1 00:00:01,240 --> 00:00:03,000 Speaker 1: Well, it is my great pleasure to welcome for the 2 00:00:03,000 --> 00:00:05,280 podcast this week. It's one of the legends of boxing, 3 00:00:05,759 --> 00:00:08,800 none other than Top Rank Chairman Bob Aram. Bob, it's 4 00:00:08,839 --> 00:00:10,160 great to have you on the show. We got so 5 00:00:10,240 --> 00:00:12,279 much to talk about. You've been a busy man, got 6 00:00:12,279 --> 00:00:13,960 a lot of great cards, a lot of great fights, 7 00:00:13,960 --> 00:00:15,640 a lot of stuff that just happened, a lot of 8 00:00:15,679 --> 00:00:17,679 stuff that's coming up, and I thought it's a great 9 00:00:17,679 --> 00:00:19,960 time to discuss it with you. So thank you for 10 00:00:20,000 --> 00:00:20,760 doing this and welcome. 11 00:00:21,800 --> 00:00:22,640 Speaker 2: Thank you very much. 12 00:00:23,440 --> 00:00:25,239 Speaker 1: You bet all right. Well, I guess the biggest thing, Bob, 13 00:00:25,320 --> 00:00:27,600 is what just happened in the most recent event that 14 00:00:27,679 --> 00:00:29,480 Top Rank was involved in, and that was, of course, 15 00:00:29,519 --> 00:00:32,640 the undisputed light heavyweight championship fight that took place in 16 00:00:32,640 --> 00:00:36,439 Saudi Arabia, where the result was your fighter, Arthur better 17 00:00:36,479 --> 00:00:39,320 beev by a very close decision over Dmiti bievol To 18 00:00:39,359 --> 00:00:42,079 become the undisputed a light heavyweight champion of the world 19 00:00:42,359 --> 00:00:45,920 in a very fascinating fight. Some controversy, I mean, I 20 00:00:45,920 --> 00:00:48,000 think some of it's overblown. I'm gonna gas your opinion 21 00:00:48,039 --> 00:00:50,679 about that. But first and foremost, what did you think 22 00:00:50,719 --> 00:00:55,039 about the accomplishment that better beev accomplished by unifying the 23 00:00:55,079 --> 00:00:56,719 four belt. That's what he's wanted for a long time. 24 00:00:56,759 --> 00:00:59,200 It's what Beevol has wanted, and your guy was able 25 00:00:59,240 --> 00:01:02,159 to get the job done. Close as it was, I. 26 00:01:02,240 --> 00:01:07,799 Speaker 3: Think it was a terrific battle between two really outstanding 27 00:01:08,959 --> 00:01:11,359 light heavyweight fighters. 28 00:01:12,680 --> 00:01:13,239 Speaker 2: Who had. 29 00:01:14,920 --> 00:01:22,879 Speaker 3: Different fight styles, and that made it a really interesting 30 00:01:23,439 --> 00:01:24,239 fight to watch. 31 00:01:25,359 --> 00:01:28,319 Speaker 1: So now, you usually travel for your big fights, but 32 00:01:28,799 --> 00:01:30,560 you were not present because I know you were back 33 00:01:30,599 --> 00:01:34,200 home observing the Jewish holidays when that was happening. So 34 00:01:34,239 --> 00:01:38,840 I wonder, yeah, exactly, So I wonder as you instead 35 00:01:38,879 --> 00:01:40,799 of in your usual spot at ringside, as you were 36 00:01:40,840 --> 00:01:44,200 watching I am sure on ESPN Plus, what was your 37 00:01:44,239 --> 00:01:47,040 perspective on the rightful winner of the fight, Because to me, anyway, 38 00:01:47,280 --> 00:01:48,799 I scored to fight a draw, but I could one 39 00:01:48,840 --> 00:01:51,719 hundred percent see absolutely there be of winning by a 40 00:01:51,760 --> 00:01:54,719 close decision. And likewise with if somebody wants to tell 41 00:01:54,760 --> 00:01:56,760 me that they thought people won by you know, a 42 00:01:56,799 --> 00:01:58,439 seven to five kind of decision, what was your take 43 00:01:58,519 --> 00:01:59,079 watching it live? 44 00:02:00,159 --> 00:02:02,799 Speaker 2: Well, I you know, I thought Pete Beetoff won the fight. 45 00:02:03,840 --> 00:02:04,640 I added. 46 00:02:06,040 --> 00:02:09,879 Speaker 3: Seven to five for better be of particularly because he 47 00:02:10,039 --> 00:02:14,400 came on in the late rounds to sweep the late rounds, 48 00:02:14,759 --> 00:02:17,919 which he had to do to win the fight. I 49 00:02:18,000 --> 00:02:22,599 think before people make any judgment about the fight, they 50 00:02:22,639 --> 00:02:26,080 should look at the judges' score cards. I mean, the 51 00:02:26,199 --> 00:02:30,879 three judges had ten rounds identical. 52 00:02:31,319 --> 00:02:37,240 Speaker 2: In other words, there was no dispute for ten as 53 00:02:37,319 --> 00:02:37,759 far as. 54 00:02:37,719 --> 00:02:41,919 Speaker 3: Ten rounds were concerned, and that came out six for 55 00:02:42,120 --> 00:02:45,360 Better be of four for BIFL. Now, there were two 56 00:02:45,520 --> 00:02:50,159 rounds where the judges split, and in those for those 57 00:02:50,280 --> 00:02:55,680 two rounds, one judge had it all for Better be Off, 58 00:02:56,000 --> 00:02:59,039 two rounds for Better be Off, one judge had it 59 00:02:59,159 --> 00:03:04,080 two rounds for bivol and the American judge Feldman added 60 00:03:04,240 --> 00:03:08,639 one round each. So that's why you got scores of 61 00:03:09,120 --> 00:03:14,319 a draw, seven five for Better be Off and eight 62 00:03:14,479 --> 00:03:18,599 four for Better be Off. So again, it was a 63 00:03:18,840 --> 00:03:24,360 very well judged fight. It wasn't judges being all over 64 00:03:24,479 --> 00:03:29,680 the place. They saw at least ten rounds the same, 65 00:03:30,560 --> 00:03:34,960 and I had Better be Off winning seven to five. 66 00:03:35,800 --> 00:03:39,000 Speaker 2: And I think that a lot of people viewing that fight. 67 00:03:40,560 --> 00:03:48,560 Speaker 3: Who claimed that bivol Ion were influenced by the TV production, 68 00:03:49,479 --> 00:03:53,439 which was done by dis Own, even though in the 69 00:03:53,560 --> 00:03:58,319 United States, it was shown on ESPN Plus because if 70 00:03:58,400 --> 00:04:05,960 you looked at that between rounds, when they reviewed the 71 00:04:06,120 --> 00:04:11,960 highlights of the previous rounds, overwhelmingly. 72 00:04:11,719 --> 00:04:15,319 Speaker 1: It was for let's just call it very Bivol friendly. 73 00:04:16,360 --> 00:04:20,519 Speaker 3: Yeah, there was Bevol friendly because Bev was a dezone 74 00:04:20,680 --> 00:04:28,279 fighter with Eddie Earn and with Vadim uh and I 75 00:04:28,439 --> 00:04:32,439 think that influenced a lot of people. That being said, 76 00:04:32,480 --> 00:04:35,920 it was a very very close, very well fought fight. 77 00:04:36,879 --> 00:04:41,199 Speaker 1: So after the fight was over, because of the dispute, 78 00:04:41,240 --> 00:04:42,959 if you will, by a lot of folks that thought 79 00:04:43,040 --> 00:04:45,600 that he did win. And then I saw some comments 80 00:04:45,639 --> 00:04:47,959 from Turkey Alic saying, you know who I guess has 81 00:04:48,000 --> 00:04:51,199 a relationship with both fighters. His opinion was that Bevol 82 00:04:51,240 --> 00:04:53,720 won the fight by two rounds. He said there needs 83 00:04:53,759 --> 00:04:56,920 to be a rematch. Both fighters seemed open to the 84 00:04:57,120 --> 00:04:59,560 to the prospect when asked about it in their postfight 85 00:04:59,639 --> 00:05:02,360 comments about doing another fight. What is your take on 86 00:05:02,439 --> 00:05:04,920 the prospect of having this fight be an immediate rematch 87 00:05:04,920 --> 00:05:08,519 whenever these guys are getting back in the ring next year, Well. 88 00:05:08,519 --> 00:05:14,160 Speaker 3: You see, my friend Turkey, what Louis did you see 89 00:05:14,399 --> 00:05:15,879 who he was sitting next to. 90 00:05:16,000 --> 00:05:18,040 Speaker 1: At the fight I did you want to tell us 91 00:05:18,040 --> 00:05:18,519 all about that. 92 00:05:19,040 --> 00:05:22,800 Speaker 2: He was sitting next to Frank and Eddie exactly, and 93 00:05:23,199 --> 00:05:30,560 so obviously they saw it for Bigul seven to five. 94 00:05:30,839 --> 00:05:32,199 Speaker 1: So I don't know, Bob, I don't know. I don't 95 00:05:32,199 --> 00:05:33,600 know if Frank had any dog in that fight. 96 00:05:33,680 --> 00:05:37,360 Speaker 2: To tell you the truth, No, Frank paid everybody. The 97 00:05:37,480 --> 00:05:43,680 money came through Frank right, So again and and maybe. 98 00:05:45,000 --> 00:05:50,439 Speaker 3: Whatever it was now Turkey, it was a you know, 99 00:05:51,000 --> 00:05:54,560 a guy who loves boxing wants to see a rematch, 100 00:05:55,319 --> 00:05:57,040 and I think the public would love. 101 00:05:56,959 --> 00:06:01,600 Speaker 2: To see a rematch. But again, because the. 102 00:06:01,720 --> 00:06:07,120 Speaker 3: READ season ends in February, the earliest state for a 103 00:06:07,240 --> 00:06:10,399 rematch would be next October. 104 00:06:11,519 --> 00:06:14,439 Speaker 1: Well, they did do some some READ fights that were 105 00:06:14,560 --> 00:06:16,879 beyond that date, and they also did the fights that 106 00:06:16,959 --> 00:06:20,399 were outside of the READ season in other locations, but 107 00:06:20,959 --> 00:06:22,600 that is not that is. 108 00:06:22,800 --> 00:06:27,319 Speaker 2: Not what they're going to do in the future. 109 00:06:28,600 --> 00:06:33,720 Speaker 3: I think there was a lot of pushback on his 110 00:06:33,959 --> 00:06:42,120 excellency for doing fights outside of Saudi Arabia and outside 111 00:06:42,240 --> 00:06:43,360 of READ season. 112 00:06:44,000 --> 00:06:49,079 Speaker 2: So I think going forward, you know, in order to 113 00:06:49,480 --> 00:06:55,720 tap into the Lodge budget that they will have, they 114 00:06:55,759 --> 00:06:59,959 will have to do the fights in ri odd season 115 00:07:00,079 --> 00:07:05,240 an in Saudi Arabia, which makes sense. So it may 116 00:07:05,519 --> 00:07:09,439 mean that each of these guys fight. 