What Would Top Rank Look Like if Bob Arum Hadn’t Survived Plane Crash?

Published

7 years ago

August 11, 2018

Everyone is familiar with the saying that the only things certain are death and taxes. But there are loopholes in tax codes, allowing those who are smart enough or well-connected enough to escape paying their fair share to the government or, sometimes, anything at all. That leaves death as the one absolute, inescapable fact of life.

We all die whenever God, fate or random circumstance determine that our time on Earth is over. But the Grim Reaper often shows up unexpectedly, snatching lives not fully lived before the about-to-be-dearly-departed have an opportunity to prepare themselves, their loved ones and their legacies for the decedents’ passage into the great unknown. It is that uncertainty that results in some of the most speculative questions ever posed to the public at large. What might have happened if President Abraham Lincoln decided not to attend Ford’s Theater on April 14, 1965, to see a performance of the play “Our American Cousin”? Or nearly a century later had another U.S. President, John F. Kennedy, not shown up in Dallas on Nov. 22, 1963?

Top Rank founder and CEO Bob Arum, arguably the most successful boxing promoter ever, is still going strong at the ripe old age of 86. Unlike his longtime arch-rival, Don King, whose once-powerful company has vastly diminished in influence and appears to not have a viable succession plan, Arum (pictured with his stepson Todd duBoef and Shakur Stevenson) continues to look to the future while positioning Top Rank as a dominant force beyond his own still-undetermined life span. As if there were any doubt as to that, Top Rank announced on Aug. 2 that it had replaced its existing four-year contract with ESPN with a new, seven-year deal that both parties are calling “the most comprehensive, exclusive rights agreement in the history of boxing.”

It is another significant building block in the legend of a master wheeler-dealer, a cum laude graduate of Harvard Law School who had never even seen a boxing match before the first fight card he promoted, on March 29, 1966, in which Muhammad Ali defended his world heavyweight championship with a 15-round unanimous decision over gritty but outclassed Canadian George Chuvalo in Toronto. Arum would go on to promote 27 bouts involving Ali, and among the other ring notables that performed in megafights staged by Top Rank are Sugar Ray Leonard, Marvin Hagler, Thomas Hearns, Roberto Duran, George Foreman, Oscar De La Hoya, Floyd Mayweather Jr., Manny Pacquiao and, more recently, Vasiliy Lomachenko and Terence Crawford, regarded by many knowledgeable boxing people as the two best pound-for-pound fighters in the world today.

But what would Top Rank – indeed, the entire boxing industry – look like today had Arum perished along with six others in a fiery crash of a private plane in Big Bear Lake, Calif., on Aug. 13, 2002? Might some of the company’s proudest accomplishments in the 16 years that have followed Arum’s near-brush with death still occurred? Would those suddenly charged with the responsibility of implementing his vision of what was to be carry on as if he were still there and calling the shots?

I would have liked to hear what Arum had to say about the phalanx of what-ifs he surely must have contemplated then, and maybe even now. When faced with the possibility of sudden death, did the events of his life flash through his mind as some in similar situations have stated? Did he fret as to whether his stepson and appointed successor, Todd duBoef, then only 33, had learned enough intricacies of the boxing business to smoothly transition into the company’s foremost position? But my request for Arum to discuss those and other matters, passed along to him by TR publicist Evan Korn, was rejected because, as Korn said, “Bob has said enough about that. He wants to look ahead, not back.”

Fair enough. But Kevin Iole, then with the Las Vegas Review-Journal and now the combat sport writer for Yahoo!Sports, was one of the passengers in the plane that harrowing afternoon, and in addition to his own sense of relief that he survived, he also has considered the ramifications of a boxing landscape prematurely bereft of one of its foremost innovators.

“No doubt,” Iole told me when asked if the fight game as presently constituted would have veered onto another course had Arum died that day. “You’re talking about one of the great promoters of all time, arguably the best ever. If he died then, you have to believe Top Rank would have looked very different, and maybe well into the future.”

