Dan Rafael New HBO Match Maker / Is HBO Promoting without a license?

[Mars_ax]

HBO is a network that deals with promoters, predominantly Goldenboy as of late.

Surprised fat fuck got hired to do a real job inside of boxing.

Funny, that's the same thing I was thinking, why would HBO hire someone like Dan Rafael, who isn't really qualified, to be a match maker.. it doesn't make sense.

[Lance Uppercut]

HBO is a network that deals with promoters, predominantly Goldenboy as of late.

Surprised fat fuck got hired to do a real job inside of boxing.

Funny, that's the same thing I was thinking, why would HBO hire someone like Dan Rafael, who isn't really qualified, to be a match maker.. it doesn't make sense.

Why is he not qualified? He knows the sport better then any other human being.

Also the promoters aren't promoters anymore. With a few exceptions, all they do is wait for premium cable money (HBO and Showtime) so that they do not have to take any financial risk of their own. It is the reason that there are less and less fighters with local followings.

THe Money that HBO and SHowtime pay, is so so so much greater then what they could earn, putting on untelivised cards like in the old days, that no promoter wants to take any risks.

[Lance Uppercut]

The problem HBO has had is that people that are NOT boxing people are buying their fights.

Dan Rafael lives and breaths boxing. This will be a good step in the right direction for HBO

[Hulk]

HBO is a network that deals with promoters, predominantly Goldenboy as of late.

Surprised fat fuck got hired to do a real job inside of boxing.

Funny, that's the same thing I was thinking, why would HBO hire someone like Dan Rafael, who isn't really qualified, to be a match maker.. it doesn't make sense.

Why is he not qualified? He knows the sport better then any other human being.

Also the promoters aren't promoters anymore. With a few exceptions, all they do is wait for premium cable money (HBO and Showtime) so that they do not have to take any financial risk of their own. It is the reason that there are less and less fighters with local followings.

THe Money that HBO and SHowtime pay, is so so so much greater then what they could earn, putting on untelivised cards like in the old days, that no promoter wants to take any risks.

I disagree.

The man has clearly never put on a pair of gloves and boxed himself. He's the antithesis of what an athlete or fighter is.

Easy to look smart when the man picks the odds on favorite EVERY SINGLE TIME.

He's an avid Klitschko worshipper, never picks the underdog, never says anything really insightful or original.

He's great at covering the sport and getting breaking news before anyone else. He surely has a lot of contacs within boxing and is well liked. But he doesn't KNOW boxing better than anyone else alive.

[ElTerribleMorales]

HBO is a network that deals with promoters, predominantly Goldenboy as of late.

Surprised fat fuck got hired to do a real job inside of boxing.

Funny, that's the same thing I was thinking, why would HBO hire someone like Dan Rafael, who isn't really qualified, to be a match maker.. it doesn't make sense.

Why is he not qualified? He knows the sport better then any other human being.

Also the promoters aren't promoters anymore. With a few exceptions, all they do is wait for premium cable money (HBO and Showtime) so that they do not have to take any financial risk of their own. It is the reason that there are less and less fighters with local followings.

THe Money that HBO and SHowtime pay, is so so so much greater then what they could earn, putting on untelivised cards like in the old days, that no promoter wants to take any risks.

I disagree.

The man has clearly never put on a pair of gloves and boxed himself. He's the antithesis of what an athlete or fighter is.

Easy to look smart when the man picks the odds on favorite EVERY SINGLE TIME.

He's an avid Klitschko worshipper, never picks the underdog, never says anything really insightful or original.

He's great at covering the sport and getting breaking news before anyone else. He surely has a lot of contacs within boxing and is well liked. But he doesn't KNOW boxing better than anyone else alive.

i agree, i mean he's good at what he does which is reporting about the sport and i'm sure he'd make a decent analyst but only reason i think he'd make an ok match maker is due to the contacts he has

[marbleheadmaui]

HBO is a network that deals with promoters, predominantly Goldenboy as of late.