117 00:07:11,120 --> 00:07:17,079 Speaker 3: One more time against other opponents, and then for October 118 00:07:17,240 --> 00:07:20,920 of next year, I got they do their rematch. I 119 00:07:21,000 --> 00:07:25,480 think that is the likely from a business standpoint, the 120 00:07:25,839 --> 00:07:27,519 likeliest thing that will. 121 00:07:27,439 --> 00:07:31,399 Speaker 1: Happen, okay, And that's I think that's a reasonable thing 122 00:07:31,560 --> 00:07:34,040 if if guys take interim fights, if they're amenable to it, 123 00:07:34,079 --> 00:07:36,720 and if you know, obviously Top Rank you have a 124 00:07:36,839 --> 00:07:39,759 robust schedule. Matchroom has a robust schedule. They can find 125 00:07:39,800 --> 00:07:42,079 places for these two guys to have their separate fights. 126 00:07:42,079 --> 00:07:44,439 I suppose if that's what takes place you mentioned, I 127 00:07:44,519 --> 00:07:46,240 want to ask you. You mentioned about how Zone did 128 00:07:46,279 --> 00:07:48,680 the production on the show, and this has been like 129 00:07:48,759 --> 00:07:50,720 a big thing. I've personally had to be in my 130 00:07:50,920 --> 00:07:54,600 bonnet about it. This fight cards. As you know, Top 131 00:07:54,680 --> 00:07:56,319 Rank is the promoter of Arthur better b have you 132 00:07:56,439 --> 00:07:58,240 made it very clear from day one when this fight 133 00:07:58,399 --> 00:08:00,759 was made the Top Rank I wanted to deliver this 134 00:08:00,879 --> 00:08:03,680 fight to the subscribers on ESPN Plus without a pay 135 00:08:03,720 --> 00:08:07,480 per view surcharge, to satisfy your viewers, to satisfy your 136 00:08:07,519 --> 00:08:11,839 broadcast partner, and to deliver a fight that wasn't a surcharge. 137 00:08:12,040 --> 00:08:15,160 Speaker 2: Which we put that in the constrag. 138 00:08:14,959 --> 00:08:19,279 Speaker 1: And I appreciate that as a fan for sure understood. 139 00:08:19,360 --> 00:08:21,720 So for the United States market and for the Canadian market, 140 00:08:22,120 --> 00:08:25,720 it was available without a pay per view aspect. The 141 00:08:25,959 --> 00:08:27,879 entire event was a pay per view around the world. 142 00:08:28,199 --> 00:08:31,519 So when it came to the undercard, originally there was 143 00:08:31,600 --> 00:08:32,879 the notion it was going to be a pay per 144 00:08:32,919 --> 00:08:35,679 view just for the undercard, and then Dezonne went out 145 00:08:35,720 --> 00:08:38,159 of its way to announce that the fight would be 146 00:08:38,679 --> 00:08:41,279 that the undercard fights, which was a good solid undercard, 147 00:08:41,320 --> 00:08:44,039 Wardly and Clark two and some other guys Opataia a 148 00:08:44,080 --> 00:08:46,759 title defense and Chris you banketca. That they would have 149 00:08:46,879 --> 00:08:48,559 the rest of the card as a non pay per 150 00:08:48,639 --> 00:08:50,960 view in the United States and Canadian market, but pay 151 00:08:50,960 --> 00:08:52,279 per view around the rest of the world with the 152 00:08:52,320 --> 00:08:55,240 main event, and then within a day or two before 153 00:08:55,279 --> 00:08:57,480 the event, suddenly it changed to a pay per view 154 00:08:57,519 --> 00:09:00,519 with no notice, no explanation. They had taken time to 155 00:09:00,919 --> 00:09:03,399 single out people like myself in the media to explain, 156 00:09:03,480 --> 00:09:06,080 to send graphics out about it, and then change it 157 00:09:06,159 --> 00:09:09,600 without any notice or anything. And it got a lot 158 00:09:09,639 --> 00:09:12,039 of people really irritated. Got me angered because I spent 159 00:09:12,080 --> 00:09:13,720 a lot of time talking about it and telling people 160 00:09:13,759 --> 00:09:15,279 how to watch it, and then I looked like an 161 00:09:15,320 --> 00:09:17,360 idiot because that was not what came to pass. I 162 00:09:17,440 --> 00:09:19,600 wonder what was your take on them taking an event 163 00:09:19,639 --> 00:09:22,399 where you put your main event with your broadcaster, and 164 00:09:22,480 --> 00:09:24,639 then they tried to put the or they did put 165 00:09:24,679 --> 00:09:26,200 the rest of the event for a twenty dollars pay 166 00:09:26,200 --> 00:09:27,240 per view in this market. 167 00:09:28,200 --> 00:09:31,279 Speaker 2: Well, good luck with them putting it as a twenty 168 00:09:31,360 --> 00:09:35,080 dollars pay perview. If they did two. 169 00:09:35,080 --> 00:09:40,679 Speaker 3: Thousand buys in the United States, that for they, under God, 170 00:09:41,120 --> 00:09:42,120 that would have been a lot. 171 00:09:43,200 --> 00:09:46,639 Speaker 2: So again, it made no sense. I don't know what 172 00:09:46,879 --> 00:09:52,279 went on behind the scenes with the Zone and the General. 173 00:09:53,080 --> 00:09:58,399 Speaker 3: Entertainment Commission in the Saudi Arabia, and I don't want 174 00:09:58,440 --> 00:09:59,240 to speculate. 175 00:10:00,600 --> 00:10:02,559 Speaker 2: I can imagine what did happen. 176 00:10:03,360 --> 00:10:11,919 Speaker 3: And that was unfortunate because around the world people bought. 177 00:10:11,720 --> 00:10:15,360 Speaker 2: It for pay per view the entire cord, and they 178 00:10:15,519 --> 00:10:16,799 saw a really good show. 179 00:10:17,440 --> 00:10:21,960 Speaker 3: In the States, we had put in our contract from 180 00:10:22,039 --> 00:10:26,759 the get go that the Better be Off Fight Bivol 181 00:10:26,879 --> 00:10:32,879 Fight would be on ESPN Plus for no charge, and 182 00:10:33,919 --> 00:10:34,679 we held. 183 00:10:34,519 --> 00:10:37,600 Speaker 2: The line, and that's what happened. 184 00:10:39,440 --> 00:10:42,399 Speaker 3: And we had, by the way, from the reports that 185 00:10:42,600 --> 00:10:49,480 we got from ESPN, they had a tremendous viewing audience 186 00:10:49,759 --> 00:10:53,159 on ESPN Plus for the Better be Off. 187 00:10:53,440 --> 00:10:55,519 Speaker 1: That is great to hear. Now, my understanding is before 188 00:10:56,279 --> 00:10:58,159 they went forward and made this a pay per view 189 00:10:58,440 --> 00:11:01,039 that there was at least an overture from Operated to say, hey, guys, 190 00:11:01,080 --> 00:11:03,320 you know what in this market, you know, we'll pay 191 00:11:03,360 --> 00:11:05,080 you a fee and we'll just take the whole event 192 00:11:05,159 --> 00:11:08,240 on our Plus platform, and they that they were not interested. 193 00:11:08,399 --> 00:11:10,519 Is that Is that something that you you would have done? 194 00:11:10,600 --> 00:11:17,639 Speaker 3: That is correct because we we told ESPN that because 195 00:11:17,840 --> 00:11:22,679 they had been so supportive of Better be Off over 196 00:11:22,759 --> 00:11:26,399 the years, that we would reserve. 197 00:11:26,200 --> 00:11:29,240 Speaker 2: That fight for them and without. 198 00:11:30,480 --> 00:11:35,440 Speaker 3: Charge having them to charge pay per view customers, and 199 00:11:35,559 --> 00:11:39,440 we we certainly, uh, we're going to hold the line, 200 00:11:39,559 --> 00:11:43,120 and we did hold the line, and people were able 201 00:11:43,240 --> 00:11:47,679 to see the fight without course on ESPN Plus. 202 00:11:47,840 --> 00:11:49,679 Speaker 1: But you tried to obtain the remainder of the show, 203 00:11:49,720 --> 00:11:53,600 if I'm not mistaken, to go along with it. Yeah, 204 00:11:53,679 --> 00:11:57,440 but that wasn't gonna end, okay, all right, So there's 205 00:11:57,519 --> 00:12:00,279 that aspect. So now let's go forward to one of 206 00:12:00,360 --> 00:12:03,440 your other major fighters in the top rank. Stable is 207 00:12:03,799 --> 00:12:05,080 Noya in a way, who has been in the news 208 00:12:05,120 --> 00:12:08,080 a little bit. I know after his last fight against TJ. Dohaney, 209 00:12:08,399 --> 00:12:11,240 where he won the fight retain the undisputed one hundred 210 00:12:11,240 --> 00:12:15,039 and twenty two pound world title, there was the discussion 211 00:12:15,080 --> 00:12:16,919 he's coming back in Tokyo. He's going to fight on 212 00:12:17,000 --> 00:12:20,720 Christmas Eve, where obviously boxing there's always big shows around 213 00:12:20,759 --> 00:12:23,200 Christmas time of New Years in Japan. But then you 214 00:12:23,320 --> 00:12:26,159 made the statement that after that we're going to bring 215 00:12:26,240 --> 00:12:28,000 him back to Las Vegas and make a big fight 216 00:12:28,039 --> 00:12:31,919 in the United States and finally get him back here 217 00:12:31,960 --> 00:12:33,919 where he's fought three times before. But it's been a 218 00:12:33,960 --> 00:12:37,879 couple of years and then this most recent turn of events. 219 00:12:38,000 --> 00:12:39,919 I want you to explain to people what's going on 220 00:12:40,039 --> 00:12:42,759 with this. I saw the IBF letter they ordered a 221 00:12:42,840 --> 00:12:46,799 purse bid for his fight against IBFNWBO mandatory, although the 222 00:12:46,840 --> 00:12:49,679 IBF was ordering their mandatory against Sam Goodman for the 223 00:12:49,759 --> 00:12:53,519 next fight, which meant that the deal was not done 224 00:12:53,559 --> 00:12:55,360 apparently according to the IBF. Now you can pick it 225 00:12:55,440 --> 00:12:56,840 up in there and tell us what's going on within 226 00:12:56,879 --> 00:13:00,159 aways next fight in December Yeah, somebody. 