By Allen Hmiel: Time to recognize the King of Promoters in Boxing and it is Bob Arum. 80 years old and still controlling the sport of boxing like no other person ever. Practicing his trade since the 60’s the greatest showman since PT Barnum has dominated the boxing landscape like no other.
A Harvard trained lawyer, Arum has used his intelligence and business acumen to build a Boxing Empire in Top Rank promotions that seems to never stop putting on the biggest fights in boxing. Boxing’s Bob is also a member of the International Boxing Hall of Fame a much deserved and a well earned honor for his accomplishments in promoting some of the biggest fights in boxing history.
Now we see the power and reach of Arum and Top Rank as other fighters are lining up to sign with Arum and Top Rank in the hopes of getting the large paydays Boxers crave. Shane Mosley went with Arum and is rewarded with his upcoming fight with the great Manny Pacquiao. Soon, I expect the even greater Floyd Mayweather should sign with Arum and fight Pacquiao later in the fall of 2011. Will Tim Bradley the current Junior welterweight belt holder go with Top Rank to get his deserved shot at Manny Pacquiao?
Bob must be doing something right for the success to continue into his 80’s in a sport where Trust, confusion and debate are commonly questioned. Arum has built a reputation as a shrewd business man who gets his fighters the paydays they seek and deserve.
Some of Arums greatest boxing shows on earth have been the Hagler-Duran fight, the Hagler-Hearns bout-Hagler-Leonard and the Holyfield-Foreman battle. Arum promoted the great Oscar De la Hoya during his career. The track record is there and the recognition has been apparent in watching the great fights Bob Arum and Top Rank have produced over the decades. Who has done more for the sport of boxing than Bob Arum? Being aligned with Top Rank sometimes is much better than owning a title belt or being called a champion. Arum delivers big fights to his fighters and that is what a great promoter does.
Now at an age when most men have been retired for 15 years or so, Arum seems to be getting stronger and more dominant. Boxing has been rewarded and has reaped the benefits of all the hard work Bob Arum has devoted to the sport of boxing. Boxing is a great sport and has been fortunate that Top Rank and Bob Arum have given so much to the sport of champions. Thanks to Bob Arum and his Top Rank promotions, boxing fans the world over have been able to see some of the greatest fights. Hopefully it never ends.
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