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Could Top Rank vs Golden Boy War Be Coming to an End?

Bob Arum has been a bit nicer about Golden Boy Promotions lately. Can it last? (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)

There has been plenty of talk lately that maybe the Cold War between Top Rank and GBP is ending, including this Kevin Iole article:

Arum told the Los Angeles Times that the [Donaire] arbitration meeting ended on May 16 “in a burst of goodwill, with handshakes,” and said he expected the companies could again work together. In a later interview with Yahoo! Sports, Arum said he was “hopeful” that would be the case.

And recently, Larry Merchant offered this thought:

"I think that Pacquiao has created such a high standard for himself that he's going to need some serious opposition eventually to convince people that when he fights they are going to see a fight and not a performance or a concert. ... I've always said that, as soon as Bob Arum saw that there was a chance to make real money by fighting a Golden Boy fighter in some way, he'll make nice the way he did with Don King when they were feuding. I think the best thing that Golden Boy has going for them now, and I think Arum is very shrewd and smart enough to know this, is that they have two of the hottest young fighters in boxing in 'Canelo' Alvarez and Victor Ortiz."

Fact is, both companies are going to run out of big-time fights to make soon.

Look, it's obvious to us, but it seems to miss the mainstream talking heads. The feud between Top Rank and Golden Boy is by far the biggest impediment to making the best fights in the United States. Everything -- even Pacquiao vs Mayweather -- would be easier to make if all the power brokers had wallets to get fattened at the same time.

I won't be holding my breath, but even this amount of talk about the war ending is encouraging. We can hope, but don't take it too far.

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I really hope this is true. Pacquiao fighting Mayweather is probably wishful thinking but I’d love to see a fight with Victor Ortiz.

by DodgerFan86 on May 26, 2011 3:04 AM EDT reply actions  

I really hope so. I though that Top Rank might be too strong and would start to dominate the other promoters but apart from signing Pacquiao’s opponents they haven’t really gained any advantage over Golden Boy, so they’ll have to work with them again.

So what will happen with Donaire? Will TR let him go?

by Bajingo on May 26, 2011 4:53 AM EDT reply actions  

They want him to finish his deal. That’s really all they’re asking. duBoef and Cameron Dunkin met and apparently it went OK. Donaire has never seemed in any rush to fight, though, so who knows?

Bad Left Hook
"To the town of Agua Fria rode a stranger one fine day..."

by Scott Christ on May 26, 2011 5:05 AM EDT up reply actions  

if it's true

then that’s one hell of a good news.. and even if Donaire signs with GBP, we’ll still get Donaire vs Gamboa! oooh just thinking of that fight makes me drool..

by garapataman on May 26, 2011 9:50 AM EDT reply actions  

Last few times this happened

The “war” ended for all of about a year. Not holding my breath too much.

Bad Left Hook - The SB Nation boxing blog
"Baseball is played on the field, not on a calculator."

by Brickhaus on May 26, 2011 11:09 AM EDT reply actions  

When did this war, not the latest battle, but the actual root problem between both companies, start?

Bob Arum would promote Lucifer himself if he could put asses in the seats.

by Apprentice on May 26, 2011 11:19 AM EDT reply actions  

i'm not sure..

but I think it was after the negotiations between Pacquiao and Mayweather fell through. I’m not really sure about that though.

by garapataman on May 26, 2011 11:40 AM EDT up reply actions  

oh wait..

you’re talking about the root problem. I think it was because of Oscar Dela Hoya’s relationship with Bob Arum. Dela Hoya was a former Top Rank fighter, right? But he split with Bob, and we all know how he can react when a star fighter leaves his company.

by garapataman on May 26, 2011 11:44 AM EDT up reply actions  

Yes. And it’s not just that he split with Arum, it’s that he split with Arum and then became his direct competitor.

Bad Left Hook
"To the town of Agua Fria rode a stranger one fine day..."

by Scott Christ on May 26, 2011 11:54 AM EDT up reply actions  

great minds—my first thought too.

There is no safety in numbers, or in anything else--James Thurber, 1939

by BoxAnne on May 26, 2011 11:55 AM EDT up reply actions  

Likely especially when they then start their own promotion company, and become competitors with their “benefactors.”

There is no safety in numbers, or in anything else--James Thurber, 1939

by BoxAnne on May 26, 2011 11:55 AM EDT up reply actions  

So basically Top Rank and Golden Boy never had a good relationship… and this is just the latest of the skirmishes?

Bob Arum would promote Lucifer himself if he could put asses in the seats.

by Apprentice on May 26, 2011 1:07 PM EDT up reply actions  

That’s how it’s always seemed to me. Goes back a long way. Everybody acted cool about it at first, but they weren’t really cool with it.

There is no safety in numbers, or in anything else--James Thurber, 1939

by BoxAnne on May 26, 2011 5:10 PM EDT up reply actions  

agree with BoxAnne

they’re forced to act like they’re cool with the situation whenever they needed to work together. They’ve always avoided working with each other, but they knew that sometimes, to rake in more money, they need to join forces.

by garapataman on May 26, 2011 8:02 PM EDT up reply actions  

Oscar just now apologizing on twitter to Pacquiao and Arum might also help in this regard.

It’s just a shame he still hasn’t realized that twitter is probably not the best medium for such messages.

by bachwards on May 26, 2011 12:27 PM EDT reply actions  

My Prediction

The war ends when Top Rank signs Bradley, and they set up Bradley Vs. Khan for the end of the year.

I hate the Texans

by battle axe of doom on May 26, 2011 12:50 PM EDT via mobile reply actions  

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