Dan Rafael

Dan Rafael

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Dan Rafael is ESPN.com's boxing writer. Rafael began writing for ESPN.com in March 2005 after working for 5 years as the boxing writer for USA Today.

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The top 3 pound-for-pound fighters

Dan Rafael, ESPN.com

Dan Rafael ranks the best boxers in the world.

Story | Conversation | December 23, 2009

Top pound-for-pound fighters

Dan Rafael, ESPN.com

Dan Rafael ranks the best boxers in the world.

ESPN Insider Story | Conversation | December 23, 2009

Pavlik doles out beating in hometown

Dan Rafael, ESPN.com

Just getting to the ring was an accomplishment in itself, but Kelly Pavlik wasn't done there. Pavlik mauled Miguel Espino in front of his Youngstown fans to get his career back on track.

Story | Conversation | December 20, 2009

Klitschko rolls; Malignaggi avenges

Dan Rafael, ESPN.com

It took a rematch on neutral ground, more savvy boxing and three competent judges scoring the fight for Paulie Malignaggi to earn the nod against Juan Diaz.

Story | Conversation | December 13, 2009

ESPN.com's divisional rankings

Dan Rafael, ESPN.com

What recent changes have been made in boxing's weight class rankings? Dan Rafael reveals his new world standings.

Story | Conversation | February 16, 2009

Johnson vows to topple Vitali

Dan Rafael, ESPN.com

Kevin Johnson feels it's his patriotic duty to bring the title back to the States, but can he do it against the seemingly indomitable Vitali Klitschko?

Story | Conversation | December 09, 2009

Bradley-Peterson makes foes of friends

Dan Rafael, ESPN.com

Timothy Bradley Jr. and Lamont Peterson, old friends who rose through the junior ranks together, share plenty of history. On Saturday, each man will try to make his own history at the other's expense.

Story | Conversation | December 08, 2009

Williams wins; Arreola bounces back

Dan Rafael, ESPN.com

Action can never be far behind the moment Paul Williams climbs into the ring. Saturday's fight-of-the-year contender with Sergio Martinez was no exception.

Story | Conversation | December 07, 2009

Martinez proves worth against Williams

Dan Rafael, ESPN.com

Who needs Kelly Pavlik? Sergio Martinez proved more than a worthy challenger in giving Paul Williams all he could handle and more in a losing effort on Saturday.

Story | Conversation | December 05, 2009

Williams up for Martinez challenge

Dan Rafael, ESPN.com

When Kelly "The Ghost" Pavlik made like his nickname and vanished, Paul Williams didn't fret. He went after the next biggest threat in Sergio Martinez.

Story | Conversation | December 03, 2009

Hopkins tops Ornelas, still eyeing Jones

Dan Rafael, ESPN.com

Despite a 14-month layoff and his 44 years, Bernard Hopkins looked sharp in a unanimous decision victory over Enrique Ornelas in what might be Hopkins' final appearance in his hometown of Philadelphia.

Story | Conversation | December 02, 2009

Hopkins has plans, but wary of Ornelas

Dan Rafael, ESPN.com

At age 44, Bernard Hopkins is carefully calculating his boxing future. But you know what they say about the best-laid plans. That's why Wednesday in Philadelphia, Hopkins' mind will be focused on the here and now: Enrique Ornelas.

Story | Conversation | December 01, 2009

Bute shines; Funeka denied decision

Dan Rafael, ESPN.com

Consider him the Super Six Classic's kryptonite: By knocking out Librado Andrade, Lucian Bute stated his case as a force to be reckoned with at super middleweight on Saturday.

Story | Conversation | November 29, 2009

Twice the drama for Bute-Andrade 2?

Dan Rafael, ESPN.com

Not every fight fan agrees with the outcome of Lucian Bute-Librado Andrade 1. No matter: The super middleweights will settle the score once and for all in their rematch on Saturday.

Story | Conversation | November 25, 2009

Ward looks sharp in cutting up Kessler

Dan Rafael, ESPN.com

Not only did Andre Ward walk away with Mikkel Kessler's super middleweight belt Saturday, he also emerged as the man to beat in the Super Six Classic.

Story | Conversation | November 22, 2009