George Foreman Jr. is in talks with the city of Sacramento and the NBA Kings to "bring prime-time, televised professional boxing matches to Golden 1 Center," according to Scott Rodd of the SACRAMENTO BUSINESS JOURNAL. While conversations appear to still be in the early stages, Foreman said that he is "confident that with buy-in from the city, the Kings and others, Sacramento could become a mainstay host for professional boxing matches in the U.S." In a memo sent to city officials, Foreman said that he "hopes to establish "'a global boxing and combat sports entity headquartered in Sacramento,' which would be called Kings of Rumble." The memo indicates that Foreman would "seek a four-year exclusive partnership" with the Kings ownership group to "launch, implement and operate the Kings of Rumble boxing program." City of Sacramento Chief Innovation Officer Louis Stewart said that could mean "five main card fights at the arena over a multiyear period." Foreman said that he "hopes to leverage his connections with boxing magnates" like Top Rank Chair Bob Arum. Top Rank has "worked with Foreman Jr. on promotional events in China." Arum said that Top Rank is "considering Sacramento, among several other cities, for a Dec. 1 title fight featuring lightweight champion Vasyl Lomachenko" (BIZJOURNALS.com, 8/9).
