Floyd Mayweather Exposes Top Rank Promoter Bob Arum: ‘I Was in a Chokehold’
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LAS VEGAS, NV – SEPTEMBER 13: Floyd Mayweather Jr. looks on while taking on Marcos Maidana during their WBC/WBA welterweight title fight at the MGM Grand Garden Arena on September 13, 2014 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)
Before becoming the modern-era cash cow of boxing, Floyd Mayweather resided under the Top Rank banner, where he began his professional career and sowed the seeds for his success. A 19-year-old Mayweather made his pro debut in 1996 with Bob Arum as his promoter and continued the journey for a decade.
By 2006, Floyd Mayweather was a renowned name and had held several world championships already. That’s when he departed from Top Rank and began promoting his own fights. While it brought enormous financial numbers for him, it also set Mayweather free from several more complications.
In interaction with Rob Moore, the five-division champion revealed the reason for his exit from Top Rank and ridiculed Bob Arum’s behavior with him. Although he didn’t take any specific name, the indications were clear towards the 88-year-old veteran promoter.
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“I feel like when I was with a certain promoter, I was in a chokehold. You know I couldn’t say the things I wanted to. I couldn’t be the person I wanted to be, I couldn’t be outspoken. And then I was able to become my own boss, promote my fights, where I wanted to promote my fights. Do certain things that I wanted to do. And you know when I did that, it was greater later,” said Floyd Mayweather.
After forming the Mayweather Promotions, the five-division champion continued his dominance for another decade. He fought the best fighters under his own banner, including the likes of Maidana, De La Hoya, Pacquiao, Mosley, Hatton, McGregor, and more. That said, Mayweather remained the undefeated champion and became one of the richest athletes in global sports.
Did Floyd Mayweather just reveal a side of Top Rank?
Mayweather isn’t the only one to have expressed dissent towards Top Rank. Several young fighters have done the same in recent times. Akin to Mayweather, Terence Crawford has also talked about his differences with Arum.
Meanwhile, unified 135 lbs champion Teofimo Lopez also had minor banter with Arum, which saw his bout against George Kambosos Jr go to purse bids where Triller claimed the rights for the title fight.
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Do you think the increase in discontent and purse bids could lead to more boxers getting inspired by Floyd Mayweather? What did you make of the former five-division world champion’s comments?
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