Dan Rafael
1,538 articles · USA Today
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Jose Zepeda Tries For Third Time To Be World Champ
By Dan Rafael
Jose Zepeda has had two opportunities to fight for a world title but lost both times, the only defeats of his career. Now he has a third title shot at hand and…
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Canelo Outpoints Golovkin To Retain In Trilogy Fight
By Dan Rafael
LAS VEGAS – The Canelo Alvarez-Gennadiy Golovkin trilogy, which produced two classic fights and a pair of controversial decisions, ended with a whimper, but at least with a definitive conclusion in fight…
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Mark Magsayo Ready For Vargas To Box- Not Fight Him
By Dan Rafael
Mark Magsayo has studied Rey Vargas and he has seen what is obvious, that while Vargas is a quality technical boxer he rarely likes to mix it up. WBC featherweight titleholder Magsayo…
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Oscar Valdez-Shakur Stevenson On Point At Raucous Weigh-In
By Dan Rafael
LAS VEGAS – Junior lightweight titleholders Oscar Valdez and Shakur Stevenson went face-to-face one last time during an extended staredown during which they jawed at each other after weighing in on Friday…
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Eddie Hearn-Jake Paul Make Million Dollar Wager
By Dan Rafael
During Thursday’s final pre-fight news conference for the women’s super fight between undisputed lightweight champion Katie Taylor and seven-division titlist Amanda Serrano, their promoters raised the stakes of the fight on Saturday…
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With Casimero Out Paul Butler Will Face Sultan For WBO Title
By Dan Rafael
John Riel Casimero will not be permitted to defend his WBO bantamweight title against mandatory challenger and former titlist Paul Butler in a fight rescheduled from Dec. 11 in Dubai to Saturday…
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Errol Spence On Facing Ugas- “I Want Knockout”
By Dan Rafael
After Errol Spence Jr. and Yordenis Ugas both easily made weight on Friday they stood and briefly stared directly into each other’s eyes. There was no trash talk, no pushing or shoving.…
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Joe Smith Jr. finally set for maiden world title defense against Geffrard, eyes Bivol, Beterbiev and Canelo
By Dan Rafael
At this point, WBO light heavyweight titleholder Joe Smith Jr. figures him and his opponent might as well be placed in bubble wrap to make sure nothing happens between now and fight…
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EXCLUSIVE: Ryan Garcia discusses lightweight rivals, rates his top four
By Dan Rafael
While lightweight star Ryan Garcia will be sidelined while rehabilitating his injured right hand and wrist that he had surgery in October until his planned return on April 2, he paid close…
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EXCLUSIVE: With Kambosos unlikely, Ryan Garcia targets Isaac Cruz
By Dan Rafael
By the time lightweight star Ryan Garcia returns to the ring, it will have been more than a year since his last fight, and he can’t wait. Golden Boy Promotions is planning…
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EXCLUSIVE: Conor Benn wants Adrien Broner, doubts ‘retiring’ Amir Khan
By Dan Rafael
Rising welterweight contender Conor Benn, having aced a supposed test against Chris Algieri on Dec. 11, is aiming for the bigger names in the division. They might not necessarily be in a…
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Appeal opens door for Errol Spence Jr. three-belt welterweight unification
By Dan Rafael
A personal appeal from welterweight contender Eimantas Stanionis to the WBA convinced the sanctioning body to re-think its mandatory order, which has paved the way for a three-belt unification fight between IBF/WBC…
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Terence Crawford scores career-defining 10th-round stoppage against Shawn Porter
By Dan Rafael
LAS VEGAS – For years, three-division world champion Terence Crawford has been widely viewed as one of the best pound-for-pound fighters in the world but he had yet to have a truly…
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TERENCE CRAWFORD IS NOT IN A HURRY TO RENEW HIS CONTRACT – AND NEITHER IS BOB ARUM
By Dan Rafael
As Terence Crawford heads into the highest-profile fight of his career, one of the subplots is his impending free agency. The three-division world champion defends his WBO welterweight belt for the fifth…
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BOB ARUM SEES CRAWFORD-PORTER AS A FUTURE CLASSIC AND A THROWBACK TO THE ’80S
By Dan Rafael
Top Rank chairman Bob Arum has been promoting fights for 55 years and has put on many of the biggest fights in boxing history. During the 1980s, he promoted many welterweight championship…
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CRAWFORD LEAVES BEHIND THE HEARTBREAK OF HIS FAILED FIGHT WITH PACQUIAO TO FOCUS ON PORTER
By Dan Rafael
Terence Crawford has certainly experienced the ups and downs of the boxing business at the highest level. At one point earlier this year, Crawford, long one of boxing’s elite pound-for-pound best, thought…
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Canelo vs. Plant Pay Per View numbers prove P4P King’s star power
By Dan Rafael
Until pound-for-pound king Canelo Alvarez knocked out Caleb Plant in the 11th round last Saturday night at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas in the main event of a Showtime…
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Jessie Vargas running for U.S. Congress with Liam Smith fight brewing
By Dan Rafael
When former two-division world titlist Jessie Vargas knocked out Sadam Ali in the ninth round to claim the WBO welterweight belt in March 2016, he did so at the DC Armory in…
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CANELO ALVAREZ AND CALEB PLANT KEEP GRUDGE GOING DURING INTENSE PUBLIC WEIGH-IN
By Dan Rafael
LAS VEGAS – Fans were permitted into a weigh-in Nevada for the first time since the start of the coronavirus pandemic and they turned out in force to see Canelo Alvarez and…
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CANELO AND EDDY REYNOSO BELIEVE SHORT-TERM PROMOTIONAL DEALS ARE KEY TO LANDING BIG FIGHTS
By Dan Rafael
LAS VEGAS – As far as Canelo Alvarez and manager/trainer Eddy Reynoso are concerned their dealings with Premier Boxing Champions chief Al Haymon have been first class and they hope to work…