Hopkins Sides With Schaefer: We Don't Need Bob Arum

By Rick Reeno

IBF/WBA light heavyweight champion Bernard Hopkins, who is also shareholder in Golden Boy Promotions, sees no reason for his company to work with Bob Arum of Top Rank.

At the moment, Golden Boy CEO Richard Schaefer, and Golden Boy President Oscar De La Hoya, are having an internal dispute regarding the "future direction" of their company. One of the main sticking points in that dispute is De La Hoya's desire to reignite a working relationship with Arum. Schaefer is holding firm on his position that he never wants to work with Arum again.

"We don't need Bob Arum, no," Hopkins said. "I wouldn't [work with him again]...for what? No. I wouldn't [work with him].....we don't need to."

"Do working with Bob Arum make multiple fights that are not being made now? You're talking about one date [Mayweather-Pacquiao], but then after that date what's up?"

Regarding Schaefer's position, Hopkins feels the Golden CEO is more than justified to rule out a future working relationship with Arum.

"They worked together and then didn't and then patched things up and then broke up and then patched things and didn't work together and then patched things up. There comes a time when you can't patch things up anymore. Just ask someone over here who's divorced," Hopkins said.

Hopkins, who is close with both Schaefer and De La Hoya, is not taking sides or involving himself in the internal dispute. The reason Hopkins is not involving himself is because both sides have apparently have hired lawyers and that makes things a little more complicated to work out on a personal level.

"The two major guys on top have to be in a conversation mood to work out whatever it is without a third, fourth or fifth party [being involved]. Nine out of ten times it's hard to get that situated when lawyers get involved. If you ever get into a dispute, don't get a lawyer first if you want to solve it quickly. Everybody will tell you that.," Hopkins said.