227 00:13:00,080 --> 00:13:04,720 Speaker 2: The IVF jumped the gun and sent out that letter. 228 00:13:05,679 --> 00:13:08,320 The negotiations. 229 00:13:09,080 --> 00:13:16,799 Speaker 3: Between the Inner Wee camp and the Goodman Camp, Australian promoter, 230 00:13:17,360 --> 00:13:20,519 have been going swimmingly and we're just about ready to 231 00:13:20,679 --> 00:13:27,000 conclude those negotiations and I'm very optimistic that fight will 232 00:13:27,080 --> 00:13:33,000 be held on December twenty fourth, on Christmas. 233 00:13:32,559 --> 00:13:40,799 Speaker 2: Eve in Japan in Tokyo. And yes, if. 234 00:13:40,919 --> 00:13:47,799 Speaker 3: Inerwe is successful, we really hope to bring him to 235 00:13:48,039 --> 00:13:53,720 the United States for a major fight in Las Vegas. 236 00:13:54,399 --> 00:13:58,720 I know Todd as Todd Debf, the president of Top Rank, 237 00:13:59,320 --> 00:14:05,000 has had big discussions with Bill Unbuckle, the chairman of 238 00:14:05,159 --> 00:14:11,759 the MGM, as far as holding that fight in April and. 239 00:14:13,360 --> 00:14:17,519 Speaker 2: In Awe as is want will fight the best. 240 00:14:19,639 --> 00:14:24,480 Speaker 3: Junior featherweight around in that fight, and it will be 241 00:14:24,919 --> 00:14:31,879 a massive fight. Because it's funny what's happened with the 242 00:14:33,159 --> 00:14:38,759 Japanese market in sports. When you go to a Dodger game, 243 00:14:39,000 --> 00:14:45,840 an LA Dodger game, the thousands and thousands of fans 244 00:14:46,519 --> 00:14:50,919 who have come over from Japan to Ceo Tani player exactly. 245 00:14:51,840 --> 00:14:56,919 Speaker 2: Yeah, and so you know seats that would be going 246 00:14:57,120 --> 00:14:59,320 for one hundred to two hundred dollars. 247 00:15:01,399 --> 00:15:07,840 Speaker 3: In Dodger Stadium are selling now for as much as 248 00:15:08,000 --> 00:15:12,159 five thousand and six thousand dollars a seat because the 249 00:15:12,360 --> 00:15:17,080 demand is so great from Japanese fans who want to 250 00:15:17,120 --> 00:15:18,840 see Otani play baseball. 251 00:15:19,399 --> 00:15:26,480 Speaker 2: And we assume that if in a wee. 252 00:15:26,600 --> 00:15:33,840 Speaker 3: Fights in the United States, particularly in Las Vegas, a tremendous, 253 00:15:34,000 --> 00:15:41,440 tremendous demand from fans from Japan who would fly over 254 00:15:41,679 --> 00:15:44,559 to the United States to watch him fight. 255 00:15:45,039 --> 00:15:46,720 Speaker 1: Right because his last fights that he had with top 256 00:15:46,840 --> 00:15:50,080 rank that were in America, they were quasi pandemic related. 257 00:15:50,120 --> 00:15:52,000 There were some I think was social distancing. We're in 258 00:15:52,080 --> 00:15:54,799 smaller venues, but this would be the first one where 259 00:15:54,799 --> 00:15:57,679 he's the main event in a big arena, you know, 260 00:15:57,799 --> 00:16:00,759 without any pandemic related issues, and you can probably make 261 00:16:00,759 --> 00:16:01,440 a big event out of it. 262 00:16:01,480 --> 00:16:03,919 Speaker 2: I would think it would be you. It's huge. 263 00:16:04,679 --> 00:16:10,440 Speaker 3: So Todd reports back to me that Bill Hornbuckle, you know, 264 00:16:10,720 --> 00:16:16,120 is very enthusiastic about staging that event, probably in T 265 00:16:16,399 --> 00:16:22,879 Mobile or MGM Grand and we look forward to doing 266 00:16:23,000 --> 00:16:24,639 that in April. 267 00:16:24,919 --> 00:16:27,919 Speaker 1: So what do you make of the situation with his 268 00:16:28,120 --> 00:16:30,759 other mandatory? As I mentioned Sam Goodman, is the IBF 269 00:16:30,840 --> 00:16:34,440 mandatory that was the one that is ordered. He's also 270 00:16:34,519 --> 00:16:36,759 mandatory in the WBO, which I guess is not actually due, 271 00:16:36,759 --> 00:16:38,879 but it would still count against that. But you have 272 00:16:39,000 --> 00:16:42,240 the WBA mandatory as well as a former unified champion 273 00:16:42,320 --> 00:16:47,360 in mj Achmadaliev, whose team is pushing back on the IBFS. 274 00:16:47,440 --> 00:16:50,679 When the letter came out about finalizing the deal or 275 00:16:50,759 --> 00:16:52,840 ordering it was scheduling a purse bid. Even though you 276 00:16:52,879 --> 00:16:55,200 say the deal is going to get finalized, they're making 277 00:16:55,240 --> 00:16:57,080 the point that hey, we're next up. We're going to 278 00:16:57,120 --> 00:16:59,679 exert our legal rights. You know, if he wants to vacate, 279 00:16:59,759 --> 00:17:01,840 that's him, but we got the next shot at the title. 280 00:17:02,840 --> 00:17:08,599 Speaker 3: Well that's you know, typical nonsensical behavior, which happens very 281 00:17:08,720 --> 00:17:14,440 often in boxing. If I were Vadim, who's the manager 282 00:17:15,240 --> 00:17:24,279 of the Akadias whatever, I would not pursue that course, 283 00:17:25,039 --> 00:17:32,240 but I would be looking to start negotiations for an 284 00:17:32,319 --> 00:17:37,359 April fight within a week and without litigation. 285 00:17:37,160 --> 00:17:41,759 Speaker 2: Without any nonsense, because I think that's probably the best 286 00:17:41,839 --> 00:17:43,359 way to go. 287 00:17:44,359 --> 00:17:49,799 Speaker 3: But again, you know, boxing being boxing, and the titasterone 288 00:17:49,920 --> 00:17:54,960 level goes really high. You can't count on everybody to 289 00:17:55,039 --> 00:17:56,279 make the right decision. 290 00:17:56,920 --> 00:18:02,839 Speaker 2: So if they examine what they're talking about. And let's 291 00:18:02,920 --> 00:18:07,759 say the w b A is made to. 292 00:18:07,960 --> 00:18:12,559 Speaker 3: Strip Uh in a way of his w b A 293 00:18:12,799 --> 00:18:18,759 title is only Uh to loses. One is the w 294 00:18:19,079 --> 00:18:24,400 b A and the other is the the kid who's 295 00:18:24,519 --> 00:18:26,559 trying to strip. 296 00:18:28,400 --> 00:18:30,279 Speaker 1: The point is Zach mndally would still get to fight 297 00:18:30,359 --> 00:18:34,119 for the title against an more anonymous opponent, obviously, and 298 00:18:34,240 --> 00:18:37,400 for a tiny fraction of the money more significantly. 299 00:18:39,160 --> 00:18:41,680 Speaker 2: Of what he would make to fight in a way. 300 00:18:41,880 --> 00:18:45,039 Speaker 1: I got you, okay, Uh so you're he's going forward 301 00:18:45,079 --> 00:18:46,759 with the Sam Goodman fighters who mean you wrap it 302 00:18:46,839 --> 00:18:48,880 up regardless of the w b A situation. 303 00:18:49,920 --> 00:18:50,680 Speaker 2: That is correct. 304 00:18:50,759 --> 00:18:53,799 Speaker 1: Okay. Now, the big fight, at least to me anyway, 305 00:18:53,799 --> 00:18:55,759 and I think boxing fans who are really into this 306 00:18:55,799 --> 00:18:59,319 stuff within a way especially is certainly the super fight 307 00:18:59,440 --> 00:19:02,519 between him, at least in terms of Japan boxing, is 308 00:19:02,599 --> 00:19:05,559 him and Nakatani jinto Nakatani's who you co promote. He 309 00:19:05,640 --> 00:19:08,400 looked absolutely spectacular. He scored a six round knockout in 310 00:19:08,480 --> 00:19:12,240 his recent fight that took place in Tokyo against Chit Patana, 311 00:19:12,599 --> 00:19:16,000 retained the WBC Bandamway title. Obviously, he's gonna go up 312 00:19:16,000 --> 00:19:17,640 to one hundred and twenty two pounds. At some point 313 00:19:17,680 --> 00:19:20,599 they were talking about on the broadcast Nigo, Ali Walsh 314 00:19:20,680 --> 00:19:23,599 and Christina Pantu did the American broadcast for ESPN plus, 315 00:19:23,920 --> 00:19:26,440 you know, with your company about him moving up at 316 00:19:26,440 --> 00:19:30,200 some point. I mean, Bob, how big in your mind? 317 00:19:30,240 --> 00:19:32,880 I mean, I can't think in my entire time of 318 00:19:33,119 --> 00:19:36,880 covering boxer even before that, of where there's a bona 319 00:19:36,920 --> 00:19:40,440 fide super fight that is two Japanese fighters against each other. 320 00:19:40,519 --> 00:19:44,440 It's very very rare. It seems to me it is rare, and. 321 00:19:46,039 --> 00:19:54,200 Speaker 3: From what I've been told by Ohashi, the manager promoter 322 00:19:54,559 --> 00:20:00,279 of In a Way and Honda, our friend Honda, it 323 00:20:00,480 --> 00:20:04,440 was just a co promoter with us of Nakatani in 324 00:20:04,599 --> 00:20:10,960 Awe Nakatani uh would be by far the biggest fight 325 00:20:11,680 --> 00:20:14,759 in the history of Japan, and they would put it 326 00:20:14,880 --> 00:20:16,240 in the Tokyo. 327 00:20:16,000 --> 00:20:20,960 Speaker 2: Dome, which is in and of itself fairly rare. 328 00:20:21,759 --> 00:20:24,039 Speaker 1: U only, Bob, there's only been two fights at the 329 00:20:24,079 --> 00:20:26,400 Tokyo don with mind. That was Mike Tyson, Buster Douglas 330 00:20:26,680 --> 00:20:28,359 and when in a Way fought Neeri not to you know, 331 00:20:28,480 --> 00:20:29,400 as a couple of fights. 332 00:20:29,160 --> 00:20:32,519 Speaker 2: Ago, Tyson had a fight in the Tokyo. 333 00:20:32,559 --> 00:20:34,200 Speaker 1: Right again against Tony Tubbs. 334 00:20:35,119 --> 00:20:35,319 Speaker 2: Yeah. 335 00:20:36,079 --> 00:20:40,519 Speaker 3: So yeah, but from from the time of Tyson Fort Douglas, 336 00:20:40,680 --> 00:20:45,759 there hadn't been a fight right in the Tokyo Hotel until. 