Dan Rafael
1,538 articles · USA Today
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Hatton-Pacquiao bout set for May 2
The month-long saga of the Ricky Hatton-Manny Pacquiao deal is finally over. The much-anticipated fight, pitting junior welterweight champ Hatton and pound-for-pound king Pacquiao, is signed, sealed and delivered, promoters Top Rank…
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Hatton, Pacquiao headed for May 2 bout
LOS ANGELES -- In a dramatic reversal of his position, pound-for-pound king Manny Pacquiao on Thursday night agreed to terms to face junior welterweight champion Ricky Hatton, Top Rank promoter Bob Arum…
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Pacquiao won’t sign; fight called off
The proposed May 2 showdown between Manny Pacquiao and junior welterweight champ Ricky Hatton is off, according to representatives for both fighters. Golden Boy CEO Richard Schaefer, who represents Hatton, told ESPN.com…
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A wish list for ’09
The new year is upon us, so here are some of the things I'd like to see in boxing in 2009: ? For the Ricky Hatton-Manny Pacquiao fight to be signed, sealed…
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Mayweather to evaluate fight possibilities, adviser says
Six months after announcing his retirement from boxing and walking away from his perch as pound-for-pound king and welterweight world champion, Floyd Mayweather Jr. has given the first indication that he is…
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Details of Hatton-Pacquiao fight close to finalization
It's just a matter of time until a Ricky Hatton-Manny Pacquiao megafight is finalized. "I think we're there. We're just mopping up little details," Top Rank's Bob Arum, Pacquiao's promoter, told ESPN.com…
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Fight generates $70M in TV revenue
If Oscar De La Hoya decides to retire, he'll go out with one more blockbuster fight in a career filled with them. De La Hoya was pummeled by Manny Pacquiao en route…
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Pacquiao following bravely in steps of other lighter-weight greats
LAS VEGAS -- When Oscar De La Hoya outpointed Javier Castillejo to win the junior middleweight championship on June 23, 2001, nobody had a clue that an obscure undercard fighter -- Manny…
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Fight with Pacquiao is personal for De La Hoya
LAS VEGAS -- Isn't it funny how things work out sometimes? After all, it was only a little more than two years ago, in September 2006, that a fight with Manny Pacquiao…
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De La Hoya-Pacquiao might be a hard sell after all
The return of your random thoughts ? ? With the economy in the toilet, it's pretty easy for fight fans to save their money and forgo an expensive pay-per-view card. It's a…
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De La Hoya signs Dundee as special consultant ahead of Pacquiao fight
Hall of Fame trainer Angelo Dundee is teaming up with the Golden Boy. Dundee, who has worked with 15 world champions, including fellow Hall of Famers Muhammad Ali, Carmen Basilio, Sugar Ray…
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Ageless Hopkins puts on masterful performance against Pavlik
ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. -- Bernard Hopkins has defied the odds for his whole life. He'll tell you that when he was serving a 4 ?-year stint in prison for armed robbery that…
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Golden Boy, Top Rank need to cut out the middleman
Your weekly random thoughts ? ? After seeing the Oscar De La Hoya-Manny Pacquiao fight sell out almost instantly and generate a gate of almost $17 million -- the second-biggest gate in…
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Sales from De La Hoya-Pacquiao produce boxing’s second-biggest gate
The Golden Boy continues to have the golden touch. Oscar De La Hoya's welterweight showdown with pound-for-pound king Manny Pacquiao on Dec. 6 sold out almost instantly after tickets went on sale…
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Sales from De La Hoya-Pacquiao produce boxing’s second-biggest gate
The Golden Boy continues to have the golden touch. Oscar De La Hoya's welterweight showdown with pound-for-pound king Manny Pacquiao on Dec. 6 sold out almost instantly after tickets went on sale…
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De La Hoya still after Mayweather Sr.
Oscar De La Hoya has spoken to Floyd Mayweather Sr. and reiterated his hope that he will train him for his Dec. 6 welterweight showdown with pound-for-pound king Manny Pacquiao. Golden Boy…
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De La Hoya still looking for trainer for Dec. fight, could share Mayweather Sr.
LAS VEGAS -- Oscar De La Hoya is in search of a third trainer in as many fights after the boxing icon held out little hope of Floyd Mayweather Sr. training him…
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Marquez feeling privileged to fight on Mexican Independence Day weekend
In the United States, Americans celebrate the 1776 Declaration of Independence from Great Britain on Fourth of July weekend. Fireworks are usually the highlight of a fun, relaxing holiday. Mexicans celebrate their…
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Oscar on his own again?
A bonus dose this week of random thoughts ? ? The news that junior welterweight champ Ricky Hatton hired Floyd Mayweather Sr., the self-described greatest trainer of all time, didn't come as…
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Sources: Barrera signs five-year promotional deal with King
Two months after severing ties with Golden Boy Promotions, former three-division world champion Marco Antonio Barrera has a new promoter: Don King. Barrera, one of Mexico's all-time great fighters, signed a five-year…
