By Gilbert Manzano

Top Rank promoter Bob Arum confirmed that the Vasiliy Lomachenko-Anthony Crolla weigh-in on Thursday was initially booked for Staples Center, but moved to the North Plaza at Los Angeles Convention Center to accommodate Nipsey Hussle’s memorial services.

Hussle, the late rapper and community activist, was fatally shot on March 31. Free tickets for the public memorial service at Staples Center were sold out in less than an hour. Yahoo! Sports first reported the venue change for the boxing weigh-in.

“They asked us, Staples Center, said, ‘You’re entitled to the facility for the weigh-in, but we have this memorial service and the community wanted the memorial service at Staples Center, would you be willing to move it?’ And we said, ‘Of course,’” Arum said.  

“It was not even a question because the community deserved to have a place like the Staples Center for a memorial service, and we would never stand in the way. That wasn’t even a question. Of course we were happy to accommodate.”

According to Arum, Maverick Carter, the longtime business manager for Lakers star LeBron James, called Todd duBoef, the president of Top Rank, about releasing the venue for Hussle’s funeral.

“We got a call from LeBron James’ manager, Maverick Carter, and of course we would accommodate them,” Arum said. “Todd and Maverick Carter know each other very well. They both have houses in Aspen, so they’re friends, so it was easy to do.”

The event officially known as “Nipsey Hussle’s Celebration of Life” is scheduled to run from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. on Thursday. The Lomachenko-Crolla weigh-in is scheduled for a 1 p.m. start at the nearby convention center.

Lomachenko will defend his WBO and WBA lightweight titles against Crolla at Staples Center on Friday. The main card is scheduled to air on ESPN+ at 11 p.m. EST/8 p.m. PST.