337 00:20:45,519 --> 00:20:48,640 Speaker 2: In a way Fort Nari. Yeah, and then we put in. 338 00:20:48,839 --> 00:20:52,799 Speaker 3: Fifty five thousand people and the gate was like twenty 339 00:20:52,880 --> 00:20:57,680 two million dollars twenty million dollars uh, and this fight 340 00:20:58,200 --> 00:20:58,799 would come. 341 00:20:58,759 --> 00:21:05,000 Speaker 2: Close to doubling double the revenue. You can't, you know, 342 00:21:05,720 --> 00:21:07,680 increase the number of seats, right. 343 00:21:08,079 --> 00:21:11,400 Speaker 1: So the reality is if things go to plan, and 344 00:21:11,480 --> 00:21:13,319 you know, it's boxing, so things don't always work out 345 00:21:13,920 --> 00:21:15,839 in a way, He's going to defend the titles December 346 00:21:15,880 --> 00:21:20,559 twenty fourth against Sam Goodman WBA title or not. The 347 00:21:20,640 --> 00:21:22,319 plan is then to bring him to the United States 348 00:21:22,720 --> 00:21:24,440 for a fight in the spring April, as you said 349 00:21:24,480 --> 00:21:26,839 in Las Vegas, to make the I guess the biggest 350 00:21:26,880 --> 00:21:29,039 fight you can make other than na Katani, and if 351 00:21:29,079 --> 00:21:32,759 he's successful, go back to Japan, I guess what, in 352 00:21:32,839 --> 00:21:35,319 the summertime or in the in the early fall, and 353 00:21:35,440 --> 00:21:40,799 have a fight against Nakatani when Nakatani rising in wait exactly. 354 00:21:40,440 --> 00:21:44,079 Speaker 3: Whenever we can get to Tokyo, though, that's the key 355 00:21:44,680 --> 00:21:49,200 because it's not only with the with the baseball team 356 00:21:49,319 --> 00:21:54,839 that plays the Tokyo Giants, but also they do entertainment 357 00:21:55,079 --> 00:21:56,160 stories booked up. 358 00:21:56,759 --> 00:22:01,559 Speaker 2: But I think Brad Jacobs has. 359 00:22:01,519 --> 00:22:05,720 Speaker 3: Met with the head guy at the Tokyo though, and 360 00:22:05,839 --> 00:22:11,240 they for a date in the summer or fall. 361 00:22:11,920 --> 00:22:14,279 Speaker 2: Of next year to do that fight. 362 00:22:14,559 --> 00:22:17,519 Speaker 1: Is Nakatani the one guy that's out there that say, 363 00:22:17,599 --> 00:22:21,079 between you know, the lower weight and his own weight 364 00:22:21,240 --> 00:22:24,640 one eighteen two, that you think could actually where people 365 00:22:24,720 --> 00:22:27,000 might actually find somebody that might be able to be 366 00:22:27,200 --> 00:22:28,920 picked by people to actually beat him. 367 00:22:30,559 --> 00:22:33,000 Speaker 2: Yeah, I mean Nakatani is a hell of a fighter. 368 00:22:33,119 --> 00:22:34,079 Speaker 1: Oh that left hand, bob. 369 00:22:34,920 --> 00:22:38,839 Speaker 3: He's trained by Rudy Hernandez who's a very good trainer. 370 00:22:39,839 --> 00:22:43,200 Speaker 2: You know, he looks like uh. 371 00:22:44,920 --> 00:22:49,680 Speaker 3: Coy and Todd was told me he looks like Gennaro 372 00:22:49,880 --> 00:22:52,039 Hernandez with a punch. 373 00:22:52,079 --> 00:22:54,319 Speaker 1: Right and jast people wo don't know, was the great 374 00:22:54,319 --> 00:22:56,119 one hundred and thirty pound champion, and Rudy is his 375 00:22:56,519 --> 00:22:58,839 older brother. Jenno of course passed away a number of 376 00:22:58,880 --> 00:23:00,440 years ago, but yeah, he was a trem to fighter 377 00:23:00,480 --> 00:23:02,799 for a long time and they do have similarities when 378 00:23:02,799 --> 00:23:05,599 you Todd's honestly, Bob. When I talked to Todd after 379 00:23:05,680 --> 00:23:09,279 the fight that that Nakatani had uh, he said the 380 00:23:09,319 --> 00:23:10,839 same thing to me. And I was thinking to m us, like, 381 00:23:10,880 --> 00:23:13,799 you know what, You're right because you think about Nakatani 382 00:23:13,880 --> 00:23:17,079 is his massive puncher, uh, And that was not Gennaro's game. 383 00:23:17,119 --> 00:23:18,680 But in terms of the way they hold their hands, 384 00:23:18,720 --> 00:23:21,119 the way they throw their punches, the way they move 385 00:23:21,160 --> 00:23:23,519 around the dead look reminiscent jaranas. 386 00:23:23,519 --> 00:23:23,960 Speaker 2: Believe it or not. 387 00:23:24,039 --> 00:23:27,759 Speaker 1: I was shocked by that. Well, they both exactly. So 388 00:23:28,160 --> 00:23:30,319 that shows you that there's something there. But that is 389 00:23:30,359 --> 00:23:33,039 a spectacular plan of that. If those if that plan 390 00:23:33,200 --> 00:23:35,160 that we just discussed could come to pass, that would 391 00:23:35,160 --> 00:23:38,640 be very special. I think, by the way, I know 392 00:23:38,720 --> 00:23:40,880 anyway's gonna fight on December twenty fourth. That's going to 393 00:23:40,920 --> 00:23:43,559 obviously be an ESPN Plus event, but top ranks go 394 00:23:43,680 --> 00:23:46,839 to close out it's American schedule for twenty twenty four 395 00:23:47,200 --> 00:23:50,119 on December seventh in Phoenix, Arizona, where I think you've 396 00:23:50,119 --> 00:23:53,960 put together an outstanding card. It's not that it comes 397 00:23:54,000 --> 00:23:56,000 as a surprise, but it's just recently been announced to 398 00:23:56,039 --> 00:23:57,799 make it official, and it's going to be the night 399 00:23:57,839 --> 00:24:01,000 of the rematches. It's going to be the mandatory rematch 400 00:24:01,039 --> 00:24:03,720 between the WO one hundred and thirty pound champion, Emmanuel 401 00:24:03,759 --> 00:24:06,799 Navverette against Oscar Valdez, who has the interim title. I 402 00:24:06,880 --> 00:24:08,960 think a lot of people thought Naverette would stay at lightweight, 403 00:24:09,000 --> 00:24:11,960 but he ended up getting defeated by Barentchik, so he 404 00:24:12,039 --> 00:24:14,079 decided to retain the title and come back down and wait, 405 00:24:14,359 --> 00:24:16,920 so that's one fight. Then you have the rematch of 406 00:24:16,960 --> 00:24:19,519 what was arguably the fight of the year last year 407 00:24:19,839 --> 00:24:24,279 between Raphael Espinoza, who won the WBO featherweight title in 408 00:24:24,359 --> 00:24:28,480 a dramatic and classic battle against Robesi Ramirez to do 409 00:24:28,559 --> 00:24:31,960 the rematch that was also a mandatory fight. Can you 410 00:24:32,039 --> 00:24:34,960 speak to taking having both of those fights? I mean, 411 00:24:35,000 --> 00:24:36,880 this is normally the kind of card that you would 412 00:24:36,880 --> 00:24:39,000 have main event on two different nights. And I'm not 413 00:24:39,200 --> 00:24:41,200 kissing ass here at a top rank. I'm just being real. 414 00:24:41,519 --> 00:24:43,960 These would be typically two separate main events, as they 415 00:24:44,000 --> 00:24:46,279 were by the way, when they had the original fight. 416 00:24:46,400 --> 00:24:47,720 So how is it that we get to see this 417 00:24:48,319 --> 00:24:50,960 doubleheader of these two rematches of what were two terrific 418 00:24:51,039 --> 00:24:52,400 fights together on the same show. 419 00:24:53,319 --> 00:24:58,359 Speaker 3: Because you forgot the missing element, and that is that 420 00:24:58,559 --> 00:25:04,000 on December Ray, the next day, it's a celebration of 421 00:25:04,079 --> 00:25:06,079 my ninety third birthday. 422 00:25:06,200 --> 00:25:09,079 Speaker 2: This is true, and we have a big party. 423 00:25:10,000 --> 00:25:18,960 Speaker 3: In Arizona, a big around the brunch celebration of my birthday, 424 00:25:19,559 --> 00:25:23,920 and so it's only appropriate that we do probably the 425 00:25:24,079 --> 00:25:28,359 fight show of the year for us the night before. 426 00:25:29,319 --> 00:25:31,200 Speaker 1: Well, I think you should have your birthday every single 427 00:25:31,400 --> 00:25:33,440 month then, because that means we get those types of shows, 428 00:25:33,440 --> 00:25:36,359 because that is a that is a tremendous lineup, and 429 00:25:36,400 --> 00:25:38,319 you know, you added a lunch of your clearly some 430 00:25:38,400 --> 00:25:41,079 of the top up and comers, a top rank Emiliano 431 00:25:41,160 --> 00:25:43,359 Vargas is on the card, Richard Torres is on the card, 432 00:25:43,680 --> 00:25:47,799 the up and coming junior Welterway contender Landolf Aldogato. So 433 00:25:47,880 --> 00:25:50,279 it's it's gonna be I mean, sounds to me like 434 00:25:50,400 --> 00:25:52,200 as the as the as the kids say, Bob, a 435 00:25:52,240 --> 00:25:53,839 banger of a card, A really good show. 436 00:25:54,359 --> 00:25:56,160 Speaker 2: Well it is, and it's really really. 437 00:25:57,680 --> 00:26:05,880 Speaker 3: You know, heavily obviously Hispanic. It appeals to all boxing fans, 438 00:26:05,960 --> 00:26:11,799 put to Hispanic boxing fans in particular, and we're very 439 00:26:11,920 --> 00:26:15,400 proud in the car and that's a good way for 440 00:26:15,640 --> 00:26:22,839 us to close out our domestic shows for this year. 441 00:26:23,759 --> 00:26:28,920 Speaker 2: But we have to then get on planes and fly 442 00:26:29,160 --> 00:26:34,440 over to read for the Furiousic rematch. 443 00:26:34,759 --> 00:26:36,640 Speaker 1: You must be reading my rundown because that was next 444 00:26:36,680 --> 00:26:39,240 on my list to ask you about. That's on Let 445 00:26:39,279 --> 00:26:41,920 people remind people that is December twenty first, obviously, that's 446 00:26:41,960 --> 00:26:45,759 on ESPN plus pay per view, the rematch of a 447 00:26:45,839 --> 00:26:48,400 fantastic fight the first time run back back in May. 448 00:26:49,240 --> 00:26:52,920 Speaker 2: Yeah, and then we're on a plane to Tokyo for 449 00:26:53,119 --> 00:26:59,640 the Christmas Eve fight, our last fight of the year 450 00:27:00,920 --> 00:27:02,880 with anoy and goodness. 