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Top Rank’s Bob Arum said his fighter Teofimo Lopez’s clash with George Kambosos Jr was “ not a major fight. ”
Unified lightweight champion Lopez is set to face his mandatory IBF challenger Kambosos after the 27-year-old Australian defeated Lee Selby last October.
Lopez caused a stir in the division by defeating Vasiliy Lomachenko the same month, winning the IBF, WBC franchise, WBA and WBO titles.
The American and Kambosos have failed to agree on a deal meaning the fight will go to a scholarship offer, despite Lopez still having three and a half years on a contract with Arum.
Speaking to Barbershop Conversations, Arum confirmed that his organization had made an offer.
“It is Tuesday and we have applied,” he said.
“Hopefully we win the bid and can Teofimo with Kambosos at Madison Square Garden in June if we’re successful with the offer, and hopefully that will happen.
“But we have to be financially responsible and we can only offer what makes sense to everyone.
“When we get full operations with spectators, if we make income à la carte and with a closed circuit, which no one has been able to do, I see us returning to normal slowly but surely as spring approaches. and summer. . “
Perhaps unsurprisingly, Arum suggested it would be a mistake for competitor, peer and occasional colleague Eddie Hearn to make a big offer on behalf of Matchroom.
“We have a contract with Teofimo for three and a half years. So if Hearn makes a bid on the fight, it’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for him because Teofimo wins the fight, ”he said.
“So let’s say Eddie puts money on the fight putting Teofimo and Kambosos on, which isn’t a major fight, which he accomplishes, because Teofimo comes right back to ESPN if Eddie wins the scholarship offer if Eddie makes an offer.
“If Eddie, for example, had an argument with one of his fighters under contract with Matchroom, and we submit, it would be the same.
“It would be a little foolish because we would make a scholarship offer and fight, but where would we go from there?” You always have to think about how you are building it. “
Arum even claimed that a fight with Lopez wouldn’t be a big deal.
“Teofimo is not a free agent, so why would Eddie want to participate in the fight? And this is not a major fight. Let’s be honest about it, ”he said.
“Kambosos is a good kid and will give a good performance, but again it’s a 25-1 fight.
“Our job is to program for ESPN and we wouldn’t be bidding for any of Eddie’s fighters because what are we building?”
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