Surprised fat fuck got hired to do a real job inside of boxing.

Funny, that's the same thing I was thinking, why would HBO hire someone like Dan Rafael, who isn't really qualified, to be a match maker.. it doesn't make sense.

Why is he not qualified? He knows the sport better then any other human being.

Also the promoters aren't promoters anymore. With a few exceptions, all they do is wait for premium cable money (HBO and Showtime) so that they do not have to take any financial risk of their own. It is the reason that there are less and less fighters with local followings.

THe Money that HBO and SHowtime pay, is so so so much greater then what they could earn, putting on untelivised cards like in the old days, that no promoter wants to take any risks.

I disagree.

The man has clearly never put on a pair of gloves and boxed himself. He's the antithesis of what an athlete or fighter is.

Easy to look smart when the man picks the odds on favorite EVERY SINGLE TIME.

He's an avid Klitschko worshipper, never picks the underdog, never says anything really insightful or original.

He's great at covering the sport and getting breaking news before anyone else. He surely has a lot of contacs within boxing and is well liked. But he doesn't KNOW boxing better than anyone else alive.

i agree, i mean he's good at what he does which is reporting about the sport and i'm sure he'd make a decent analyst but only reason i think he'd make an ok match maker is due to the contacts he has

This has GOT to be a joke. I mean Dan does a fine job reporting things he is told, but a boxing expert he isn't. He hasn't the vaguest idea how styles mash or clash he has no idea how a fighter should be brought along etc. I mean a matchmaker ought to have a serious background in the sport. Dan has none.

[ElTerribleMorales]

HBO is a network that deals with promoters, predominantly Goldenboy as of late.

Surprised fat fuck got hired to do a real job inside of boxing.

Funny, that's the same thing I was thinking, why would HBO hire someone like Dan Rafael, who isn't really qualified, to be a match maker.. it doesn't make sense.

Why is he not qualified? He knows the sport better then any other human being.

Also the promoters aren't promoters anymore. With a few exceptions, all they do is wait for premium cable money (HBO and Showtime) so that they do not have to take any financial risk of their own. It is the reason that there are less and less fighters with local followings.

THe Money that HBO and SHowtime pay, is so so so much greater then what they could earn, putting on untelivised cards like in the old days, that no promoter wants to take any risks.

I disagree.

The man has clearly never put on a pair of gloves and boxed himself. He's the antithesis of what an athlete or fighter is.

Easy to look smart when the man picks the odds on favorite EVERY SINGLE TIME.

He's an avid Klitschko worshipper, never picks the underdog, never says anything really insightful or original.

He's great at covering the sport and getting breaking news before anyone else. He surely has a lot of contacs within boxing and is well liked. But he doesn't KNOW boxing better than anyone else alive.

i agree, i mean he's good at what he does which is reporting about the sport and i'm sure he'd make a decent analyst but only reason i think he'd make an ok match maker is due to the contacts he has

This has GOT to be a joke. I mean Dan does a fine job reporting things he is told, but a boxing expert he isn't. He hasn't the vaguest idea how styles mash or clash he has no idea how a fighter should be brought along etc. I mean a matchmaker ought to have a serious background in the sport. Dan has none.

exactly, i mean he's good at what he already does, he shouldn't be trying to prod himself into jobs he's not qualified for, hell i'd rather have Teddy fucking Atlas get the job over Rafael

[marbleheadmaui]

HBO is a network that deals with promoters, predominantly Goldenboy as of late.

Surprised fat fuck got hired to do a real job inside of boxing.

Funny, that's the same thing I was thinking, why would HBO hire someone like Dan Rafael, who isn't really qualified, to be a match maker.. it doesn't make sense.

Why is he not qualified? He knows the sport better then any other human being.

Also the promoters aren't promoters anymore. With a few exceptions, all they do is wait for premium cable money (HBO and Showtime) so that they do not have to take any financial risk of their own. It is the reason that there are less and less fighters with local followings.