451 00:27:03,519 --> 00:27:05,839 Speaker 1: So as it relates to the rematch between Tyson Fury 452 00:27:05,920 --> 00:27:08,039 and Alexander Usik, they had a classic battle for the 453 00:27:08,119 --> 00:27:11,599 undisputed title in May. Really lived up to the hype 454 00:27:11,839 --> 00:27:14,200 so many times, not just in boxing but in life 455 00:27:14,279 --> 00:27:16,200 that the things that get so hyped up they just 456 00:27:16,240 --> 00:27:17,599 don't live up to it. This is one of those 457 00:27:17,920 --> 00:27:20,160 rare occasions where it did. They put on an outstanding fight, 458 00:27:20,279 --> 00:27:23,720 just a super memorable fight, great heart and everything, action 459 00:27:23,880 --> 00:27:26,880 you name it from both fighters. Fury with the close loss, 460 00:27:27,240 --> 00:27:29,000 but you know he got banged around, I think more 461 00:27:29,079 --> 00:27:31,480 so maybe than the Nusik did it took a lot 462 00:27:31,519 --> 00:27:33,400 of punches. He didn't look very good in the fight 463 00:27:33,480 --> 00:27:35,920 before that, when he had the life and death battle 464 00:27:35,960 --> 00:27:39,000 with Francis Naganu, which I don't think he obviously properly 465 00:27:39,039 --> 00:27:40,640 trained for compared to the way he did for the 466 00:27:40,720 --> 00:27:43,240 Yusik fight. So I wonder going into the rematch, Bob, 467 00:27:43,279 --> 00:27:46,000 what is your thought about where Fury is physically and 468 00:27:46,119 --> 00:27:48,480 mentally going to try to regain the heavyweight championship. 469 00:27:49,319 --> 00:27:50,319 Speaker 2: I think he's. 470 00:27:50,400 --> 00:27:54,680 Speaker 3: Mentally he's in great shape. I think physically he'll be 471 00:27:54,799 --> 00:27:59,640 in the best shape possible. But you know, Father Time 472 00:28:00,440 --> 00:28:01,680 is a tough, tough. 473 00:28:01,599 --> 00:28:05,680 Speaker 1: Foe, and Bob, you're you're the only one beating. 474 00:28:05,519 --> 00:28:09,359 Speaker 2: It so far. I'm the only one beating it. That's true. 475 00:28:12,400 --> 00:28:13,400 Speaker 1: It's also true. 476 00:28:14,599 --> 00:28:21,079 Speaker 2: Different but but uh uh yeah. I mean Fury is 477 00:28:21,559 --> 00:28:24,160 getting older and he's been in a lot of wards 478 00:28:24,920 --> 00:28:25,440 uh and. 479 00:28:27,440 --> 00:28:33,119 Speaker 3: Is an incredibly good fight very very well trained, tremendous 480 00:28:33,240 --> 00:28:33,920 skills set. 481 00:28:34,480 --> 00:28:36,200 Speaker 2: So I look for another great fight. 482 00:28:37,000 --> 00:28:39,680 Speaker 1: Do you think that whatever happens in that fight between 483 00:28:40,119 --> 00:28:43,960 Fury and Husic that eventually before they both hang it up, 484 00:28:44,079 --> 00:28:46,200 Because you know, Anthony Joshua was also coming off a 485 00:28:46,319 --> 00:28:49,000 very brutal knockout loss of Dua. They apparently are going 486 00:28:49,079 --> 00:28:52,720 to have a rematch per Turkey sometime in February. You know, 487 00:28:52,799 --> 00:28:55,039 to I guess close out read season, but that that 488 00:28:55,480 --> 00:28:57,720 that they can't just not fight each other before it's 489 00:28:57,720 --> 00:28:59,319 all said and done. You think we're gonna see Fury 490 00:28:59,400 --> 00:29:02,160 Joshua at some point, you know. 491 00:29:02,279 --> 00:29:06,680 Speaker 2: I I again that that doesn't thrill me. Fory Josua. 492 00:29:07,400 --> 00:29:12,359 I mean, I don't think you know, Joshua coming off that. 493 00:29:12,559 --> 00:29:18,920 Speaker 3: Devastating loss to Dubois. Uh really would be the number 494 00:29:19,000 --> 00:29:23,720 one option. Let's assume Fury beats Usick. 495 00:29:23,720 --> 00:29:26,839 Speaker 1: Which could happen, could happen, but not a given. 496 00:29:28,640 --> 00:29:31,960 Speaker 3: Then the fighter that he should fight if he doesn't 497 00:29:32,039 --> 00:29:33,920 do a trilogy fight. 498 00:29:35,240 --> 00:29:39,440 Speaker 2: Is Dubois a huge fight in the UK. 499 00:29:39,559 --> 00:29:40,960 Speaker 1: Are so fair enough, but I don't know. I'm still 500 00:29:41,000 --> 00:29:42,640 not sure it's as big as the Joshua fight. 501 00:29:42,680 --> 00:29:48,559 Speaker 3: Great Wembley fight and Usik. If he beats Uh Fury 502 00:29:49,279 --> 00:29:52,319 and then we'll have that to have one the two. 503 00:29:52,319 --> 00:29:56,680 Speaker 2: Fights, then his best fight would be with. 504 00:29:56,880 --> 00:30:02,119 Speaker 3: Dubas because he had no problem beating Joshua in the 505 00:30:02,240 --> 00:30:08,160 two fights that they had, and Uh the look the 506 00:30:09,000 --> 00:30:15,200 victory over Dubois was controversial because many people felt that 507 00:30:15,440 --> 00:30:19,400 the blow that put usick down at the belt line, 508 00:30:19,519 --> 00:30:23,440 you know, uh, was a legal blow, in which case 509 00:30:23,880 --> 00:30:25,960 Dubois would have knocked out Who's sick. 510 00:30:26,279 --> 00:30:28,920 Speaker 1: Now, I don't hold that particular opinion. I actually don't 511 00:30:28,960 --> 00:30:31,160 think most people don't hold that anything. But I understand 512 00:30:31,160 --> 00:30:33,839 where you're coming from. There was something for the promotion 513 00:30:34,000 --> 00:30:35,400 to hang its hat on if it were to come 514 00:30:35,480 --> 00:30:35,839 to pass. 515 00:30:36,599 --> 00:30:40,599 Speaker 3: Yeah, I think yeah, I mean I it was controversial. 516 00:30:40,720 --> 00:30:45,680 I think okay, but but so again, but again, one 517 00:30:45,799 --> 00:30:52,759 step at a time. You know, a great fight in December, uh, 518 00:30:53,359 --> 00:30:55,920 and you know, with massive interests. 519 00:30:56,880 --> 00:31:01,319 Speaker 2: And and then you know, we'll see where we go. 520 00:31:03,319 --> 00:31:05,799 Speaker 3: On the twenty second when I'll be on a plane 521 00:31:07,240 --> 00:31:08,960 going to Tokyo from. 522 00:31:08,920 --> 00:31:11,559 Speaker 1: Ria, still logging those miles, Bob, God bless you. I 523 00:31:11,640 --> 00:31:13,359 want to rip through a couple a few more topics 524 00:31:13,400 --> 00:31:16,079 where we get out of here. Speaking of heavyweights, we've 525 00:31:16,079 --> 00:31:17,599 just spent a lot of time on fiury Nousic and 526 00:31:17,640 --> 00:31:19,759 what's going on with that. I want to go back 527 00:31:19,759 --> 00:31:22,000 a couple months ago. You were ringside in Los Angeles 528 00:31:22,039 --> 00:31:25,640 when your fighter Jared Anderson had the fight against Martin Beccoley. 529 00:31:25,680 --> 00:31:28,000 He was the favorite to win that fight and he 530 00:31:28,200 --> 00:31:30,720 just got taken apart. Bacoley was so big, so strong, 531 00:31:31,759 --> 00:31:34,319 just seemed like he couldn't miss with his big punches 532 00:31:34,640 --> 00:31:37,200 and didn't just win, but I think did so in 533 00:31:37,279 --> 00:31:39,400 a very devastating fashion by knocking Jared out in the 534 00:31:39,440 --> 00:31:42,680 fifth round. That was his first loss. You know, obviously 535 00:31:42,799 --> 00:31:44,440 a lot of people touted him as the top young 536 00:31:44,480 --> 00:31:47,640 American up and coming contender. Coming off of a loss 537 00:31:47,720 --> 00:31:50,119 like that, how do you even go about to rebuild him? 538 00:31:50,160 --> 00:31:52,119 And what is where is his mindset do you think 539 00:31:52,160 --> 00:31:53,279 at this point after that loss? 540 00:31:54,240 --> 00:31:56,759 Speaker 3: Well, you know, I don't know where his mind is 541 00:31:57,279 --> 00:32:01,559 now because he had just had his first He's probably 542 00:32:01,680 --> 00:32:02,759 concentrating on that. 543 00:32:03,400 --> 00:32:06,200 Speaker 2: But I'll leave that up to the matchmakers. I want 544 00:32:06,400 --> 00:32:11,160 everybody to know that it wasn't us that. 545 00:32:12,640 --> 00:32:16,839 Speaker 3: His excellency Turkey al Alasic went right to the fighter 546 00:32:17,839 --> 00:32:23,039 and made this proposal for money that the fighter had 547 00:32:23,119 --> 00:32:33,519 never seen before and picked as his opponent this Pacola 548 00:32:34,119 --> 00:32:36,720 who had been his puncher, and. 549 00:32:39,440 --> 00:32:46,119 Speaker 2: Jared prepared as a then to deal with a guy 550 00:32:46,519 --> 00:32:50,039 who couldn't move very much but was a great punt 551 00:32:50,920 --> 00:32:54,559 and he never fought a guy like that, and so 552 00:32:54,839 --> 00:32:56,400 the fact that he got. 553 00:32:56,359 --> 00:33:00,720 Speaker 3: Taken apart and knocked out was not surprising. So don't 554 00:33:00,759 --> 00:33:03,839 put it on my match makers. We were against that fight. 555 00:33:04,839 --> 00:33:09,119 We were, but again, you know, when they waive money 556 00:33:09,200 --> 00:33:13,920 at these kids, they insists. 557 00:33:13,720 --> 00:33:17,279 Speaker 2: On taking it. Now, we could have gone into court 558 00:33:17,480 --> 00:33:20,920 to prevent it, but we don't do those kind of things, 559 00:33:21,680 --> 00:33:24,759 so we let the fight go ahead. 560 00:33:25,519 --> 00:33:27,400 Speaker 3: You know, we made our money from the fight, but 561 00:33:27,559 --> 00:33:30,240 we let that fight go ahead. And it was the 562 00:33:30,599 --> 00:33:34,559 stupidest fight that Jared could have taken. 