Truth be told, all aboard the short, 100-mile flight that day – along with Arum and Iole, the list includes Review-Journal writer Royce Feour, Mandalay Bay executives Scott Voeller and H.C. Rowe, pilot Joseph Topham and co-pilot Craig Terry — are extremely fortunate to be around to tell the tale, or not, of what might have been the final day of their existence.

The purpose of the flight was for Arum, the writers and the Mandalay Bay officials to be on hand for a media gathering hosted by Oscar De La Hoya to hype his Sept. 14, 2002, bout with Fernando Vargas. It was the type of publicity-driven event almost everyone in boxing has attended many times without ever giving the possibility of death a second thought. This time was different, however.

“I did not realize we were crashing, believe it or not,” Iole said. “We had a series of bumps as we were going down, which stopped a little bit, and then a bigger bump because we had crashed through a fence at the end of the runway and crossed the road. There was a truck coming and the nose of the plane actually went underneath it. When we stopped we were in a dry lakebed.

“Royce’s seatbelt was loose, which we knew when we took off, so he was kind of getting thrown back and forth. His head was on my lap and he was just sort of lying there. Before I could even process that, Scott Voeller, who was sitting on the opposite side of the plane from me, one row behind Royce, shouted, `Get off the plane! The wings are on fire!’

“The co-pilot (Terry) tried to open the door with his shoulder. It didn’t work because the door had been knocked out of shape by the crash and was stuck. He tried again, still no go. Then he held onto a railing and sort of drop-kicked the door open. Honestly, I didn’t worry that we might not be able to get off the plane. I didn’t even contemplate that. But after we got off, and started counting people, some of the airport people were showing up and yelling, `Get away from the plane! It’s loaded with fuel!’ It wasn’t until we had moved away maybe 200 feet – really, not that far – when the plane blew up. That’s when I realized, `Holy s—, we all could have been killed.’”

Arum has spoken about the incident, at least for a story authored by Iole on its 10-year anniversary. “We ran away,” he was quoted as saying, “and I think we could have beaten (Olympic sprint champion Usain) Bolt that day.”

Stan Wainhamer of the San Bernadino County Sheriff’s Department gave his take on just how close a call those in the plane had had. “The plane was a ball of fire when it went through that fence,” he said. “They say any time you walk away from a plane crash, you’re lucky. But figure that plane bounced off the runway, that it was on fire when it crossed the road, that it screeched to a stop in the field, and then you look at what’s left of it and you have to say it is miraculous that everyone survived.”

The good fortune that preserved the lives of Arum and the other six individuals – who showed their pluck by getting aboard another private plane later that day for the return flight to Vegas – is underscored by the list of those who were involved in other crashes and did not walk away. Former heavyweight champ Rocky Marciano died in the wreck of a private plane on Aug. 31, 1969; former middleweight titlist Marcel Cerdan, en route to New York to gear up for a rematch with the man who dethroned him, Jake LaMotta, never made it there when his plane went down in the Azores on Oct. 27, 1949; all 14 members of a U.S. amateur boxing team perished in a crash in Warsaw, Poland, on March 14, 1980, and three key executives of the Trump organization (Mark Etess, Stephen Hyde and Jonathan Benanav and two crew members) were killed in a helicopter crash on Oct. 10, 1989, as they were en route from New York City to Atlantic City for a press conference to announce the Feb. 3, 1990, bout between junior welterweights Vinny Pazienza and Hector Camacho at Trump Plaza.

Bernie Dillon, then an executive with the Trump organization, now vice president of entertainment at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Atlantic City, can appreciate the terrible impact Arum’s premature death might have had on Top Rank because he saw what happened to Donald Trump’s boxing operation when that helicopter plummeted to earth.

“I think that boxing in Atlantic City would have been in a much better state for much longer than it was, as things turned out,” Dillon said. “Those talented individuals would have been a part of bringing some of the bigger fights (to Atlantic City), but there’s no way that any one company or group of people could have reversed for long a trend that already had begun. The sport back then was not nearly what it had been, or is now.”

Death and boxing are as linked as death and just about anything else. Good times ebb and flow, as do the bad times. And human existence, as always, is a tenuous proposition and just a part of the equation.