THe Money that HBO and SHowtime pay, is so so so much greater then what they could earn, putting on untelivised cards like in the old days, that no promoter wants to take any risks.

I disagree.

The man has clearly never put on a pair of gloves and boxed himself. He's the antithesis of what an athlete or fighter is.

Easy to look smart when the man picks the odds on favorite EVERY SINGLE TIME.

He's an avid Klitschko worshipper, never picks the underdog, never says anything really insightful or original.

He's great at covering the sport and getting breaking news before anyone else. He surely has a lot of contacs within boxing and is well liked. But he doesn't KNOW boxing better than anyone else alive.

i agree, i mean he's good at what he does which is reporting about the sport and i'm sure he'd make a decent analyst but only reason i think he'd make an ok match maker is due to the contacts he has

This has GOT to be a joke. I mean Dan does a fine job reporting things he is told, but a boxing expert he isn't. He hasn't the vaguest idea how styles mash or clash he has no idea how a fighter should be brought along etc. I mean a matchmaker ought to have a serious background in the sport. Dan has none.

exactly, i mean he's good at what he already does, he shouldn't be trying to prod himself into jobs he's not qualified for, hell i'd rather have Teddy fucking Atlas get the job over Rafael

Teddy or Kevin Rooney or Joe Goosen (if he wanted the job) or Al Bernstein (if we're going the press route) or stealing the younger guy who helps out in this function at Showtime or how about an old warhorse like Manny Steward working part time training a young guy with an interest in doing this for a decade?

[JazMerkin]

Why is he not qualified? He knows the sport better then any other human being.

Also the promoters aren't promoters anymore. With a few exceptions, all they do is wait for premium cable money (HBO and Showtime) so that they do not have to take any financial risk of their own. It is the reason that there are less and less fighters with local followings.

THe Money that HBO and SHowtime pay, is so so so much greater then what they could earn, putting on untelivised cards like in the old days, that no promoter wants to take any risks.

Seriously?

He's a decent writer, but he's far too partial to particular fighters and he's never been in there or even been in a gym from an early age. He's not grown up around boxing people, so what he might see as having the makings of a good fight might not end up that way. Bear in mind that he was heavily pushing Bradley-Alexander & not Morales-Maidana. Now that reflects the view of 95% of us, but the fact remains that a professional matchmaker saw something in Morales-Maidana that had the makings of an excellent fight.

If HBO want to get a quality match-maker, they should try steal Bruce Trampler from Top Rank or something.

[Kev]

Why is he not qualified? He knows the sport better then any other human being.

Also the promoters aren't promoters anymore. With a few exceptions, all they do is wait for premium cable money (HBO and Showtime) so that they do not have to take any financial risk of their own. It is the reason that there are less and less fighters with local followings.

THe Money that HBO and SHowtime pay, is so so so much greater then what they could earn, putting on untelivised cards like in the old days, that no promoter wants to take any risks.

Seriously?

He's a decent writer, but he's far too partial to particular fighters and he's never been in there or even been in a gym from an early age. He's not grown up around boxing people, so what he might see as having the makings of a good fight might not end up that way. Bear in mind that he was heavily pushing Bradley-Alexander & not Morales-Maidana. Now that reflects the view of 95% of us, but the fact remains that a professional matchmaker saw something in Morales-Maidana that had the makings of an excellent fight.

If HBO want to get a quality match-maker, they should try steal Bruce Trampler from Top Rank or something.

I disagree strongly with this. Alexander vs Bradley to all of us had the makings of being a possible fight of the year, two of America's hottest undefeated stars. There is no matchmaker on the planet who would have said 'Hang on guys, this fight between the top two fighters in the division is going to be a stylistic clash and Alexander won't show any heart so we should scrap this idea now'.

Everybody wanted to see that fight.

