Dan Rafael suspects Paramount’s tight-lipped stance on the audience numbers for Ryan Garcia against Conor Benn signals a weak return on Zuffa Boxing’s massive financial commitment.

When Rafael reached out to network publicists for viewership data, he was met with complete radio silence. That lack of transparency led him to conclude the numbers missed internal targets, even though he lacks official data or direct confirmation from network executives.

“I didn’t even get a response. I mean, that to me was the biggest tell of all,” Rafael said to Total Boxing. “They were embarrassed by the numbers, I’m sure, for that fight.”

Putting Garcia in with Benn was designed to prove Zuffa’s ability to pull serious traffic by utilizing bankable headliners. Rafael acknowledges that fresh promotional outfits require runway to grow a following, yet he contends this specific headliner carried far loftier expectations. Benn had secured what Rafael termed astronomical pay for a prior Netflix undercard slot before stepping into the Paramount ring against Garcia.

“They had expectations to get some big bang for their buck,” Rafael noted.

With Paramount keeping the data sealed, the actual viewership remains anyone’s guess. Rafael’s view relies strictly on the hefty fighter purses, the brand value of the headliners, and the total lack of feedback to his media inquiries.

Still, Rafael praised Paramount for offering Garcia versus Benn to base subscribers without tacking on a pay-per-view fee.

His deeper critique targets the overall calendar. Rafael sees quality in-ring action on Zuffa’s preliminary bills, yet he likens the lower-profile lineups to the vintage ESPN2 Friday Night Fights broadcasts. A dedicated subscription platform must deliver steady marquee attractions to keep accounts active between developmental shows.

Rafael also pointed to Zuffa’s schedule leaning heavily toward UK venues and upcoming Saudi cards through the back half of the year, contending the promotion practically vacated the American territory throughout that run.

Paramount faces a steep climb that requires more than sporadic name-brand attractions. The platform must supply subscribers with consistent reasons to maintain memberships, while its costliest main events must generate figures the network can proudly broadcast.

Floyd Mayweather has recently confirmed he still intends to rematch Manny Pacquiao, and the American has also declared that he believes another return fight is on the cards.

Mayweather-Pacquiao II was scheduled to take place in September following an announcement for the event from Netflix, until Mayweather’s legal issues caused it to be cancelled.

It is still believed that the pair will meet again in 2027, with ‘TBE’ willing to put his famous 50-0 professional record on the line, despite what will be a decade-long spell of professional inactivity when he returns to the ring.

Meanwhile, Pacquiao made his comeback in July 2025 and is currently being linked to a return to action on the Tyson Fury vs Anthony Joshua undercard in December, where he has been mentioned for a fight with two-time world champion Joe Cordina.

On the PBD PodcastMayweather revealed that a second showdown with Pacquiao is not the only rematch on his mind, admitting his interest in another battle with UFC superstar Conor McGregor.

“I actually think that me and Conor McGregor may lock up again, actually, absolutely.”

Mayweather beat McGregor by 10th round stoppage when they met in August 2017. The Irishman returned to fight in the UFC for the first time since 2021 when he faced Max Holloway earlier this year, but a knee injury brought the contest to an early end.

Continuing, 49-year-old Mayweather explained why a boxing bout with him would be a viable option for the Irishman next year.

“He didn’t break his hand, he broke his foot, right? Okay, well we going from the shoulders.”

Mayweather also reiterated his plans to face heavyweight legend Mike Tyson in an exhibition before the end of the yearin order to help him prepare for a professional comeback in 2027.

Ben Davison has once again come under fire in the days that have followed Fabio Wardley’s defeat to Daniel Dubois. Two-time heavyweight world champion Tyson Fury has shared his thoughts on his former trainer’s decision to throw in the towel.

Davison trained Fury for the first five bouts following his 2018 comeback, but was replaced by SugarHill Steward – whom ‘The Gypsy King’ has remained with ever since – for the iconic rematch with Deontay Wilder in 2020.

Since training Fury for his first meeting with Wilder, which ended in a draw, Davison has been on the losing side in four heavyweight world title bouts, cornering Anthony Joshua and Fabio Wardley, who both lost to Dubois, and Moses Itauma, who was defeated by Filip Hrgovic.

Saturday night was the latest of these defeats, as Dubois stopped Wardley inside two rounds in their rematch to retain the WBO heavyweight world title. On his InstagramFury described Dubois’ performance as ‘awesome’.

“It was absolutely awesome. Daniel Dubois just went straight to him and set about him. Wardley likes to throw hooks and Daniel threw straights and a straight always gets there first, before the hook.

“So, fair play to Dan and his team, to Don Charles and the rest of the guys in the corner. They did a fantastic job.”

Fury then said that Davison’s decision to intervene and ‘save Fabio Wardley from himself’ was a good one, perhaps learning a lesson from the first encounter, which saw his fighter take a sound beating before the eventual eleventh-round stoppage.

“It was good work by Ben Davison to throw the towel in, in my opinion. The last time he [Wardley] took too much punishment for my liking, he should have threw it in earlier.

“This time, people are complaining about it being too soon but I don’t think that Fabio was in any position to keep taking bombs around the head. I thought it was a good decision to throw the towel in early and save him from himself.

“He has got some chin on him, I will tell you that. ‘Triple D’ is a dynamite puncher and he was taking them flush and still standing, so credit to Fab’s chin.”

Davison will train Anthony Joshua against Fury on Friday, December 11, as he looks to score a first win as a trainer in a heavyweight world title contest, which would simultaneouslysee ‘AJ’ become a three-time champion of the division.