“Dan is an award-winning boxing authority and one of the most respected and dedicated boxing writers in the industry, and we are thrilled that he will continue to lead our efforts in this time-honored sport,” said Patrick Stiegman, vice president and editorial director of ESPN Digital & Print Media. “Whether he’s breaking news or covering big fights or driving the conversation through his reporting and commentary, Dan continues to distinguish himself among boxing journalists — and we are proud that he will keep building on that legacy at ESPN.”
Under the new agreement, Rafael will continue to serve as boxing writer and analyst for ESPN.com and all digital properties, contribute to ESPN The Magazine, and appear on SportsCenter and other ESPN television and audio shows. He will also collaborate with the network’s boxing commentators on special coverage of major boxing events throughout the year.
“For the past 16 years I have had the thrill of a lifetime to cover professional boxing, including the past 11 for ESPN, and I am truly excited to do it for years to come for a great company. ESPN has a big commitment to boxing, and I am honored to be part of it, along with my hard-working editors, and I appreciate the resources we have been given. I am very thankful to John Kosner, Executive Vice President, ESPN Digital & Print Media, and to Patrick Stiegman for the opportunity to keep doing what I love to do.”
Considered one of the most renowned boxing reporters, Rafael has been covering the sport since 2000 and for ESPN since 2005. While working with the company, he was awarded the Nat Fleischer Award for Career Excellence in Boxing Journalism from the Boxing Writers Association of America in 2013.
Prior to joining ESPN, he served as the boxing writer for USA Today. He started his career as a sportswriter in 1993 covering a variety of sports, including minor league baseball and college and high school sports, for newspapers in Saratoga Springs, N.Y., and Binghamton, N.Y.
