Arum Planning a Split-Feed Show With Four Title Fights
By Ronnie Nathanielsz
Top Rank promoter Bob Arum is planning something excitingly different if Solar Sports and GMA 7 agree. That is to stage two world title fights in Las Vegas and two title fights at the famed Araneta Coliseum Manila on the same date, August 22, with back-to-back telecasts.
The change in the original plan to stage four world title fights in the home of the San Francisco Giants where Filipino boxing hero Manny Pacquiao was a big hit prior to the Ricky Hatton fight when he threw the ceremonial pitch, was prompted by the non-availability of the AT&T Park where an exhibition baseball game has been scheduled on the same date.
Under the Arum plan IBF flyweight champion Nonito “The Filipino Flash” Donaire who earlier relinquished his IBO 112 pound belt would move up to challenge recently crowned WBO super flyweight champion Jose “Carita” Lopez (39-7-2, 32 KO’s) of Puerto Rico while IBF light flyweight champion Brian Viloria will defend his newly-won title against an opponent still to be named.
Two other Filipinos were also scheduled on the card with WBO minimum weight champion Donnie Nietes defending his crown against Manuel Vargas of Mexico and featherweight Bernabe Concepcion battling WBO champion Steven Luevano for Luevano's world title.
Concepcion was supposed to face Luevano on the under-card of the Pacquiao-Hatton showdown at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas last May 2 but an injury to Luevano in training forced a postponement of the title fight.
In an overseas telephone conversation with BoxingScene.com, insidesports.ph, Standard Today and Viva Sports, Arum said “ I am waiting to hear from GMA 7 and Solar Sports who are supposed to send me a proposal.”
Solar Sports CEO Peter Chanliong confirmed the plans but said he was waiting for a response from the GMA 7 TV network people before he could get back to Arum and take the negotiations one step closer to realization.
Arum told boxing writer Steve Kim that the idea of a split feed from two venues came from the television people in the Philippines and he conceded it never occurred to him and “the more I thought about it, I thought what a spectacular idea it was.”
Arum indicated that if the idea pushed through they would have to make some tough decisions on which fights will be in the US and which two fights would be held at the Araneta Coliseum where the highly successful “The Flash and The Furious” card took place last April 19. In that blockbuster card Donaire retained his title with a 4th round TKO over undefeated Raul “Cobra” Martinez and Viloria won the IBF title with a spectacular 11th round knockout over Ulises Solis of Mexico.
The cost of bringing in featherweight champion Luevano who is better known in the US than the Philippines and a challenger to Donaire compared to the cost of bringing in a challenger for Viloria who won the hearts of Filipinos once again with his win over Solis and Nietes may eventually tilt the balance in favor of staging the Viloria and Nietes title defenses in Manila.
Chanliong told us that the cost factor will impact on the decision regarding what fights to stage in Manila should the project push through.