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Bivol Evens the Score with Beterbiev; Parker and Stevenson Win Handily

Published

1 hour ago

February 22, 2025

David A. Avila

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It was labeled the best boxing card in history.

That’s up for debate.

And there was some debate as Dmitry Bivol avenged his loss to Artur Beterbiev to become the new undisputed light heavyweight world champion on Saturday by majority decision in a tactical battle.

“He gave me this chance and I appreciate it,” said Bivol of Beterbiev.

Bivol (24-1, 12 KOs) rallied from behind to give Beterbiev (21-1, 20 KOs) his first pro loss in their rematch at a sold out crowd in the Venue Riyadh Season in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Like their first encounter the rematch was also very close.

Four months ago, these two faced each other as undefeated light heavyweights. Now, after two furious engagements, both have losses.

Beterbiev was making his first defense as undisputed light heavyweight champion and made adjustments from their first match. This time the Russian fighter who trains in Canada concentrated on a body attack and immediately saw dividends.

For most of the first six rounds it seemed Beterbiev would slowly grind down Bivol until he reached an unsurmountable lead. But despite the momentum he never could truly hurt Bivol or gain separation.

Things turned around in the seventh round as Bivol opened up with combinations to the head and body while slipping Beterbiev’s blows. It was a sudden swing of momentum. But how long could it last?

“It was hard to keep him at the distance. I had to be smarter and punch more clean punches,” said Bivol.

Beterbiev attempted to regain the momentum but Bivol was not allowing it to happen. In the final 10 seconds he opened up with a machine gun combination. Though few of the punches connected it became clear he was not going to allow unclarity.

Using strategic movement Bivol laced quick combinations and immediately departed. Betebiev seemed determined to counter the fleet fighter but was unsuccessful for much of the second half of the fight.

Around the 10^th round Beterbiev stepped on the gas with the same formula of working the body and head. It gave Bivol pause but he still unleashed quick combos to keep from being overrun.

Bivol connected with combinations and Beterbiev connected with single body and head shots. It was going to be tough for the referees to decide which attack they preferred. After 12 rounds with no knockdowns one judge saw it a draw at 114-114. But two others saw Bivol the winner 116-112, 115-113.

“I was better. I was pushing myself more, I was lighter. I just wanted to win so much today,” said Bivol.

Beterbiev was gracious in defeat.

“Congratulations to Bivol’s team” said Beterbiev. “I think this fight was better than the first fight.”

After the match it was discussed that an effort to make a third fight is a strong possibility.

Heavyweight KO by Parker

Joseph Parker (36-3, 24 KOs) once again proved he could be the best heavyweight without a world title in knocking out the feared Martin Bakole (21-2, 16 KOs) to retain his WBO interim title. It was quick and decisive.

“Catch him when he is coming in,” said Parker, 33, about his plan.

After original foe IBF heavyweight titlist Daniel Dubois was forced to withdraw due to illness, Bakole willingly accepted the match with only two days’ notice. Many experts and fans around the world were surprised and excited Parker accepted the match.

Ever since Parker lost to Joe Joyce in 2022, the New Zealander has proven to be vastly improved with wins over Deontay Wilder and Zhilei Zhang. Now you can add Bakole to the list of conquests.

Bakole, 33, was coming off an impressive knockout win last July and posed a serious threat if he connected with a punch. The quick-handed Bakole at 310 pounds and a two-inch height advantage is always dangerous.

In the first round Parker was wary of the fighter from the Democratic Republic of the Congo. He kept his range and moved around the ring looking to poke a jab and move. Bakole caught him twice with blows and Parker retaliated.

It proved to be a very important test.

Parker refrained from moving and instead moved inside range of the big African fighter. Both exchanged liberally with Bakole connecting with an uppercut and Parker an overhand right.

Bakole shook his head at the blow he absorbed.

Both re-engaged and fired simultaneously. Parker’s right connected to the top of the head of Bakole who shuddered and stumbled and down he went and could not beat the count. The referee stopped the heavyweight fight at 2:17 of the second round. Parker retains his interim title by knockout.

“I’m strong, I’m healthy, I’m sharp,” said Parker. “I had to be patient.”

