Pacquiao to retire? Crawford-Horn on tap for next year!
GL: Congrats on an action packed ESPN card the other night. Can you give us some thoughts on the card? It was a terrific show, the guys really fought well. It just shows that when promoters can promote the fights they believe the public wants to see and don’t have to go through the filter of selling a particular fight to the network you’re going to get better fights.
GL: Do you think this fight was a wake up call for Oscar Valdez in terms of fixing some of the holes he has defensively?
Bob Arum: “Yeah, I mean he’s a young fighter and he makes mistakes. I think he’s a very courageous fighter. And Servania this was his big opportunity and was there to take advantage of it.”
GL: Do you expect to bring Valdez back to Arizona similarly to how you feature Terence Crawford in Nebraska?
BA: “Yes. Of course we ran into a big college football game unfortunately. The University of Arizon is in Tuscon, but I think we still did well at the gate, I was very pleased. We had a very enthusiastic crowd. We have over 4,000 there and I think that’s pretty good for a Friday night. I think we would have done even better on a Saturday night because on Friday people are still coming home from work.”
GL: The co-main event featured two undefeated Top Rank super middleweights with Zurdo Ramirez and Jesse Hart. Can you give us some thoughts on that fight?
BA: “I thought that was going to be an even fight that would show a lot about each fighter going in and both guys rose to the occasion.”
GL: What’s going to be next for Zurdo and Valdez?
BA: “I don’t know yet we’re going to go back to the drawing board, but I would like Zurdo to fight in Mexico City. We have a big demand because people over there like the way he fought and we have been in contact with people in Mexico City who would like to do a big fight with him sometime next year.”
GL: What did you think about the Parker-Fury fight?
BA: “It wasn’t one of the great fights of all time, certainly nobody is going to compare it to Ali-Frazier, but it was a credible performance.”
GL: November 11 is your next ESPN card. What can you tell us about it?
BA: “I’m very, very excited about it. We have an IBF eliminator at light heavyweight with this crazy great puncher from Canada, Artur Beterbiev and that will probably be elevated to a title fight now since Ward has vacated. We have Magdaleno going up against Cesar Juarez who is a helluva brawler and that should be a fantastic fight, and Jose Ramirez and Mike Reed, two undefeated junior welterweights and that division is going to be open pretty soon with Terence going up in weight, so it’s a pretty damn good card.”
GL: So Terence is 100% moving up to welterweight?
BA: “Apparently yes. That’s what he’s told our people and I’m going to be meeting with him sometime this week.”
GL: Were you surprised by Andre Ward’s recent announcement to retire?
BA: “No. I think Andre, you got to understand, I think Andre is one of the smartest fighters around. He really is a smart, smart person and one thing Andre knows better than all of these people is that boxing is very dangerous and the longer you stay in the longer you risk permanent head injuries and as you become older it becomes more dangerous. I think that Andre felt that he had accomplished enough and made enough money in the sport that he can now go on to other things where he can be very prominent, make money and not risk his health and that’s in commentating. Everybody at ESPN is crazy about him as far as being a commentator.”
GL: Will Shakur Stevenson be on the November 11 show?
BA: “No, he’s going to be on the December 9 show.”
GL: That’s going to be the first time Stevenson and Conlan will be fighting on the same card, you’re getting the buzz going early for that super fight years down the road that you’re dreaming about.
BA: “Yes.”
GL: Lomachenko-Rigondeaux was a fight you once said wasn’t going to happen because Rigondeaux is a stinker. Now it’s happening because Lomo wants it. How do you feel about that fight?
BA: “I think that’s going to be a very intersting fight. It’s a fight that Lomachenko wanted very much and so did Rigondeaux. I think it’s going to be a very competitive fight and I think you’re going to see a big battle from Rigondeaux and both of these guys realize the historic implications from that fight. Two, two time Olympic Gold medalists, this is something that’s never happened before.”
GL: What’s your expectation from Lomo in that fight?
BA: “I’m the biggest Lomo fan going. I realize what a tremendous fighter he is and I know he always brings his best.”
GL: Any movement on Pacquiao?
BA: “No. Pacquiao is doing his thing politically and there’s no real movement at this point from the Manny.”
GL: When do you expect movement from the Manny?
BA: “I don’t know if there ever will be. Manny may ultimately decide to hang them up and stay in politics. He clearly had the opportunity to fight Horn in a rematch in Australia and he chose not to do the fight. Does that mean he’s decided to hang them up? I have no idea.”
GL: Will you look to manuever Crawford towards Horn?
BA: “Yes.”
GL: For his welterweight debut?
BA: “Well, Horn has another fight that we’re doing for him in Australia in December, but next year I’d like very much to do a Horn fight with Terence.”
GL: How long do you think it’s going to take for that December 9 card to sell out? With that main event and Conlan and Shakur being on the show, I expect there won’t be tickets available by fight week.
BA: “I don’t know. I’m not a real expert on that, I do think that it’s going to be sold out, but I don’t know how quickly or when it’s going to sell out.”
GL: I know Ward just made his decision, but have there been any talks with regards to moving Gvozdyk towards one of these vacant light heavyweight titles?
BA: “Yes. I think Beterbiev is going to fight for the IBF belt. In my opinion, Kovalev is there, Gvozdyk is there so we would look to have Gvozdyk fight for one of the light heavyweight titles as soon as possible. We think he’s a tremendous light heavyweight fighter.”
GL: Closing thoughts?
BA: “I’m a football fan and I’m hugely disappointed with how the Giants f^^cked up again.”
GL: All they had to do was kick those two chip shot field goals and they would have been fine.
BA: “Absolutely.”