563 00:33:35,200 --> 00:33:37,279 Speaker 1: Yeah. Plus, I don't think it would probably work out 564 00:33:37,279 --> 00:33:40,440 well for anybody. You know, if you're suing Turkey in court, 565 00:33:40,519 --> 00:33:42,160 I'm not sure we're even seeing in the United States 566 00:33:42,200 --> 00:33:43,759 and Saudi Arabias you. 567 00:33:43,839 --> 00:33:45,799 Speaker 2: Could sue the fighter from going ahead. 568 00:33:46,079 --> 00:33:46,519 Speaker 1: That's true. 569 00:33:47,480 --> 00:33:48,359 Speaker 2: So it is what it is. 570 00:33:48,400 --> 00:33:50,039 Speaker 1: So at some point you bring him back, I guess, 571 00:33:50,039 --> 00:33:51,359 and try to reconstruct his career. 572 00:33:52,200 --> 00:33:56,160 Speaker 2: Yeah, exactly. I mean, it's you know, it's he's still 573 00:33:56,200 --> 00:33:59,720 a very talented young man. For sure, he's very young. 574 00:34:00,039 --> 00:34:03,839 Speaker 3: And so you know, Bruce and bred a great match 575 00:34:04,000 --> 00:34:08,079 makers working with Moretti, called Moretti, and they'll. 576 00:34:07,920 --> 00:34:09,400 Speaker 2: Find a way to bring him back. 577 00:34:10,239 --> 00:34:12,519 Speaker 1: So another fight that seems like it might be on 578 00:34:12,639 --> 00:34:14,880 the horizon on a top rank car, which I think 579 00:34:15,000 --> 00:34:18,880 is just a fantastic matchup. You recently, you know, a 580 00:34:18,920 --> 00:34:21,039 couple of fights ago, did a co promotion deal to 581 00:34:22,199 --> 00:34:25,440 sign Christian Mobili with your friends at Aya the Tiger 582 00:34:25,559 --> 00:34:28,400 in Canada. You just did your first fight with Haimi 583 00:34:28,480 --> 00:34:32,440 Mongia where he looked pretty good, scoring a knockout against 584 00:34:32,639 --> 00:34:37,079 Eric Bazinian, And before the result of the fight with 585 00:34:37,960 --> 00:34:41,239 Mongia was known, there was already discussion, like you know, 586 00:34:41,239 --> 00:34:43,039 and it was pretty obvious, like the great fight you 587 00:34:43,079 --> 00:34:45,519 can make in the super midleweight division while Canelo was 588 00:34:45,599 --> 00:34:49,159 champion and doing what he's doing would be an unbelievable 589 00:34:49,159 --> 00:34:51,280 battle between Mobilly and Mongea. Are we going to see 590 00:34:51,280 --> 00:34:55,800 that in twenty twenty five, Please say yes, we might very. 591 00:34:55,639 --> 00:34:57,199 Speaker 2: Well, It might very well. 592 00:34:57,840 --> 00:35:02,960 Speaker 3: I you know, we had a good experience promoting Mungia's 593 00:35:03,079 --> 00:35:07,119 last fight, and I think his next fight is going 594 00:35:07,199 --> 00:35:10,400 to be in Mexico, and then to bring him back 595 00:35:10,599 --> 00:35:16,400 against Mobility would be a tremendous, tremendous fight. Mabilly is 596 00:35:17,400 --> 00:35:24,960 a really fan friendly fighter, throws a million punches and. 597 00:35:26,800 --> 00:35:29,239 Speaker 2: He gives the fans a lot of action. 598 00:35:30,159 --> 00:35:34,639 Speaker 1: So he wants Canelo though, and he's the WBC's number 599 00:35:34,639 --> 00:35:36,400 one contender. Can you get him a Canelo fight? 600 00:35:37,440 --> 00:35:41,199 Speaker 2: Well, that would be the first priority. You're right, but again, 601 00:35:41,400 --> 00:35:45,440 I'm not going we don't go down that route. I mean, 602 00:35:45,480 --> 00:35:49,119 if Canelo wants to fight him, will make him available 603 00:35:49,639 --> 00:35:51,599 so that Canelo can fight him. 604 00:35:52,159 --> 00:35:57,280 Speaker 3: But I'm not going to push the mandatory to force 605 00:35:57,440 --> 00:36:00,320 Canelo to do anything he goes. 606 00:36:00,480 --> 00:36:07,960 Speaker 2: All that'll do is bed blood and uh, you know 607 00:36:08,400 --> 00:36:09,800 who would accomplish nothing. 608 00:36:10,239 --> 00:36:12,400 Speaker 1: I totally agree with that tactic when it comes to 609 00:36:12,480 --> 00:36:13,840 Canelo because he's gonna do what he wants to do. 610 00:36:13,960 --> 00:36:18,800 Speaker 2: You know that Canelo I consider a friend we've had. 611 00:36:19,039 --> 00:36:22,920 Speaker 3: I've never done business with him, but we have a 612 00:36:23,119 --> 00:36:25,000 good personal relationship. 613 00:36:25,639 --> 00:36:31,960 Speaker 2: And Eddie Renosa trains one of my. 614 00:36:32,039 --> 00:36:35,440 Speaker 3: Other fighters, Askabell did and I like. 615 00:36:35,599 --> 00:36:36,400 Speaker 2: Eddie very much. 616 00:36:37,119 --> 00:36:42,840 Speaker 3: So again, if Canelo wants to fight Mvilli, I'm all 617 00:36:43,039 --> 00:36:46,920 for that, but I'm not gonna take part in forcing 618 00:36:47,039 --> 00:36:49,079 Canelo to fight Mavilli. 619 00:36:49,239 --> 00:36:51,119 Speaker 1: Understood. And by the way you talk about your relationship 620 00:36:51,159 --> 00:36:53,360 with Team Canelo, I know this for a fact that 621 00:36:53,400 --> 00:36:56,119 whenever Canelo is fighting his fights, you've always made the 622 00:36:56,159 --> 00:36:58,480 top ranked gym available for him to do his training 623 00:36:58,559 --> 00:37:00,480 during the week of the fight. Also for sure. 624 00:37:00,960 --> 00:37:06,039 Speaker 3: Yeah, you know, sometimes you don't do business with somebody, 625 00:37:06,480 --> 00:37:11,480 but you maintained friendly relationships for sure, and that's how 626 00:37:11,559 --> 00:37:12,880 I feel about Kennellen. 627 00:37:13,760 --> 00:37:15,719 Speaker 1: Now another one of the fighters at Top Rank promotes 628 00:37:15,760 --> 00:37:18,599 who's also coming off a very dominating knockout victory. You 629 00:37:18,719 --> 00:37:21,840 are the promoter of the unified middleweight title holder, jannebec 630 00:37:21,880 --> 00:37:25,960 album mccannooley, and he went to Australia in a heated 631 00:37:26,000 --> 00:37:29,280 situation with the opponent, Andre Mkalovich, took him apart, knocked 632 00:37:29,320 --> 00:37:31,639 him out, completely destroyed him. It seemed to me, even 633 00:37:31,639 --> 00:37:35,440 though Mcalavich showed enormous heart, the problem in the middleweight division, Bob, 634 00:37:35,480 --> 00:37:37,440 as you know, which is kind of breaks my heart 635 00:37:37,480 --> 00:37:40,840 because you, especially somebody that promoted so many incredible middleweight 636 00:37:40,880 --> 00:37:44,320 fights through the years, most notably with Marvin Hagler, also 637 00:37:44,360 --> 00:37:48,679 with Carlos Monzon and others. Where in the world does 638 00:37:49,039 --> 00:37:52,440 Janebec go Because most people, seems to me, the fans 639 00:37:52,480 --> 00:37:54,719 I interact with, they're not that interested in him. The 640 00:37:54,800 --> 00:37:57,719 division is very weak at the moment. They did just 641 00:37:57,880 --> 00:38:01,840 order in terms of the WBO his mandatory against Hamsa Shiraz, 642 00:38:01,840 --> 00:38:03,400 Frank Warren's fighter who was one of the top up 643 00:38:03,440 --> 00:38:06,239 and coming fighters who just recently won the European title 644 00:38:06,320 --> 00:38:09,360 on the undercard when Anthony Joshua and Dania Dubois had 645 00:38:09,400 --> 00:38:12,119 their fight. So is that the fight that you pursue? 646 00:38:12,159 --> 00:38:14,159 Is there something else you can do with Jennebec? What's 647 00:38:14,199 --> 00:38:14,800 the story there? 648 00:38:15,440 --> 00:38:19,440 Speaker 2: You know, Jennebec has a few options. One is to 649 00:38:19,599 --> 00:38:23,440 do a unification fight with the Damas Solara. 650 00:38:25,039 --> 00:38:29,760 Speaker 3: The other, which is the route that I favor, is 651 00:38:30,320 --> 00:38:36,119 for him to fight Frank's fighter. We're very close with 652 00:38:36,320 --> 00:38:41,440 Frank and Queensberry and we shouldn't have much problems putting 653 00:38:41,559 --> 00:38:44,199 that fight together, whether it's. 654 00:38:46,320 --> 00:38:53,480 Speaker 2: In London or even in readd. 655 00:38:55,239 --> 00:38:55,760 Speaker 1: As a. 656 00:38:57,800 --> 00:39:01,920 Speaker 2: Big fight on they. 657 00:39:00,559 --> 00:39:05,840 Speaker 1: Cad like that does that feels like based on the 658 00:39:05,920 --> 00:39:08,519 timing that the WBO has when it makes their orders, 659 00:39:08,760 --> 00:39:13,239 based on the schedule, based on the read involvement, that 660 00:39:13,480 --> 00:39:15,719 that seems like the perfect fight as you mentioned for 661 00:39:15,800 --> 00:39:18,239 that February Cardiff Doubt and Joshua have the rematch. 662 00:39:19,079 --> 00:39:22,719 Speaker 2: I agree, but his boxing and people don't do the 663 00:39:23,079 --> 00:39:27,000 perfect thing. But that working on with Frank. 664 00:39:27,840 --> 00:39:29,559 Speaker 1: Uh there's been a lot of rumors over the last 665 00:39:29,639 --> 00:39:32,599 little bit about the prospect of Lomachenko retiring. Can you 666 00:39:32,639 --> 00:39:33,360 speak to that at all. 667 00:39:34,760 --> 00:39:38,159 Speaker 2: Well, I got to get I guess. 