Shakur Wins

Despite an injured left hand southpaw WBC lightweight titlist Shakur Stevenson (23-0, 11 KOs) won by stoppage over late replacement Josh Padley (15-1, 6 KOs). It was an impressive accomplishment.

Often criticized for his lack of action and safety-first style, Stevenson was supposed to fight undefeated Floyd Schofield who pulled out due to illness. In stepped British lightweight Padley who had nothing to lose.

Padley was never hesitant to engage with the super-quick Stevenson and despite the lightning-quick combos by the champion, the British challenger exchanged liberally. It just wasn’t enough.

Even when Stevenson injured his left hand during an exchange in the sixth round, Padley just couldn’t take advantage. The speedy southpaw kept shooting the right jabs and ripping off right hooks. At the end of the sixth Stevenson briefly switched to a right-handed fighting style.

Stevenson used his right jabs and hooks to perfection. Double right hooks to the head and body seemed to affect the British challenger. A clean left to the body of Padley sent him to the floor for the count in the ninth round. It was a surprising knockdown due to his injured left. Padley got up and the fight resumed. Stevenson unloaded with right hooks to the body and down went the British fighter once again. He got up and tried to fight his way out but was met with another left to the body and down he went a third time. Padley’s corner tossed in a white towel to signify surrender. The referee stopped the fight at the end of the round. Stevenson scored his 11^th knockout win.

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Early Results from Riyadh where Hamzah Sheeraz was Awarded a Gift Draw

Published

5 hours ago

February 22, 2025

Arne K. Lang

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After two 6-round appetizers, British light heavyweights Joshua Buatsi and Callum Smith got the show rolling with a lusty 12-round skirmish. Things went south in the middle of the seven-fight main card when WBC middleweight champion Carlos Adames locked horns with challenger Hamzah Sheeraz. This was a drab fight owing to a milquetoast performance by the favored Sheeraz.

Heading in, the lanky six-foot-three Sheeraz, whose physique is mindful of a young Thomas Hearns, was undefeated in 21 fights. Having stopped five of his last six opponents in two rounds or less, the 25-year-old Englishman was touted as the next big thing in the middleweight division. However, he fought off his back foot the entire contest, reluctant to let his hands go, and Adames kept his title when the bout was scored a draw.

Sheeraz had the crowd in his corner and two of the judges scored the match with their ears. Their tallies were 115-114 for Sheeraz and 114-114. The third judge had it 118-110 for Adames, the 30-year old Dominican, now 24-1-1, who had Ismael Salas in his corner.

Ortiz-Madrimov

Super welterweight Vergil Ortiz Jr, knocked out his first 21 opponents, begging the question of how he would react when he finally faced adversity. He showed his mettle in August of last year when he went a sizzling 12 rounds with fellow knockout artist Serhii Bohachuk, winning a hard-fought decision. Tonight he added another feather in his cap with a 12-round unanimous decision over Ismail Madrimov, prevailing on scores of 117-111 and 115-113 twice.

Ortiz won by adhering tight to Robert Garcia’s game plan. The elusive Madrimov, who bounces around the ring like the energizer bunny, won the early rounds. But eventually Ortiz was able to cut the ring off and turned the tide in his favor by landing the harder punches. It was the second straight loss for Madrimov (10-2-1), a decorated amateur who had lost a close but unanimous decision to Terence Crawford in his previous bout.

Kabayel-Zhang

No heavyweight has made greater gains in the last 15 months than Agit Kabayel. The German of Kurdish descent, whose specialty is body punching, made his third straight appearance in Riyadh tonight and, like in the previous two, fashioned a knockout. Today, although out-weighed by more than 40 pounds, he did away with Zhilei “Big Bang” Zhang in the sixth round.

It didn’t start out well for Kabayel. The New Jersey-based, six-foot-six Zhang, a two-time Olympian for China, started fast and plainly won the opening round. Kabayel beat him to the punch from that point on, save for one moment when Zhang put him on the canvas with a straight left hand.

