Arum Claims MGM Mirage Conspiring Against Top Rank
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Arum (l) Accuses MGM Mirage Of Conspiring
With Golden Boy Promotions Over Vegas Bout |
Top Rank Chair Bob Arum, who was "rebuffed in his attempt" to schedule a November 8 fight at the Mandalay Bay Events Center between boxers Manny Pacquiao and Edwin Valero, is accusing MGM Mirage officials of "conspiring with rival promoter Golden Boy Promotions to keep his company out," according to Steve Carp of the LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL. Arum was told the facility "would not be available on that date because it conflicts with two upcoming shows" at the MGM Grand Garden, the November 22 Ricky Hatton-Paulie Malignaggi fight and the December 6 Oscar De La Hoya farewell fight. Arum: "That's a disgrace. If they do this, Top Rank will never do another deal with MGM properties again." Arum alleged that Golden Boy Promotions CEO Richard Schaefer "threatened to pull the De La Hoya fight from the MGM if it allowed Arum to have his card at Mandalay Bay." Arum: "It's extortion. (Schaefer) is using the De La Hoya fight to keep us out." But Schaefer said Arum "has to be very careful making those kinds of accusations." Schaefer: "What he's saying is ridiculous." MGM Mirage President of Sports & Entertainment Richard Sturm "echoed Schaefer's comments." Sturm: "It doesn't make economic sense to bring in a third fight in that time frame. ... The timing's just not right to do another big fight in November" (LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL, 7/5).
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