Bob Arum was interviewed this past weekend in Japan as a part of the Naoya Inoue-Murodjon Akhmadaliev fight on Sunday. Arum had opinions of the Ali Act revisions.
Inoue defeated Akhmadaliev and indicated that he will fight one more time before year’s end in Saudi Arabia.
Being interviewed by Fight Hub TV, Arum spoke about TKO’s move to change the Ali Act.
“I think that’s exactly what he’s trying to do (undermine the bargaining power of fighters) and the Ali Act has worked very, very well and what it’s done is raise boxing purses to an unprecedented high level…It’s fair. These fighters risk their lives and health every time they step in the ring and they should be compensated and unlike the UFC fighters who fight for pittance, if that happened to boxing it would be a tragedy.”
Payout Perspective:
Arum and Dana White are long time enemies so there’s it is not surprising he opposed the White-supported bid to create UBO’s to serve as both promoter and regulator. Arum is not wrong in stating that the changes to the Ali Act would hurt bargaining power for boxers. Obviously, the changes would hurt Top Rank as Zuffa Boxing would make inroads into the sport and possibly upend business for Top Rank.
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