90 years young; 2,119 fight cards and counting
Top Rank chairman Bob Arum has hit yet another milestone. Arum, the Brooklyn-born one-time federal prosecutor whose boxing career began with “The Greatest,” turns 90 years old today.
Arum is back in his old stomping grounds to promote Saturday’s ESPN-televised clash between former pound-for-king Vasiliy Lomachenko and former lightweight world champion in the 12-round main event at Madison Square Garden. Lomachenko-Commey marks the 2,120th fight card of his promotional career.
Arum’s inaugural promotion took place in Toronto on March 29, 1966, when Muhammad Ali defended his heavyweight title against George Chuvalo. In the 55-plus years since Ali-Chuvalo, Arum has promoted many of boxing’s biggest superstars, including 27 Ali fights, the entire middleweight championship run of Marvelous Marvin Hagler, George Foreman’s triumphant return to the ring that culminated in his second heavyweight title, and Manny Pacquiao’s rise to modern-day legend.
In addition, Arum has promoted dozens of fighters from pro debut to world champion, including Oscar De La Hoya, Floyd Mayweather Jr., Miguel Cotto, Michael Carbajal, Teofimo Lopez, Shakur Stevenson, Jose Ramirez, Oscar Valdez, Mikaela Mayer, Donald Curry, and Lomachenko.
BOB ARUM BY THE NUMBERS
2,119 Boxing cards promoted
864 Boxing shows TR promoted on ESPN network
677 World title fights promoted by TR
550 Boxing shows TR promoted in Nevada
412 Boxing shows TR promoted in New Jersey
220 American cities in which TR has promoted
196 Boxing shows promoted by TR in California
154 Boxing shows promoted by TR in Texas
129 Boxing shows TR promoted on HBO network
98 Boxing shows promoted by TR on CBS network
92 Foreign cities in which TR has promoted
73 Boxing shows TR promoted on ABC network
73 Boxing shows promoted by TR in New York State
70 Boxing shows promoted by TR in Arizona
63 Boxing shows promoted by TR in Puerto Rico
52 Boxing shows promoted by TR in Mexico
49 Pay-per-view boxing shows promoted by TR
48 Boxing shows promoted by TR in New York City
47 Boxing shows promoted by TR in Illinois
42 States in which TR has promoted boxing
41 Miguel Cotto fights promoted by TR
41 Boxing shows promoted by TR in Pennsylvania
38 Michael Carbajal fights promoted by TR (HOF)
37 Oscar De La Hoya fights promoted by TR (HOF)
37 Donald Curry fights promoted by TR (HOF)
36 Johnny Tapia fights promoted by TR (HOF)
35 Floyd Mayweather, Jr fights promoted by TR (HOF)
33 James Toney fights promoted by TR
33 Boxing shows promoted by TR in Florida
32 Erik Morales fights promoted by TR (HOF)
31 Micky Ward fights promoted by TR
30 Boxing shows promoted by TR on Showtime/ShoBox networks
29 Mikey Garcia fights promoted by TR
29 Tommy (The Duke) Morrison fights promoted by TR
28 Iran Barkley fights promoted by TR
28 Oscar Valdez fights promoted by TR
27 Muhammad Ali fights promoted or co-promoted by TR
27 Boxing shows promoted by TR on Closed-Circuit TV
27 Foreign countries in which TR has promoted, incl. Puerto Rico
27 Jose Ramirez fights promoted by TR
25 Freddie Roach fights promoted by TR (HOF)
25 Roger Mayweather fights promoted by TR
24 Boxing shows promoted by TR in New Mexico
24 World heavyweight title fights promoted by TR
24 Terence Crawford fights promoted by TR
20 Marvelous Marvin Hagler fights promoted by TR (HOF)
20 Manny Pacquiao fights promoted by TR
19 Juan Manuel Marquez fights promoted by TR (HOF)
17 Shakur Stevenson fights promoted by TR
16 Robert Garcia fights promoted by TR
14 George Foreman fights promoted by TR (HOF)
14 Boxing shows promoted by TR in China
13 Thomas Hearns fights promoted by TR (HOF)
13 Teofimo Lopez fights promoted by TR
10 Alexis Arguello fights promoted by TR (HOF)
10 Ray “Boom Boom” Mancini fights promoted by TR (HOF)
9 Boxing shows promoted by TR in Colorado
8 Roberto Duran fights promoted by TR (HOF)
7 Sugar Ray Leonard fights promoted by TR (HOF)
7 Julio Cesar Chavez Sr. fights by TR (HOF)
5 Carlos Monzon fights promoted by TR (HOF)
5 Emile Griffith fights promoted by TR (HOF)
4 Mike Tyson fights promoted by TR (HOF)
4 Tyson Fury fights promoted by TR
2 Larry Holmes fights promoted by TR (HOF)
1 Evel Knievel Snake River Canyon jump promoted by Bob Arum
0 Boxing shows (so far!) promoted by TR in: Alabama, Alaska,
Arkansas, Kansas, South Dakota, Vermont, Virginia, Wyoming
Happy Birthday Bob!
