been a tough road for Showtime working through the ups and downs of the Super Six World Boxing Classic. We all knew when it was announced in July 2009 that…
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Quick hits: Showtime saves Super Six
? It's been a tough road for Showtime working through the ups and downs of the Super Six World Boxing Classic. We all knew when it was announced in July 2009 that…
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Manny to blame for promotional feud
I didn't have a lot of fun the other day writing about Golden Boy's federal lawsuit against Top Rank, which alleges racketeering and fraud related to millions of dollars Golden Boy contends…
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Quick hits: Cotto sits out rest of year
Faced with the prospect of a fight that didn't really get his juices flowing, junior middleweight titlist Miguel Cotto will sit out the rest of 2010 and return next year, Top Rank…
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Quick hits: Pavlik’s opponent, more
There has been a change in plans for the comeback of former middleweight champion Kelly Pavlik. Pavlik, who lost the title to Sergio Martinez via decision in April, will still fight in…
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Celestino Caballero fight set for Nov. 27
Former unified junior featherweight titlist Celestino Caballero, unable to lure a quality opponent into the ring for his second featherweight fight, is moving up in weight again to face Jason Litzau on…
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The top three pound-for-pound fighters
Who is the world's best fighter regardless of weight class? See my top 20 below. And don't forget to check out the divisional rankings, which are updated weekly. For a list of…
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Golden Boy suing Top Rank
Golden Boy Promotions sued bitter rival promotional powerhouse Top Rank, its chairman, Bob Arum, and chief financial officer David Lopez in federal court Tuesday, accusing them of racketeering and millions of dollars…
