Top Rank Goes It Alone

By Thomas Hauser

Don’t get carried away by the title of this article. It would be a stretch to liken Bob Arum to Gary Cooper in High Noon. But in recent weeks, there has been talk of a new economic model in boxing. And Arum, in tandem with Todd DuBoef (his stepson and the president of Top Rank) might be charting a path out of the wilderness that the sweet science has wandered through in recent years.

Arum is an old-time promoter who is adapting to today’s economic and technological realities. “I don’t look back,” he says. “I’m seventy-eight years old. If I look back, I’d stumble and fall, so I just look forward.” Then he adds, “Boxing needs to move into a new era. We have to face realistically what’s going on in the world and present our product in different ways.” read more

Filed under: Bob Arum, Erik "El Terrible" Morales, Erik Morales, Floyd Mayweather, Freddie Roach, Kelly Pavlik, Manny "Pacman" Pacquiao, Miguel Cotto, Oscar de la Hoya, top rank promotions

Cotto Crushes Jennings in Five

By David Kolb

NEW YORK – In what turned out to be nothing more than an overhyped sparring session against an unproven and unknown Michael Jennings, Miguel Cotto pasted the Chorley, England product in five quick rounds at Madison Square Garden Saturday night.

Jennings, who was touted as a “top rated contender” by the publicists, proved to be nothing of the sort as he was crushed before the fight even hit the halfway point.

Cotto, who undoubtedly has had a myriad of emotions since losing to Antonio Margarito last year, looked like he had little trouble getting back in the ring after his career’s longest layoff. read more

Filed under: Bob Arum, Kelly Pavlik, Marco Antonio Rubio, Michael Jennings, Miguel Cotto, top rank promotions

Pavlik Returns to Stop Rubio on his Stool

By Gabriel Montoya

Coming into to Saturday night’s showdown at the Chevrolet Centre in Youngstown, Ohio between challenger Marco Antonio Rubio (43-5-1, 37 KOs) and Middleweight Champion Kelly Pavlik (35-1, 31 KOs), the question was what kind of set back, if any, would Pavlik following his one-sided loss to Bernard Hopkins last year. After nine one-sided rounds from a returning to middleweight form Pavlik against a reluctant Rubio, we still don’t have the answer. What we got was a better than average opponent for a tune-up fight where Pavlik boxed patiently behind a double, sometimes triple jab that set up his telephone pole of a right hand all night. Rubio for his part, fought back in sporadic spurts, offering little resistance and getting off his firepower rarely.
read more

Filed under: Bob Arum, Kelly Pavlik, Marco Antonio Rubio, Michael Jennings, Miguel Cotto, top rank promotions

Talk of Cotto-Pacquiao already ? Come on Bob, give us a break…

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By Gareth A. Davies

We all love Bob Arum. Venerable promoter in boxing. But steady on, Bob. Already talking about Manny Pacquiao versus Miguel Cotto ? Yes, it may be a mouth-watering match-up, but of course we are a long way from it happening, and both have fights to get through, first. read more

Filed under: Bob Arum, Manny Pacquiao, Miguel Cotto, Ricky Hatton, top rank promotions

Arum puts potential Pacquiao-Cotto fight up to the fighters

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by SC

When the subject of a potential clash between pound-for-pound king Manny Pacquiao and welterweight contender Miguel Cotto came up, Top Rank promoter Bob Arum says it’s “up to the fighters,” but that he’d definitely do it if they wanted to.

Cotto has Michael Jennings this Saturday in a comeback bid from his first pro loss, while Pacquiao of course has junior welterweight world champion Ricky Hatton to contend with on May 2. read more

Filed under: Antonio Margarito, Bob Arum, Manny Pacquiao, Michael Jennings, Miguel Cotto, Ricky Hatton, shane mosley, top rank promotions

Miguel Cotto Talks Jennings, Antonio Margarito, More

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boxingscene.com

Bob Arum: We have Miguel Cotto on the line. He is fighting for the vacant WBO welterweight championship on Saturday, February 21st. On the same card will be a fight between John Duddy and Matt Vanda. And then after those fights have taken place we will go to Youngstown, Ohio for Kelly Pavlik’s defense of his middleweight title against Marco Antonio Rubio. The fights are being shown on Pay-Per-View television for a suggested price of $44.95. read more

Filed under: Antonio Margarito, Bob Arum, Kelly Pavlik, Manny "Pacman" Pacquiao, Manny Pacquiao, Miguel Cotto, top rank promotions

Let’s focus on Hatton first – Arum

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By NICK GIONGCO

All the talk about Manny Pacquiao facing guys like Floyd Mayweather Jr., Shane Mosley or Antonio Margarito is driving Hall of Fame promoter Bob Arum nuts.

“It’s silly,” Arum told the Bulletin yesterday when asked about recent reports linking Pacquiao’s name to future fights with some of the most recognizable names in the star-studded welterweight division. read more

Filed under: Antonio Margarito, Bob Arum, edwin valero, Floyd Mayweather, Manny Pacquiao, pacman, Pacquiao, Ricky Hatton, shane mosley, top rank promotions

Cotto: Margarito would’ve felt pad

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By Michael Rosenthal

Miguel Cotto suggested that Antonio Margarito had to know an illegal pad was in his hand wraps before he fought Shane Mosley on Jan. 24 in Los Angeles. Cotto also said the Mexican fighter should not fight anywhere for one year after losing his license Tuesday.

The licenses of Margarito and his trainer, Javier Capetillo, were revoked by the California State Athletic Commission for at least one year after illegal, unusually hard knuckle pads were found in his hand wraps shortly before the Mosley fight. read more

Filed under: Antonio Margarito, Battle of East and West, Bob Arum, Miguel Cotto, top rank promotions