Dan Rafael
1,538 articles · USA Today
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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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Berto diagnosed with biceps tear
Welterweight titlist Andre Berto suspected that he had torn his left biceps in either the first or second round of his defense against Carlos Quintana on Saturday night in Sunrise, Fla., and…
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Berto successful in fight for cause
SUNRISE, Fla. -- Andre Berto's life has changed quite a bit in the 11 months since his last fight, a lopsided decision against Juan Urango. Since then, Berto prepared to fight the…
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Back forces Rigondeaux to withdraw
Junior featherweight Guillermo Rigondeaux, a two-time Cuban Olympic gold medalist who defected last year and is one of boxing's top prospects, injured his back and withdrew Wednesday from his fight on Saturday…
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Pacquiao’s star power can’t be denied
Your weekly random thoughts... ? The growth of Manny Pacquiao into a true megastar is nothing short of remarkable. For those of you who have said (and lots of you have) that…
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Morales hopes for successful comeback
After Erik Morales lost a close, grueling decision to then-lightweight titlist David Diaz in August 2007, he announced his retirement. Morales -- who had clearly lost a step by that time --…
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Margarito to make return in Mexico
Former welterweight titleholder Antonio Margarito is coming back, presumably without trying to load his gloves this time. Margarito (37-6, 27 KOs) will make his ring return against untested Roberto Garcia (28-2, 21…
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Pacquiao-Clottey earns big PPV bucks
Manny Pacquiao's lopsided unanimous decision against Joshua Clottey generated 700,000 pay-per-view buys and $35.3 million in domestic television revenue, HBO PPV's Mark Taffet said Tuesday. The pound-for-pound king routed Clottey to retain…
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After election, who’s next for Manny?
Now that pound-for-pound king Manny Pacquiao has easily outpointed Joshua Clottey in a stunningly one-sided decision win on Saturday night at Cowboys Stadium, he's headed back to the Philippines to run for…
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Soto edges Diaz; Duddy wins
ARLINGTON, Texas -- Humberto Soto, a reigning junior lightweight titleholder, moved up from 130 to 135 pounds to outslug and outbox former titleholder David Diaz to claim a vacant lightweight title via…
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Bradley reaches agreement with HBO
GRAPEVINE, Texas -- Junior welterweight titlist Timothy Bradley Jr., the No. 1-rated 140-pounder in the world since pound-for-pound king Manny Pacquiao's exit from the division, has been fighting on Showtime while rival…
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Cowboys Stadium the right fit for fight
GRAPEVINE, Texas -- They say everything is bigger in Texas, and Top Rank promoter Bob Arum thinks big. So it seemed only natural that Arum, along with his new best buddy, Dallas…
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Clottey, trainer find resolve as subs
Joshua Clottey was in his native Ghana in January not even thinking about boxing when he got the call from manager Vinny Scolpino. The Manny Pacquiao-Floyd Mayweather Jr. negotiations had imploded, and…
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Arum discusses fights in the works
GRAPEVINE, Texas -- When Top Rank's Bob Arum promotes a big fight, like he's doing in advance of Saturday night's Manny Pacquiao-Joshua Clottey welterweight title bout at Cowboys Stadium, he loves to…
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Mosley, Mayweather bring out fans in force
WASHINGTON -- Your weekly random thoughts … • Wednesday in the nation's capital was a nasty, rainy, cold day, so I wasn't sure what to expect in terms of turnout when I…
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Clottey confident Pacquiao plays by the rules
As the year began, the attention of the boxing world was on the negotiations between Top Rank and Golden Boy, rival promoters who were attempting to finalize the biggest fight in the…
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Mosley, Mayweather ready to hit the road
The Shane Mosley-Floyd Mayweather Jr. welterweight championship fight on May 1 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas looms as the biggest fight of the year unless the winner winds up facing…
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Morel handed title in dubious decision
Saturday at Las Vegas Junior bantamweight Nonito Donaire KO3 Manuel Vargas Records: Donaire, 23-1, 15 KOs; Vargas, 26-5-1, 11 KOs Rafael's remark: With his country's hero Manny Pacquiao at ringside, Donaire --…
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No Margarito return on Pacquiao card
Top Rank has scrapped its plan for disgraced former welterweight titlist Antonio Margarito to make his comeback March 13 as the co-feature on the Manny Pacquiao-Joshua Clottey pay-per-view undercard at Cowboys Stadium…
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Donaire trying to focus on here and now
Whether Nonito Donaire faces Gerson Guerrero or last-minute substitute Manuel Vargas, it doesn't really matter. The "Filipino Flash" is supposed to win. He knows it. Manager Cameron Dunkin knows it, and Top…
