Bob Arum on Chris Mannix Podcast

[KTFOKING]

NEW @SInow Boxing Pod: @KevinI is back, on Canelo’s future, YouTube fights, what boxing should do about Gervonta Davis, more; @BobArum on Fury-Wilder, working with Al Haymon and would he really sell Top Rank?

iTunes: https://t.co/RPKr7pMXhm

Spotify: https://t.co/jHgv6RMZUV

— Chris Mannix (@SIChrisMannix) February 7, 2020

Some tidbits from the interview:

-Arum is willing to sell Top Rank if he gets the right offer as long as still has a say in what the company does. Said he's received plenty of offers over the years but not the one he really likes. Said there is one person/entity that can give them what they are looking for but he doesn't want to say who. Possibly Ari Emanuel?

-Very happy that Golovkin didn't sign with ESPN since it would have been hell dealing with.

-Mikey Garcia is a great businessman but doesn't move the needle and gives everyone problems who he works with.

-Having Manny Pacquiao fight on your network and asking for 25M a fight is like getting the coronavirus LOL.

-Has had a good time working with Haymon and they call each other often and Arum was very impressed that FOX showed two Wilder vs Fury commercials and wanted Haymon to call FOX asap to thank them for doing so Ha.

-SHO has no business being in boxing and need to get out as there are only three major distributors at the moment that are to be taken serious.

-Now this part has nothing to do with Arum, but Mannix mentioned to Iole that the reason the Murata fight fell apart was once again on GBP and there lack of communication with Canelo and it was very ******. Um, Mannix continues going after GBP. Now, they may be f'ing up as he is saying or maybe he's getting stuff from Hearn who wants him to bash GBP where he becomes the lone dog at DAZN?

[Randall Cunning]

I think everyone involved with DAZN would like to cut loose Oscar.

[BigZ44]

I agree with Bob that I am ready for Showtime to get out of boxing. The PBC cards on there should be shifted over to FOX. Let the big cards go on Fox and the rest can help beef up FS1 so we don't get cards like last week with Ugas/Dallas. Somebody else can pick up the ShoBox type cards. Either more filler for DAZN or make them ESPN+ type attractions, or even better, put those kinda fights as the 3rd and 4th type matchups on DAZN cards to help fill some of those out, especially the weaker GB cards. But just like HBO, I'm ready for Showtime to end their run in boxing.

The part about saying he's had a "good time" working with Haymon is shocking to me, but gives me hopes for future collaborations and potentially Crawford fighting guys from PBC's stable.

[KTFOKING]

I agree with Bob that I am ready for Showtime to get out of boxing. The PBC cards on there should be shifted over to FOX. Let the big cards go on Fox and the rest can help beef up FS1 so we don't get cards like last week with Ugas/Dallas. Somebody else can pick up the ShoBox type cards. Either more filler for DAZN or make them ESPN+ type attractions, or even better, put those kinda fights as the 3rd and 4th type matchups on DAZN cards to help fill some of those out, especially the weaker GB cards. But just like HBO, I'm ready for Showtime to end their run in boxing.

The part about saying he's had a "good time" working with Haymon is shocking to me, but gives me hopes for future collaborations and potentially Crawford fighting guys from PBC's stable.

I don't get the SHO hate....Like AT ALL. They are getting ****ed by not getting the top cards, but nothing they can do there. But why do people want it to go away. By far the best presentation and announcing crew from any broadcast. Watching big fights on SHO is just different than watching on other networks. They still are investing big money and not because of their choice, are not getting the cards they used to put up. No one came close to the quality they gave us in 2017 and 2018.

[BigZ44]

I don't get the SHO hate....Like AT ALL. They are getting ****ed by not getting the top cards, but nothing they can do there. But why do people want it to go away. By far the best presentation and announcing crew from any broadcast. Watching big fights on SHO is just different than watching on other networks. They still are investing big money and not because of their choice, are not getting the cards they used to put up. No one came close to the quality they gave us in 2017 and 2018.

If they aren't going to get the worthwhile fights, let's condense the viewing and beef up one of the other networks instead of mediocre fights spread around a bunch of different platforms. I agree with Bob that I think 3 big networks is the right number for the US. More than that and the quality starts lacking, less than that and you risk nobody working together and no pressure to put on big fights. It's nothing personal against Showtime, but they seem to be the one of the 4 networks right now that is the most behind on quality cards. Plus it's an extra cost compared to ESPN and FOX and personally I don't watch anything else on Showtime. I'm cool with DAZN because I'm there for strictly boxing and paying a reasonable yearly fee. With Showtime you are getting 1 or 2 ****ty cards a month, PBC just needs to take their **** to all FOX networks.

I agree that Showtime probably has the best production quality. PBC should just take a lot of that crew to help on their FOX broadcasts if it goes belly up. Still wish DAZN had grabbed a bunch of the HBO guys, that was the premier production crew and that is the area DAZN struggles with the most imo.

[KTFOKING]

If they aren't going to get the worthwhile fights, let's condense the viewing and beef up one of the other networks instead of mediocre fights spread around a bunch of different platforms. I agree with Bob that I think 3 big networks is the right number for the US. More than that and the quality starts lacking, less than that and you risk nobody working together and no pressure to put on big fights. It's nothing personal against Showtime, but they seem to be the one of the 4 networks right now that is the most behind on quality cards. Plus it's an extra cost compared to ESPN and FOX and personally I don't watch anything else on Showtime. I'm cool with DAZN because I'm there for strictly boxing and paying a reasonable yearly fee. With Showtime you are getting 1 or 2 ****ty cards a month, PBC just needs to take their **** to all FOX networks.

I agree that Showtime probably has the best production quality. PBC should just take a lot of that crew to help on their FOX broadcasts if it goes belly up. Still wish DAZN had grabbed a bunch of the HBO guys, that was the premier production crew and that is the area DAZN struggles with the most imo.

But here is the thing, what you're saying can't work unless FOX increases its budget substantially. SHO still has around a 60M budget. FOX will have to pretty much double its budget to do what you're wanting them to do. And if they do? Then sure, fair play! But until that happens, then nothing will change.

Haymon is trying to build FOX and he has more upside with that deal no doubt. But that doesn't mean he can't give SHO some top level cards. Don't get me wrong, SHO still puts on some damn good underrated cards like the one on Saturday, but it's not on the level of 2017 and 2018. Co-main fights back then are becoming headliners now.

[Bob Haymon]

Dana and the guys at Endeavor might want to consider acquiring Top Rank if they're serious about getting into boxing. It seems like Arum is more than willing to sell it if the right offer is made.

[BigZ44]

But here is the thing, what you're saying can't work unless FOX increases its budget substantially. SHO still has around a 60M budget. FOX will have to pretty much double its budget to do what you're wanting them to do. And if they do? Then sure, fair play! But until that happens, then nothing will change.

Haymon is trying to build FOX and he has more upside with that deal no doubt. But that doesn't mean he can't give SHO some top level cards. Don't get me wrong, SHO still puts on some damn good underrated cards like the one on Saturday, but it's not on the level of 2017 and 2018. Co-main fights back then are becoming headliners now.

The bubble is gonna burst soon and fighters won't be making so much cash to fight bums, which will force bigger fights if they want the money or simply lower purses making it more affordable to move these fights.