Top Rank is looking to secure a big fight for Teofimo Lopez by having him take on Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis.
Top Rank promoter Bob Arum just recently celebrated his 93rd birthday and is still working to lead the company he founded many decades ago. Talking to Fight Hub TV, Arum breaks down the ongoing talks to stage a fight between Teofimo Lopez and Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis, Devin Haney not wanting to fight Teofimo, where things stand with Vasiliy Lomachenko’s career and more. Check out some excerpts of what Arum had to say below.
Arum on Teofimo Lopez pursuing a fight against Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis
“We’re still pursuing that fight. We’d love that fight to happen. Our people are talking with the Ennis people. We want to do as big a fight as possible for Teofimo after the beginning of the year.
“If it’s Ennis (who Lopez fights next) the best place for that fight is Madison Square Garden.”
On the difficulty in securing Lopez an opponent
“Well he’s so good they don’t want to fight him. I mean, we offered Haney the fight and Haney didn’t want it. So we’ll find the big fight for Teofimo, he’s a great talent, great personality and he’ll do very well both at the box office and on the PPV.”
On what it’s going to take to get the Boots fight over the line
“We’re all set. It’s up to the opponent and his people. I’m here in Saudi Arabia so I’m not working on it but the guys back home are ready, Jeremy are working on it everyday.”
On how he views the matchup between Teofimo and Boots
“I like Teofimo because I think he’s a real great talent, but it’s certainly a fight that’ll be close betting odds and create a lot of interest.”
On the biggest fight that can be made for Teofimo outside of Boots
“Well, maybe Haney, I think. But he seems like he doesn’t have very much interest in the fight, Haney. I don’t know, we’ll see when we get back, we’ll all meet and decide who the best available guy is and that’s who he’ll fight.”
On the status of Vasily Lomachenko
“I met with Vasiliy and his father and Egis (Klimas) a number of months ago when Loma was still living in LA, training in LA…he told me he wants to spend time with his kids and he was going back to the Ukraine and he would contact me after the new year, whether he wants to fight, who he wants to fight, so that’s the best I can do. I can’t read the guy’s mind, I don’t know which way he wants to operate. He’s in a situation where there’s a war still going on in the Ukraine so I can’t predict.”
On if he thinks Gervonta Davis would be the fight they’d target if Loma decides to continue fighting
“That would be a great fight, but there’s a lot of great fights for him. Shakur Stevenson is a great fight, Keyshawn Davis would be a great fight if Keyshawn wins a world title. So there’s a lot of good opponents.”
On Top Rank’s plans for broadcasting partners in 2025
“What we’re trying to do is homes. I mean, different networks same way as any sport does…you don’t want to be with just one network. So that’s what we’re working on now and probably sometime in January of February we’ll make an announcement. We’re still contractually bound to ESPN at this time but I think you’ll pleasantly surprised with the reach that we’ll have.”
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