Dan Rafael chat wrap 3/17:
GGG vs. Jacobs:
- Jacobs won't miss the IBF 10 lb rehydration (like Lemieux) because he wants the IBF title and he is an honorable athlete.
- Picking GGG by KO in 5-6 rounds.
- Andy Lee's fight won't be on the PPV, but will be part of the free stream on ESPN3.com and Youtube.
- Look at how GGG fought Lemieux to see how he fights when he respects someone's power. Brook would be a poor comparison.
- GGG vs. Canelo is a bigger PPV than Canelo vs. JCC.
- HBO has said that if/when GGG has his summer fight in Kazahkstan, HBO will send their full team there.
- Predicting around 180k PPV buys. Thinks it does more than the 150k the Lemieux fight did and they should be ecstatic if this fight reaches 200k buys.
- Which MW would be the hardest fight for GGG? Hagler.
- Chocolatito's opponent has a weak resume, but is a real opponent.
- To him, the winner is the true champion at 160.
- The fight is very close to being a sell out. By tomorrow night it should be a sell out or just a few tickets left.
- GGG looked in tremendous shape. No signs of struggling to make weight. He was in a very good mood.
- Spoke with Macklin this week and said the body shot he took from GGG was the best punch he ever has been hit with.
- Does not think GGG should move to 168 as there still is business (BJS, Canelo) and history (Hopkins' 20 title defenses) at 160.
- Chocolatito is making his case to be considered the best at the lower weight classes. Others would be: Ricardo Lopez, Jimmy Wilde, Mark Johnson, Carbajal, and Chiquita.
- Better resume: Jacobs or Lemieux? Jacobs. Quillin is better than anyone Lemieux has ever beaten.
- Believes that BJS would be a very easy fight for GGG.
- How surprised would he be if Jacobs won? 7/10.
- Arum said he was once offered to promote GGG and declined.
- Charlie Fitch will be the referee.
The rest of boxing:
- Andrade didn't look particularly sharp, but he won clearly.
- Barrera is to blame for not making the Beterbiev fight. Beterbiev's promoter even gave Barrera the choice of location and some other small items as concessions.
- Lemieux's KO of Stevens was not the scariest KO he has seen. Martinez-Williams 2, Pacquiao-Hatton, Pacquiao-Marquez, Wilder-Liakhovich, Andy Lee-Carl Daniels, Donaire-Montiel, Pettaway-Brown, Hearns-Duran, Jefferson-Harris, and Tua-Ruiz were worse. Lots of Julian Jackson fights.
- Arum is trying to redo the Horn fight. Who knows if Pacquiao will do it.
- Does not see a Lemieux vs. Cotto fight happening. Lemieux won't go below 160 and Cotto won't go up to 160.
- Quigley is a good prospect. Needs to see more of him to really gauge is potential.
- Mikey Garcia is looking for a fight in June/July.
- Believes Garcia would get KO'd by Thurman.
- Quillin has been training with Virgil Hunter and will return at 168. May be back April 22 on the Porter-Berto card.
- Broner vs. Lamont Peterson would be a good fight, but don't think it happens because they are friends.
- Would Floyd vs. McGregor be like Floyd vs. Gatti? McGregor won't be that competitive.
- It is looking like we will see Floyd vs. McGregor.
- Has not talked to anyone who actually wants to see Floyd vs. McGregor.
- LSC is a great guy and really enjoys talking with fans.
- Chocolatito vs. Carbajal at 108? Sensational fight, would pick Chocolatito.
- Imam is out as a possible opponent for Crawford. Arum has sent out a first official offer to Diaz.
- Crawford's next fight will be at the Prudential Center in Newark.
- Likes watching Gervonta Davis.
- Derevyanchenko is legit and would be a good matchup vs. any MW, including GGG.
- ODH is the last fighter he can remember whose debut has as much hype as Conlan.
- Wlad and Vitali would beat Marciano easily.
- Vitali vs. Lewis had one of the worst cuts he had ever seen. It had to be stopped.
- Arum has said he has some type of TV deal in the works. You would have to be crazy to believe that TR would sign 7 Olympians and not have an avenue to show them.
:Muhfukkingchamp:
too.
