Top Rank Boxing has had discussions with the MGM Grand in Las Vegas about doing boxing events without fans according to a report from the Las Vegas Review-Journal.
Todd duBoef, president of Top Rank confirmed with the newspaper that the promotion is considering this strategy. The MGM Resorts acting CEO Bill Hornbuckle said during the company’s earnings call Thursday that it has been in talks with sports leagues about hosting games without fans at their facilities. duBoef, was the only representative from a sports organization to comment on the MGM reaching out. The Top Rank head seemed optimistic of its prospects to hold events at the MGM in Vegas without fan attendance.
The company has made overtures to the NBA and WNBA to have the leagues play and stay on their properties.
Assuming that the proposal to hold fights is comparable to the one given to the NBA and WNBA, there will be extensive health and safety procedures although nothing concrete “wasn’t fully laid out.” It also has hired a health adviser that will presumably assist in developing protocol and strategy.
Payout Perspective:
It is clear that we are seeing a difference in the way the UFC and boxing are handling the pandemic. Bob Arum wished the UFC luck with the events upcoming in Florida but noted that it is “cowboy behavior” connoting that Dana White is perhaps recklessly and blindly getting back to action without fulling vetting the consequences and circumstances. Arum is aligning with other major sports when his promotion can come back. This is to ensure health and safety checks are in place and other contingencies.
Leave a Reply