With the Cold War intensifying and the depletion of quality competition in the top rank stable, bob arum seems to be pushed to the wall. Recently, rumours emerged that arum and president GBP, oscar were at talks over the Cold War situation and even suggesting a PAC vs canelo fight which we all know can never take place. To this end, the CEO of GBP, Richard has come out publicly to say his boss is in dreamland if he thinks the two promotional houses can work together. Let's look at it this say.... In the past, arum has not shown sportsmanship towards the powerhouses in GBP. He has called for a boycott of their biggest fight, bad mounted their boxing home (MGM), likened their cash cow to hitler, etc. Uncle bob has shown signs of facing pressure recently. Firstly, marquez does not want a fifth fight, mikey garcia wants out, his big fighters are being courted by al Hayon, the rematches are taking a toll on the public, the PPV numbers and gate takings are dwindling just to say the least, bradley losing his PPV status. On the other hand, the only person at GBP who is willing to work with him does not have the muscle or teeth to do anything relevant. Al haymon and schiffer combination coupled with the backing of floyd mayweather is just too strong for oscar to take sides with arum on this one. I must concede that boxing and it's fans might have to suffer, but the question remains..... Had BOb arum been in the reverse position, what would he have done? Give your stiffest competitor a lifeline or systematically work them out of contention? Let's think about it this way, arum without GBP is just a few rematches away from irrelevance . Can you all remember arums demeanour during the floyd vs PAC negotiations? What about his stadium and ridiculous demands? We see what Arum does to his fighters..... Makes them sign extensions on their contracts just to get fights which they ordinarily deserve. Has anyone asked themselves what happening to the GGG fight which they claimed was 98% complete? My point is that Arum is be outplayed at his own game. If PAC does not resign with arum, that would mean he was out hustled..... I think Arum knows he is being played for the long con. I wish them the best.
I have no reason to hype Arum, but the 82 yo guy is an ATG...You know a man is great when takes alot of people to conspire against him...especially at his age :roll: Always a group of coordinated subordinates can bring down a great man...eventually the subordinates get smacked doqn by an even more dominating Alpha male than the one they replaced, part of an evolutionary need to meet the bigger challenges of the subordinates...mammals 101, it can't be changed :conf
Arum is not a saint either.... He ran 50 cent out of business on account of gamboa. It's business; nothing personal.
The saint part understood, but how did he harm 50 :huh 50 made horrible decisions on his own...Starting by his stable, matchmaking, relations with everybody
Honestly I see the end of top rank. Not the complete end but no high level stars. They'll be down to Friday night fights. But, I have a feeling Bob has a lot of money and probably is scouting the **** out of new talent. We will see how this works out.
Arum is as through as Don King. His time has expired, and he is becoming less and less relevant in the sport, as Manny as well. Out with the old, and in with the new. Boxing fans may suffer, but boxers themselves will prosper. As a fan, I don't mind taking a hit so that the athletes I admire and follow will be better represented and compensated.
