By Miguel Rivera
Top Rank CEO Bob Arum has promoted a lot of fighters in his 50 run in the sport.
Arum recently admitted that he always regretted that he never got the opportunity to promote former three division world champion Felix 'Tito' Trinidad.
Arum's company created the next Puerto Rican star, Miguel Cotto, and are now grooming Felix Verdejo to follow that lead.
Trinidad became a superstar and a multi-millionaire under rival promoter Don King, but Arum believes he could have did a better job with him
"The boxer I regret not being able to promote is Felix Trinidad. [Manager] Yamil Chade brought him me initially. But [we were unable to reach an understanding]. And then King jumped in and slyly signed him. I think I could have done a much better job with Felix Trinidad than what King accomplished with him. Of course, he ended up being a huge star anyway. But I think, well I know, I would have loved to be his promoter," Arum told Jose Sanchez.
During the interview, Arum was questioned about the possibility of promoting a 'fantasy fight' of his choosing - and which two fighters would he have matched and what would have been the outcome.
Arum would have loved to match the legendary Robert Duran against former five division champion Floyd Mayweather Jr. Arum had worked closely with both fighters.
He feels Duran was fully capable of breaking Mayweather's excellent defense. In an article that appeared on BoxingScene.com several months ago, Duran also boasted of his ability to break Mayweather's defense - and most his ribs - if they had fought in the same era.
"I would have loved to make a fight between Roberto Duran and Floyd Mayweather Jr. I think Duran would have been able to get to Mayweather and he would have kicked his ass," Arum said.
And what would have been the weight? 135, 140 or 147?
"At any damn weight that Floyd wanted," Arum laughed.