By Edward Chaykovsky
Top Rank's CEO Bob Arum is looking to stage a major show in Dubai in the month of November. He wants to have no less than three world title fights on a seven fight card.
“We want to hold a spectacular show in Dubai as it is a city that so far has been untapped when it comes to boxing,” Arum told 7DAYS. “Ideally we will look to stage an event every three months but to start with we are looking at a date in November.
Arum wants to have the winner of Timothy Bradley-Jessie Vargas, who collide for the vacant WBO welterweight title on June 27th, return on the card against mandatory challenger Sadam Ali.
He also wants super middleweight Gilbert Ramirez to go for the WBO super middleweight title, which Arthur Abraham defends in July against Robert Stieglitz.
“The show will feature at least three world title fights and we should be able to reveal the full card very soon. But the winner of Tim Bradley and Jessie Vargas will definitely feature. We are also in talks to stage a fight for the WBO super middleweight title which Arthur Abraham will defend in July against Robert Stieglitz.”
One of the more anticipated fights in the featherweight division, a unification between Vasyl Lomachenko and Nicholas Walters, is another fight Arum would like to stage on the card - provided Walters wins his fight on Saturday night.
Should WBA 'regular' super bantamweight champion Scott Quigg retain his belt against Kiko Martinez in July, Arum would like to secure him for a fight with Nonito Donaire.
Arum hopes to grow the boxing market in Dubai in the same manner as Macau, China - where Arum's company has been staging shows for the last few years. Top Rank's long term plans in the country include a 2016 event which will feature eight division world champion Manny Pacquiao.
“Manny has already agreed to fight in Dubai,” said Arum. “His advisors have visited the region and were overwhelmed to hear of the support he has from the Filipino community. We heard how every restaurant, cinema and hotel was packed with Pacquiao supporters when he fought Mayweather so we know a show with Manny in Dubai would be huge.
“It will take a lot of rehab but his team are very optimistic that he will be able to return from the injury. I will be going to the Philippines soon to check on his progress but we hope he will be ready to go next year.”
“We have already done eight shows in Macau and it really has become a great destination for big fights,” explained the promoter, who first began working in boxing back in 1965.
“I always look to explore new regions and feel we can do something similar in Dubai to what we have achieved in Macau. I know there is a lot of interest in the Middle East and I’ve been intrigued with Dubai ever since visiting the city when my good friend Sol Kerzner opened the Atlantis hotel.
“That’s why I am confident that we will be able to host shows every three months and that the biggest names in boxing will feature on the fight cards.”
Arum's Potential Fight Card
WBO welterweight title
Sadam Ali vs Tim Bradley/Jessie Vargas
WBA and WBO world featherweight titles
Vasyl Lomachenko vs Nicholas Walters
WBA super bantamweight title
Scott Quigg vs Nonito Donaire
WBO super-middleweight title
Gilberto Ramirez vs Arthur Abraham/Robert Stieglitz
WBO world light flyweight title
Donnie Nietes vs TBC