668 00:39:39,960 --> 00:39:46,280 Speaker 3: This summer, I had a lunch with Egas Loma and 669 00:39:46,400 --> 00:39:51,119 Lomas fought, and Lomas said that he wanted to take 670 00:39:51,280 --> 00:39:56,280 time to be with his family, particularly with what was happening, 671 00:39:56,400 --> 00:39:56,599 you know. 672 00:39:57,320 --> 00:39:58,960 Speaker 2: In the Ukraine that. 673 00:39:59,079 --> 00:40:01,880 Speaker 3: They get up in the morning here bomb the spoiling, 674 00:40:02,440 --> 00:40:06,559 that kind of thing, and he wanted to take the 675 00:40:06,679 --> 00:40:11,119 rest of the year twenty twenty four off, and then 676 00:40:11,199 --> 00:40:15,960 he would let us know whether he would pursue a 677 00:40:16,079 --> 00:40:19,360 boxing career in twenty twenty five. 678 00:40:20,119 --> 00:40:22,599 Speaker 2: So I am not going to predict one. 679 00:40:22,519 --> 00:40:26,920 Speaker 4: Way or another what Loma will do, but we agreed 680 00:40:27,039 --> 00:40:30,840 to give him that space and will get back from 681 00:40:30,960 --> 00:40:33,039 Loma after the new year. 682 00:40:33,320 --> 00:40:36,760 Speaker 1: Okay, that's fair enough. Another fighter that Loma is very 683 00:40:36,800 --> 00:40:40,199 familiar with him, that's Tiafimo Lopez. I've heard this from 684 00:40:40,280 --> 00:40:42,880 people at your company about the issues going on there, 685 00:40:42,960 --> 00:40:46,079 that he's claiming that his contract with Top Rank is up, 686 00:40:46,119 --> 00:40:48,039 which strikes me as bizarre since I think he just 687 00:40:48,119 --> 00:40:50,480 did a new deal with you guys and didn't fight 688 00:40:50,559 --> 00:40:53,440 that just you know that long ago and was ringsigned 689 00:40:53,440 --> 00:40:56,519 for your most recent event. And he says his contract 690 00:40:56,599 --> 00:40:59,639 isn't invalid, and obviously Top Rank has a much different 691 00:40:59,719 --> 00:41:03,400 view of that position. What is the position? 692 00:41:03,519 --> 00:41:03,800 Speaker 2: What are you? 693 00:41:03,880 --> 00:41:05,519 Speaker 1: What is going on with that? What is up with them? 694 00:41:05,519 --> 00:41:07,719 And he also decided not to fight when you offered 695 00:41:07,760 --> 00:41:10,079 him the date to be Uh it would have been 696 00:41:10,079 --> 00:41:12,280 the main event to night that Mikhaela Mayor had her 697 00:41:12,320 --> 00:41:13,719 great victory against Andy Ryan. 698 00:41:14,639 --> 00:41:20,079 Speaker 3: Yeah, I mean, you know, uh, tia Fimo. 699 00:41:21,440 --> 00:41:25,639 Speaker 2: Sometimes acts like he has a screw loose. You know. 700 00:41:26,800 --> 00:41:30,199 Speaker 3: I like the kid, and I get along with him personally, 701 00:41:30,960 --> 00:41:33,360 but I can't figure him out and it makes no 702 00:41:33,599 --> 00:41:34,559 logical sense. 703 00:41:35,480 --> 00:41:38,280 Speaker 2: I mean, he signed the extension with. 704 00:41:38,440 --> 00:41:42,800 Speaker 3: Us first with a Padrasa fight it didn't happen, and 705 00:41:43,000 --> 00:41:44,599 then when we did another. 706 00:41:44,440 --> 00:41:48,199 Speaker 1: Fight for him with Sandor Martin. 707 00:41:48,320 --> 00:41:54,400 Speaker 3: Yep, he signed the same extension referring to the fact 708 00:41:54,480 --> 00:41:57,519 that it's been that the Padrasa. 709 00:41:57,079 --> 00:41:59,960 Speaker 2: Fight didn't happen. So it's there in black. 710 00:41:59,800 --> 00:42:05,480 Speaker 3: And and I assume he showed the lawyer the first contract, 711 00:42:06,239 --> 00:42:11,440 which was tied into the Peedraza fight, and not the second. 712 00:42:11,199 --> 00:42:17,400 Speaker 2: Contract, which reaffirmed the extension, so again. 713 00:42:18,920 --> 00:42:25,039 Speaker 3: You know, dealing with Tiafimo is like dealing with Alice 714 00:42:25,119 --> 00:42:25,840 and Wendale. 715 00:42:26,159 --> 00:42:30,480 Speaker 1: You know, I'd say it's a complicated situation. He makes 716 00:42:30,599 --> 00:42:34,039 out to be more complicated, and I don't want. 717 00:42:33,880 --> 00:42:39,400 Speaker 3: To disparage anybody because that doesn't do any good. But 718 00:42:39,599 --> 00:42:44,840 eventually sanity will take home and we'll be doing a 719 00:42:45,559 --> 00:42:47,039 fight for tia Femo. 720 00:42:47,960 --> 00:42:50,559 Speaker 1: All right, let's let's look at one other. What I 721 00:42:50,599 --> 00:42:52,760 think is a great thing, by the way, I love 722 00:42:52,840 --> 00:42:56,679 when promoters take the fighters to their hometowns, especially when 723 00:42:56,719 --> 00:42:59,119 they're not the big big cities like New York and 724 00:42:59,280 --> 00:43:02,239 LA and Chicago, but sort of like still good sized cities, 725 00:43:02,280 --> 00:43:05,280 but not the ones that have necessarily big time pro 726 00:43:05,440 --> 00:43:08,960 franchises to take up people's time and energy or sports fans. 727 00:43:09,199 --> 00:43:13,239 You're taking your outstanding young lightweight, Keishaan Davis back to 728 00:43:13,320 --> 00:43:16,079 his hometown in Norfolk, Virginia for a fight on November eighth, 729 00:43:16,599 --> 00:43:19,280 his first main event taken on Gustavo Lemos, a good, 730 00:43:19,320 --> 00:43:23,239 solid contender. You've always done that with fighters, You've you know, 731 00:43:23,599 --> 00:43:25,960 you've done it recently with Jared Anderson bringing him Toledo. 732 00:43:26,320 --> 00:43:29,639 You've brought Schakor to Newark, New Jersey. I remember, you know, 733 00:43:29,760 --> 00:43:32,199 back when you were bringing guys like Kelly Pavlick to Youngstown, 734 00:43:32,239 --> 00:43:34,719 Ohio and plenty of others that we could talk about, 735 00:43:35,119 --> 00:43:36,960 what is it? What is it about it to to 736 00:43:37,199 --> 00:43:38,960 I mean, it's not that complicated. You kind of fish 737 00:43:39,000 --> 00:43:41,920 where the fish are. But tell me your your interest level, 738 00:43:41,960 --> 00:43:44,840 your excitement level to bring a young fighter, to excite 739 00:43:44,840 --> 00:43:47,519 the hometown and build something with him in his place 740 00:43:47,559 --> 00:43:49,079 where his fans are, his people are. 741 00:43:49,840 --> 00:43:52,239 Speaker 2: Yeah, I've been going back long and we. 742 00:43:54,239 --> 00:43:59,960 Speaker 3: I learned with Mardelis Marvin Agla that when we brought 743 00:44:00,159 --> 00:44:03,239 him back to New England, whether it was in Boston 744 00:44:03,360 --> 00:44:04,800 Garden or Worcester. 745 00:44:04,599 --> 00:44:05,960 Speaker 2: To fight, we. 746 00:44:08,119 --> 00:44:13,519 Speaker 3: Energize the Boston Fight fan base so that when Marvin 747 00:44:13,719 --> 00:44:19,719 subsequently fought in Las Vegas, thousands of fans came from 748 00:44:19,840 --> 00:44:20,400 New England. 749 00:44:21,960 --> 00:44:29,480 Speaker 2: And to replicate that was a no brainer. I mean, 750 00:44:29,559 --> 00:44:31,480 it happened with Tommy. 751 00:44:31,239 --> 00:44:37,519 Speaker 3: Earns in Detroit, with Ray Lennon in the Washington area. 752 00:44:40,239 --> 00:44:45,039 It makes the most sense, particularly if you're looking long 753 00:44:45,239 --> 00:44:46,480 range and. 754 00:44:46,679 --> 00:44:48,159 Speaker 2: Keyshawn for us. 755 00:44:48,679 --> 00:44:51,159 Speaker 3: For me at any rate, I don't know anybody else, 756 00:44:51,880 --> 00:44:55,760 it feels that way necessarily. But for me, I believe 757 00:44:55,840 --> 00:44:59,320 he'll become the face of boxing, and I believe that 758 00:44:59,480 --> 00:45:04,440 he'll be having major, major fights, whether in Madison Square 759 00:45:04,519 --> 00:45:07,239 Garden or Las Vegas or wherever. 760 00:45:08,159 --> 00:45:13,679 Speaker 2: And to build up his fan base in and around. 761 00:45:13,480 --> 00:45:20,119 Speaker 3: Norfolk, Virginia is essential because thousands of people will travel 762 00:45:20,679 --> 00:45:25,039 to his fights from that area, just the way when 763 00:45:25,159 --> 00:45:31,840 the Washington Commanders fight play in Las Vegas against the Raiders, 764 00:45:33,480 --> 00:45:37,559 people come from the Washington area to watch them play, 765 00:45:38,239 --> 00:45:41,920 and same with the Bears, same with every team. So 766 00:45:44,760 --> 00:45:52,239 I'm really enthused that putting this fight in Norfolk, with 767 00:45:52,400 --> 00:45:58,400 the with the response that we've gotten, which is enormous. 768 00:45:59,079 --> 00:46:01,280 Speaker 2: I mean, it's the hottest stick it now in box. 769 00:46:01,480 --> 00:46:03,320 Speaker 1: Yeah, it's basically it's already been in the fight still 770 00:46:03,360 --> 00:46:05,639 like a few several weeks away, but as of even 771 00:46:05,639 --> 00:46:07,199 a couple of weeks ago, Bob, my understanding was there 772 00:46:07,320 --> 00:46:10,639 was like virtually no tickets left already, there is. 773 00:46:10,719 --> 00:46:11,599 Speaker 2: No tickets left. 774 00:46:11,719 --> 00:46:16,840 Speaker 3: We've they're they're hustling around to put more seats in 775 00:46:16,960 --> 00:46:23,320 that arena, and it's great. And the press in Norfolk 776 00:46:23,440 --> 00:46:25,800 has been on the phone with me a number of times, 777 00:46:27,199 --> 00:46:27,760 so it's. 778 00:46:27,760 --> 00:46:30,199 Speaker 2: It's it's just a massive kind of thing. 779 00:46:30,840 --> 00:46:33,840 Speaker 3: And we have his two brothers on the card, and 780 00:46:34,199 --> 00:46:39,559 Troy Isisley, another one of our great prospects middleweight on 781 00:46:39,719 --> 00:46:43,320 the card, and Abdulla Mason. 782 00:46:43,480 --> 00:46:50,239 Speaker 2: There's another tremendous sensational on the card. Yeah, so I'm 783 00:46:50,599 --> 00:46:51,760 really enthusiastic. 