Now Morales Maidana again was a complete surprise, this time the other way. Morales did what his recent form suggested he couldn't. To say that a professional matchmaker could consistently gamble on putting fights such as this on and having them work out as fight of the year candidates every time is akin to gambling all your money on the stock exchange.

Neither of these results can be attributed, either in terms of blame of praise to any matchmaker. One fight that looked great on paper turned out to be a dud, the other, which looked like a mismatch turned out to be one of the years best brawls.

But no matchmaker would have rejected Bradley Alexander, and no matchmaker could consistently gamble on Morales Maidana type matchups and have them pay off.

[Gandalf]

If those comments by Rafael are real posts then that is a bit rubbish. You are writing for a living and you are evaluating Pacquiao on a chat show as "AMMMMMMMAAAAAAAAZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZINNNNNNNNNNNNGGG G GGGGG"?

For fucks sake. Show some integrity and have some respect for the English language while you are at it.

I was being kind to him, but having read those comments I take it all back. What a silly numpty.

[Hulk]

If those comments by Rafael are real posts then that is a bit rubbish. You are writing for a living and you are evaluating Pacquiao on a chat show as "AMMMMMMMAAAAAAAAZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZINNNNNNNNNNNNGGG G GGGGG"?

For fucks sake. Show some integrity and have some respect for the English language while you are at it.

I was being kind to him, but having read those comments I take it all back. What a silly numpty.

And he's fat too.

[Mars_ax]

HBO is a network that deals with promoters, predominantly Goldenboy as of late.

Surprised fat fuck got hired to do a real job inside of boxing.

Funny, that's the same thing I was thinking, why would HBO hire someone like Dan Rafael, who isn't really qualified, to be a match maker.. it doesn't make sense.

Why is he not qualified? He knows the sport better then any other human being.

Also the promoters aren't promoters anymore. With a few exceptions, all they do is wait for premium cable money (HBO and Showtime) so that they do not have to take any financial risk of their own. It is the reason that there are less and less fighters with local followings.

THe Money that HBO and SHowtime pay, is so so so much greater then what they could earn, putting on untelivised cards like in the old days, that no promoter wants to take any risks.

No offense Lance, but if you believe Dan Rafael knows more about boxing then any other human being, you are either:

#1. Dan Rafael

#2. Someone who's easily impressed, and doesn't have their facts straight.

#3. Someone who's new to the sport of boxing and knows little about it.

#4. Dan's mother.

[Hulk]

HBO is a network that deals with promoters, predominantly Goldenboy as of late.

Surprised fat fuck got hired to do a real job inside of boxing.

Funny, that's the same thing I was thinking, why would HBO hire someone like Dan Rafael, who isn't really qualified, to be a match maker.. it doesn't make sense.

Why is he not qualified? He knows the sport better then any other human being.

Also the promoters aren't promoters anymore. With a few exceptions, all they do is wait for premium cable money (HBO and Showtime) so that they do not have to take any financial risk of their own. It is the reason that there are less and less fighters with local followings.

THe Money that HBO and SHowtime pay, is so so so much greater then what they could earn, putting on untelivised cards like in the old days, that no promoter wants to take any risks.

No offense Lance, but if you believe Dan Rafael knows more about boxing then any other human being, you are either:

#1. Dan Rafael

#2. Someone who's easily impressed, and doesn't have their facts straight.

#3. Someone who's new to the sport of boxing and knows little about it.

#4. Dan's mother.

OR

#5.Being held captive by Dan a la Princess Leya under Jabba the Hut and about to be Dan's lunch.

[Spicoli]

I don't know about this yeh. Maybe in a unofficial capacity, more an adviser but wouldn't he have to quit the writing gig? The appearances on FNF and elsewhere doing commentary less it be seen as a simple commercial with an agenda? Dan knows his stuff but serves the sport far better as a semi independent voice rather then going over to the diva network. How many bridges has he burned when it comes to different fighters also, not known to bite his tongue really.