LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - SEPTEMBER 13: Top Rank Founder and CEO Bob Arum attends a news conference announcing Top Rank Boxing's fall schedule at the KA Theatre at MGM Grand Hotel & Casino on September 13, 2019 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
Top Rank CEO, Bob Arum, is on the brink of booking several blockbusters fights this year, including a lightweight thriller between Teofimo Lopez and George Kambosos Jr. However, it might affect his other plans in staging a heavyweight showdown between Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua.
Meanwhile, Anthony Joshua’s promoter Eddie Hearn is also trying to finalize the bout, which will see him receive a massive windfall. That said, he might surpass Bob Arum on purse bids, considering that Top Rank will deploy a lot on the Lopez vs Kambosos bout. However, Bob Arum connected with Fighthype and advised Eddie Hearn on the whole scenario.
Reacting to Eddie Hearn’s possible win on purse bids, Arum replied, “Well, if that’s the case, that’s the case. Again, I think it would be very ill advised of Eddie (Hearn) to put a bid in. But if he wants to, he is free to do it. He (Eddie Hearn) is a licensed promoter.”
In the coming days, Top Rank and Matchroom might join hands to stage several big fights. Both the promotions have umpteen world champions who are on a collision course. So, Eddie Hearn and Bob Arum might need to come to terms at a certain stage.
That said, they touted a showdown between unified 135 lb champion Teofimo Lopez and WBC 135 lbs champion Devin Haney a few days back. However, Kambosos seem to have advanced in the race to bag a fight against ‘Take Over’.
But, the negotiations of the undisputed heavyweight fight can see Top Rank and Matchroom come together in a big way.
Despite having so much interest in Lopez, Arum cannot ignore the upcoming heavyweight title unification fight. Although he favors Tyson Fury for the obvious reasons, ‘Uncle Bob’ understands Anthony Joshua’s prowess.
It’s the most talked-about event in the boxing world at this stage, and it’s high time Joshua and Fury face each other inside the ring. As always, contractual turmoils could prevail and there are still concerns regarding the date and venue.
Thus, Bob Arum and Eddie Hearn still have a bit to sort out. Given the other details of the fight that have been agreed to, fans will hope that it’s just a matter of time before Tyson Fury vs Anthony Joshua is official.
Do you think Teofimo Lopez vs George Kambosos will affect the Fury vs Joshua fight?
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