784 00:46:52,719 --> 00:46:56,079 Speaker 1: Well, Norfolk, Virginia has not had a meaningful fighter since 785 00:46:56,079 --> 00:46:58,800 the days of Pronal Whitaker, going back into the nineteen eighties, 786 00:46:58,840 --> 00:47:01,199 you know, post is Alympic gold medal. So it's been 787 00:47:01,320 --> 00:47:03,000 quite a while. And I think it's going to be 788 00:47:03,039 --> 00:47:05,639 an amazing Like it's already going to be an amazing 789 00:47:05,679 --> 00:47:08,760 turnout there, and hopefully I love I don't whatever fighter, 790 00:47:08,840 --> 00:47:10,960 whatever promoter. I love when they can take a fighter. 791 00:47:11,000 --> 00:47:13,760 I mean, you know, Eddie Hearn taking boots and to Philadelphia, 792 00:47:13,760 --> 00:47:16,719 you taking your fighter to North of Virginia. This is 793 00:47:16,760 --> 00:47:18,280 a great thing for boxing, it seems to me. 794 00:47:19,079 --> 00:47:22,280 Speaker 2: Yeah, I think so, I agree. I agree. It's it's 795 00:47:22,400 --> 00:47:26,360 not a great genius move. It just makes logical. 796 00:47:26,840 --> 00:47:28,639 Speaker 1: But a lot of promoters don't actually take the time 797 00:47:28,679 --> 00:47:30,679 and effort to invest to do it. That's the thing. 798 00:47:31,320 --> 00:47:33,800 Speaker 2: There's a lot of promoters don't promote. 799 00:47:34,679 --> 00:47:37,199 Speaker 1: Well said, all right, Bob, I want to. I want to. 800 00:47:37,280 --> 00:47:38,639 I'll go ahead, as you were. 801 00:47:38,519 --> 00:47:42,280 Speaker 2: Saying, wherever and they want don't want to do the work. 802 00:47:43,239 --> 00:47:45,119 Speaker 1: Very well, said I want to finish up. But just 803 00:47:45,159 --> 00:47:48,159 one more thing. It's not a top secret type of 804 00:47:48,199 --> 00:47:51,760 thing anyway, that Top Rank and ESPN their long term 805 00:47:51,800 --> 00:47:54,880 deal is coming to a close sometime in twenty twenty five, 806 00:47:54,920 --> 00:47:56,800 I believe the summertime. And I wonder if there was 807 00:47:56,840 --> 00:47:58,800 any kind of update. I heard Todds talk about it 808 00:47:58,840 --> 00:48:01,280 a little bit recently about what's going on with the 809 00:48:01,360 --> 00:48:04,280 future of a possible extension or some other broadcast deal 810 00:48:04,360 --> 00:48:04,880 for Top Rank. 811 00:48:05,880 --> 00:48:09,159 Speaker 2: Well, what we're trying to do, and comes from todd 812 00:48:09,719 --> 00:48:12,719 with channeling, it is to do. 813 00:48:14,119 --> 00:48:18,639 Speaker 3: What other make what's been doing, whether it's the NFL, 814 00:48:19,280 --> 00:48:26,159 the MBA, it's due packages, so you get more than 815 00:48:26,320 --> 00:48:33,280 one television entity involved, and that's what we're doing. We'll 816 00:48:33,320 --> 00:48:41,119 be announcing soon the concluding deals with various entities, which. 817 00:48:40,960 --> 00:48:43,400 Speaker 2: I think will lead to. 818 00:48:45,320 --> 00:48:50,559 Speaker 3: Increase coverage of boxing, at least from Top Ranks perspective. 819 00:48:52,159 --> 00:48:53,239 Speaker 2: In the United States. 820 00:48:53,400 --> 00:48:55,159 Speaker 1: Are you saying you have deals in place that are 821 00:48:55,199 --> 00:48:57,400 in the process of being done or you have yet 822 00:48:57,440 --> 00:48:59,280 to go to the marketplace to try to do that. 823 00:49:00,400 --> 00:49:04,079 Speaker 3: We're in the marketplace and we're negotiating our agents and 824 00:49:04,199 --> 00:49:07,039 negotiating as far as we're represented. 825 00:49:07,840 --> 00:49:10,880 Speaker 2: We're represented by CIA, one. 826 00:49:10,800 --> 00:49:18,719 Speaker 3: Of the big big companies UH who negotiated the SEC deal. 827 00:49:21,840 --> 00:49:24,280 Speaker 1: Well, they they negotiating your current deal with the ESPN, 828 00:49:24,280 --> 00:49:25,400 if I'm not mistaken. 829 00:49:25,519 --> 00:49:28,199 Speaker 2: Correct, negotiating UH. 830 00:49:30,519 --> 00:49:34,960 Speaker 3: Deals going forward, and we have complete confidence. 831 00:49:35,079 --> 00:49:42,199 Speaker 2: In them and their ability to not only maintain at 832 00:49:42,239 --> 00:49:48,960 the level we are boxing coverage, but to increase well. 833 00:49:49,000 --> 00:49:51,199 Speaker 1: As a boxing fan, as somebody that finds that interesting 834 00:49:51,239 --> 00:49:52,760 to cover, as well as a journalist, I wish you 835 00:49:52,800 --> 00:49:56,320 good luck in getting something squared away on that broadcast front. 836 00:49:56,800 --> 00:50:00,039 Speaker 2: Yeah, you know, but these things take time, and and 837 00:50:01,679 --> 00:50:06,000 we've had a number of discussions with ESPN who were 838 00:50:06,199 --> 00:50:10,039 very very cooperative and understand what we're trying to do. 839 00:50:11,000 --> 00:50:15,800 And so I'm very optimistic that when we roll out. 840 00:50:17,920 --> 00:50:24,599 Speaker 3: Our program for the second part of twenty twenty five 841 00:50:25,840 --> 00:50:26,679 and going. 842 00:50:26,599 --> 00:50:31,559 Speaker 2: Forward, it will be a real pleasure for all boxing fans. 843 00:50:32,280 --> 00:50:34,119 Speaker 1: Sounds good to me, Bob. Thank you very much for 844 00:50:34,199 --> 00:50:36,239 your time today. We covered so much material. I really 845 00:50:36,320 --> 00:50:40,079 appreciate it. And if I don't see you in Tokyo anyway, 846 00:50:40,159 --> 00:50:44,599 have a good birthday, okay, and everybody in Arizona. In Arizona, 847 00:50:44,639 --> 00:50:46,039 I should say, not Tokyo, Arizona. 848 00:50:46,920 --> 00:50:50,480 Speaker 3: I want to make a shout out sure that people 849 00:50:50,599 --> 00:50:55,920 should watch on ESPN Plus our fight game series. 850 00:50:56,599 --> 00:50:58,559 Speaker 1: Yes, that's the Fight Life, right, the Fight. 851 00:50:58,480 --> 00:51:01,159 Speaker 2: Life, Fight Life with Fight. 852 00:51:01,599 --> 00:51:03,400 Speaker 1: So I'll just say this, Bob. Let me just say 853 00:51:03,440 --> 00:51:05,039 one thing and then you can have the floor about it. 854 00:51:05,920 --> 00:51:07,960 When I was I know that right now, there's episodes 855 00:51:08,000 --> 00:51:11,119 available on ESPN Plus. I saw the first episode when 856 00:51:11,159 --> 00:51:14,880 I was sent like a screener to check it out, 857 00:51:15,239 --> 00:51:17,599 and I watched it. It was all the episodes are 858 00:51:17,639 --> 00:51:19,320 half an hour, but this one was forty five minutes. 859 00:51:19,559 --> 00:51:22,320 It's centered on the Tyson Fury Alexander Usik first fight, 860 00:51:22,599 --> 00:51:24,719 but with lots of things about the business and things 861 00:51:24,760 --> 00:51:27,159 that are not related to the actual combat in the ring, 862 00:51:27,239 --> 00:51:29,360 but all the other things that go around it. And 863 00:51:29,480 --> 00:51:32,360 I paid what I think is the highest compliment that 864 00:51:32,440 --> 00:51:35,000 I can pay to a piece of boxing programming that's 865 00:51:35,079 --> 00:51:38,079 not the fight. And I said this to Todd. I said, Todd, 866 00:51:38,119 --> 00:51:40,679 it is the closest thing that I have seen ever 867 00:51:41,480 --> 00:51:45,559 to HBO documentary type material, and I cannot pay a 868 00:51:45,639 --> 00:51:48,440 higher compliment to tell somebody that their program is of 869 00:51:48,639 --> 00:51:49,400 HBO quality. 870 00:51:50,400 --> 00:51:56,079 Speaker 3: Yeah, well, we have a really tremendous group that has 871 00:51:56,159 --> 00:52:01,000 been doing this. I'm really thrilled with it. Uh. Those 872 00:52:01,159 --> 00:52:05,800 people watching the first episode, uh, we'll see what they 873 00:52:05,880 --> 00:52:06,719 didn't expect. 874 00:52:06,880 --> 00:52:13,559 Speaker 2: That the great chef ability of Todd cooking Breakfast's Daughter. 875 00:52:14,239 --> 00:52:20,960 Speaker 3: But it is really fantastic and the number five is 876 00:52:21,119 --> 00:52:26,320 my favorite, and that's in a way fighting in Japan. 877 00:52:26,519 --> 00:52:32,880 Speaker 2: It's really great. But the tia Fimo tailor fight, uh. 878 00:52:33,199 --> 00:52:41,599 Speaker 3: The Sinessa fight, uh, the woman boxing uh, and Josh 879 00:52:41,760 --> 00:52:47,880 Taylor with Catterall. I mean, it's really really well done. 880 00:52:48,639 --> 00:52:55,280 And I know we're already shooting and preparing a whole series. 881 00:52:56,320 --> 00:52:57,079 Speaker 2: For next year. 882 00:52:57,360 --> 00:52:59,119 Speaker 1: Well, like I said, I've seen the first episode. I 883 00:52:59,119 --> 00:53:00,800 actually need to catch the other ones. But of the 884 00:53:00,840 --> 00:53:03,639 first one alone, to all the listeners, it is absolutely 885 00:53:03,639 --> 00:53:07,639 first class, top notch production, outstanding, super well done, and 886 00:53:07,760 --> 00:53:09,840 like you said, available on ESPN Plus on demand. 887 00:53:11,400 --> 00:53:17,159 Speaker 2: Yeah, ESPN Plus, right, and you know, people who follow 888 00:53:17,199 --> 00:53:18,280 the sports. 889 00:53:20,159 --> 00:53:24,679 Speaker 3: Subscribe to ESPN Plus, and so this is part of 890 00:53:24,840 --> 00:53:27,920 the benefits of best description. 891 00:53:28,400 --> 00:53:31,280 Speaker 1: Absolutely. Well, Well, there you go. Bob, thank you very 892 00:53:31,400 --> 00:53:33,079 much for all of your time. Thank you for covering 893 00:53:33,119 --> 00:53:36,519 so many topics with me and hope to see us soon. Okay, good, 894 00:53:37,159 --> 00:53:38,360 thank you Bob. Take care,