This past weekend Bob Arum celebrated his 93rd birthday. On Saturday night he was ringside at the Footprint Center in Phoenix, Arizona where he saw Emanuel Navarette defeat Oscar Valdez for the second time. The man lives to work, and works to live. There was nowhere else he would've rather been.
For Top Rank it's their final show of the year.
It's widely known that their current deal with ESPN, which began in 2017, will be coming to a conclusion in July. As they turn the calendar to 2025, finding a new television partner (or two) is among their main priorities.
Mikey Williams/Top Rank
But Arum says that this business isn't being handled by him. He told SNAC.com on Tuesday these discussions with various platforms are being conducted by Creative Artist Agency. "The same guys who negotiated the SEC (Southeastern Conference) billion dollar contact and they're handling Top Rank as we go ahead. They'll come to us with the best possible scenario."
What's interesting is that their next deal will not be exclusive to one network, as has been the case with their current partnership with ESPN. Arum says it's something that he prefers for his stable of boxers.
"We've passed on certain meritorious fighters because we had no room for them," said Arum, who states that the goal is to have a smooth transition from ESPN to wherever they land with their contest. The goal is not have their schedule interrupted.
"That'll probably be the case,'' confirmed Arum. "ESPN, if one of the outlets wants to start earlier, I'm sure they wouldn't prevent it."
Top Rank
When asked if he ruled out staying at ESPN in some form, the veteran promoter stated, "No, we've had a good relationship with them, but I don't know if they have the bandwith to take on the entire package." Throughout this deal ESPN+ has been utilized to broadcast some of their shows. On December 24 they will provide live coverage of Naoya Inoue-Sam Goodman from Japan.
Meanwhile, as for the fights this past weekend, Navarette dominated the rematch with Valdez, in defense of his WBO junior lightweight title. It's clear that 130 is where he belongs. Now, the question is will he unify against WBC titlist, O'Shaquie Foster, who is also rep'd by Top Rank?
"I think it's possible," answered Arum. "Whether it happens or not, you've got to talk to the fighters. (Carl) Moretti (Top Rank's VP of Boxing Operations) is off to Germany (for the WBC convention), when he gets back we'll talk to everybody and figure out what the best moves are."
Mikey Williams/Top Rank
In the night's co-main event, Robeisy Ramirez made the decision to end his fight versus Rafael Espinoza in the beginning of round six, claiming that elbows caused an injury -- later reported as broken right orbital bone --to his eye.
''Well, double-vision meant that it was a big warning signal for him, and you can't fight if you have double-vision. So I think he did the correct thing," said the founder of Top Rank.
It was another night at the office for Arum. By next week, he'll be in Saudi Arabia tending to business as Tyson Fury attempts to regain his heavyweight title from Oleksandr Usyk.
VALDEZ
As for Valdez, as he was sent to the canvas three times by Navarette, and counted out from a body shot, it was only natural to think if this was the end for this hard-nosed warrior. He's been plying his trade professionally since 2012, and it's been a career filled with tough fights, title victories, and more than a few bucks made.
It's been a productive run, but one that inevitably takes a toll on a fighter. Who can ever forget the broken jaw Valdez fought through on that rainy night in Carson, California, versus an overweight Scott Quigg?
''We love Oscar, all of his fights have been with us,'' Arum said. "So we want to give them time to figure out what they want to do. Oscar's a wonderful young man -- we'll he's not that young any more -- but we consider him a good friend. We're not going to press him. Let's figure out what he wants to do."
Mikey Williams/Top Rank
For the record, Valdez is now 33.
Frank Espinoza, who has managed Valdez throughout his career told SNAC.com, "I think it's too early (to make a decision). I told him that we'll talk. Go home, enjoy Christmas and the holidays with the family. Then we'll talk next year. I wont be the one that makes that decision. It will come from Oscar, whatever he wants to do. I'll respect it."
The beat goes on for the Espinoza Boxing Club, as this weekend at the Toyota Arena in Ontario, California, they have Raul Curiel facing Alexis Rocha in a pivotal welterweight contest promoted by Golden Boy Promotions.
Golden Boy Promotions
"This is the fight we've been waiting for and looking for," said Espinoza. "I think after this fight and Curiel beats Rocha, this will elevate him to the next level. To me, this was a great decision for us to go ahead and take this fight to find out where he's at."
3KR
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FINAL FLURRIES
Speaking of ESPN+, they are streaming Jaime Munguia's fight this Saturday from Mexico....'MJ' Akhmadaliev is part of a card that is on DAZN that afternoon in Monaco.... Arum confirmed that there are talks for a Jaron Ennis-Teofimo Lopez bout. When asked if he was confident in getting it across the line, he said bluntly: "I'm not confident till it happens. I certainly hope it will."....I enjoyed the Pete Rose documentary on HBO. In my view, it was fair...I can be reached at k9kim@yahoo.com....