That happened in the fifth round, but by the end of the frame, the 41-year-old Zhang was conspicuously gassed. The end for the big fellow came at the 2:29 mark of round six when he couldn’t beat the count after crumbling to the canvas in a delayed reaction after taking a hard punch to his flabby midsection.

Kabayel remains undefeated at 26-0 (18 KOs). Zhang (27-3-1) hadn’t previously been stopped.

Smith-Buatsi

The all-British showdown between light heavyweights Joshua Buatsi and Callum Smith was a grueling, fan-friendly affair. A former 168-pound world title-holder, Smith, 34, won hard-earned unanimous decision, prevailing on scores of 115-113, 116-112, and a ludicrous 119-110.

There were no knockdowns, but Liverpool’s Smith, who advanced to 31-2 (22) finished the contest with a bad gash in the corner of his right eye. It was the first pro loss for Buatsi (19-1), an Olympic bronze medalist who entered the contest a small favorite and was the defending “interim” title-holder.

This contest was also a battle of wits between two of America’s most prominent trainers, Buddy McGirt (Smith) and Virgil Hunter (Buatsi).

Check back shortly for David Avila’s wrap-up of the last three fights.

Photo credit: Mark Robinson / Matchroom

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Cain Sandoval KOs Mark Bernaldez in the Featured Bout at Santa Ynez

Published

21 hours ago

February 21, 2025

David A. Avila

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Northern California’s Cain Sandoval remained undefeated with a knockout win over Mark Bernaldez in a super lightweight battle on Friday on a 360 Promotions card.

Sandoval (15-0, 13 KOs) of Sacramento needed four rounds to figure out tough Filipino fighter Bernaldez (25-7, 14 KOs) in front of a packed crowd at Chumash Casino in Santa Ynez.

Bernaldez had gone eight rounds against Mexico’s very tough Oscar Duarte. He showed no fear for Sandoval’s reputed power and both fired bombs at each other from the second round on.

Things turned in favor of Sandoval when he targeted the body and soon had Bernaldez in retreat. It was apparent Sandoval had discovered a weakness.

In the beginning of the fourth Sandoval fired a stiff jab to the body that buckled Bernaldez but he did not go down. And when both resumed in firing position Sandoval connected with an overhand right and down went the Filipino fighter. He was counted out by referee Rudy Barragan at 34 seconds of the round.

“I’m surprised he took my jab to the body. I respect that. I have a knockout and I’m happy about that,” Sandoval said.

Other Bouts

Popular female fighter Lupe Medina (9-0) remained undefeated with a solid victory over the determined Agustina Vazquez (4-3-2) by unanimous decision after eight rounds in a minimumweight fight between Southern Californians.

Early on Vazquez gave Medina trouble disrupting her patter with solid jabs. And when Medina overloaded with combination punches, she was laced with counters from Vazquez during the first four rounds.

Things turned around in the fifth round as Medina used a jab to keep Vazquez at a preferred distance. And when she attacked it was no more than two-punch combination and maintaining a distance.

Vazquez proved determined but discovered clinching was not a good idea as Medina took advantage and overran her with blows. Still, Vazquez looked solid. All three judges saw it 79-73 for Medina.

A battle between Southern Californian’s saw Compton’s Christopher Rios (11-2) put on the pressure all eight rounds against Eastvale’s Daniel Barrera (8-1-1) and emerged the winner by majority decision in a flyweight battle.

It was Barrera’s first loss as a pro. He never could discover how to stay off the ropes and that proved his downfall. Neither fighter was knocked down but one judge saw it 76-76, and two others 79-73 for Rios.

In a welterweight fight Gor Yeritsyan (20-1,16 KOs) scorched Luis Ramos (23-7) with a 12-punch combination the sent him to the mat in the second round. After Ramos beat the count he was met with an eight punch volley and the fight was stopped at 2:11 of the second round by knockout.

Super feather prospect Abel Mejia (7-0, 5 KOs) floored Alfredo Diaz (9-12) in the fifth round but found the Mexican fighter to be very durable in their six-round fight. Mejia caught Diaz with a left hook in the fifth round for a knockdown. But the fight resumed with all three judges scoring it 60-53 for Mejia who fights out of El Modena, Calif.

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