Don’t know how common this is in boxing, but back in the day on the ESPN Top Rank cards, whenever there was a really good fight, Arum would give the fighters a bonus, which was announced in the ring before the decision was announced. Thought that was really cool that they did that. Happy Birthday Bob Arum.
I remember Arums ex-wife was going to write a tell all book and totally expose him but apparently she had embezzled a large sum of money from the company and they reached an agreement no book and he would not prosecute.
They seemed like the perfect couple they are both crooks.
Yesterday I was lying today im telling the truth.
LMAO!! Seriously, that crossed my mind as well….
What will 2morrow bring ??
Happy birthday to Bob Arum. Even though he’s a crook with sticky fingers I still respect what he’s done in boxing.
Keep in mind Arum started out as a lawyer so you know he’s slick at making and taking money!
I can’t say it with any certainty, but I don’t think Arum was anywhere near as shady as his rival Don King, or Rick Parker. I do however remember reading somewhere (Don King: Only in America, I think) that Cus D’Amato trusted Arum less than King. I don’t remember any details on that, but I’d be interested in hearing why. I have no problem with Arum. Used to love the weekly Top Rank cards on ESPN when I really started following the sport. Hard to believe that Arum and King are still at it.
Really like this cranky old man! Don’t know if I trust him, However he has molded the careers of many legends in the sport! Oscar DLH, Floyd Mayweather and Cotto just to name a few! Oh and PAC of course
Didn’t realize he also promoted Evil Knievel’s attempt to jump the Snake River Canyon. Awesome!
That was an outstanding review of his career – thank you for that info.
“27 Foreign countries in which TR has promoted, incl. Puerto Rico”
– Puerto Rico is not a foreign country.
– It is officially a U.S. Territory.
– Take care.
Gary, you are correct on Puerto Rico. Many folks sleep through Geography and History classes.
Many folks dont even realize Hawaii was not declared a US state till 1959.
Many of those folks who slept through Geography and History class take jumpshot with toilet paper in Puerto Rico.
Estado libre associado, or free associated state. In other words, as you stated, a US territory. Puerto Ricans are full fledged US citizens, yet have the luxury of not paying Federal income tax. Every 4 years they vote on rather to become a state in the US, remain as they are, are become an independent nation. It’s always very close, with slightly more people voting to remain a US terrioty (free associated state) than statehood. A very small percentage vote for independence, usually like 2% to 4%. I use to live there in the 90’s and early 2000’s, when Tito was King!
I believe the first fight he promoted was Ali vs Chulalongkorn. On a side not in his younger years he worked as an assistant Attorney General under Bobby Kennedy
George Chuvallo
Best boxing press conferences by company in order best on down.
1 Don King Productions
2 Top Rank
3 Forum Boxing (local back in the day)
4 Main Events (limited on west coast)
5 Mike Acri and everyone else that may have had a local pc. Banner Promotions never really had one that I can remember.
Both don King and Bob Arum are 90. No matter what, clearly the two greatest promoters in boxing history. Happy Birthday Bob!
In the past 50 years yes but all time you have to say Tex Richard and if you consider Doc Kearns a promoter he would be #2
I want to party with Bob arum and some ring card girls and some Cuervo gold
Billy:
– I’m in on that but swap out Cuervo Gold with Makers Mark and add “Mother Nature” (at least for me).
Happy Birthday Mr Arum! It’s amazing he and Don King are still out there doing their thing at 90.
Don King and Bob Arum walking down the street in Vegas:
Arum: Nice looking girl that
King: For sure
Arum: I’d like to screw her
King: Out of what?
I’m not a Bob Arum guy at all but that is hilarious.
Only 90? I thought he was 102.
Snakes live forever, don’t they?