Op-Ed: Bob Arum Deserves Warm Applause and Commendation

Promoter Bob Arum, owner of Top Rank Promotions deserves to be congratulated and commended for his efforts in revitalizing the sports of boxing and for giving boxers in the lower weight divisions the opportunity to show and develop their talents

Bob Arum should not only be applauded for a fully sold out seats of his 'Firepower' match between Manny Pacquiao and Miguel Cotto at MGM Grand and a possible record-breaking pay-per-view receipts but he should also be commended for revitalizing the sports and giving it the needed 'shot in the arms' as sports with declining popularity. Gone are the days of Muhammad Ali, Joe Frasier, Mike Tyson, George Foreman, Evander Holyfield and and other professional boxers that kept the sports on top in popularity. Boxing has not been the same since these popular boxers bid farewell to the sports that made them rich and famous. Even popular boxing promoters like Don King and Gary Shaw had to slowdown for lack of marketable names in the sports after the heavyweight division died a natural death. One boxing promoter that survived the boxing crunch is Bob Arum, owner of Top Rank Promotions who kept his faith in the sports and by placing his bet on the lower weight divisions. Today the featherweight, lightweight and welterweight divisions are doing wonders for boxing. So much money and publicity are being generated in these weight classes, producing boxing greats like Oscar de la Hoya, Floyd Mayweather, Jr., Shane Mosley, Eric Morales, Marco Antonio Barrera, Juan Manuel Marques and Manny Pacquiao, among others. Although Arum has been allegedly involved in many controversies in the past including racial discrimination, game-fixing and bribery, he nevertheless gave boxing the needed boost with his active and continuing efforts in revitalizibng the sports. For these and more, he deserves to be applauded and commended for a job well done.