YOKOHAMA, Japan—It’s not every day you get to see a 92-year-old guy who makes a trans-Pacific flight like American boxing promoter Bob Arum.
The Top Rank chief is in town to drumbeat Tuesday night’s undisputed world super-bantamweight title clash between Naoya Inoue and Filipino lefty Marlon Tapales at the Ariake Arena.
And like a carnival barker, Arum didn’t waste any time doing what he does best.
But what he told the predominantly-Japanese media was right on the money.
It was devoid of hyperbole.
While a fight of this magnitude really needs no hype, Arum still made the trip from the United States to witness history.
“This is a great period for the sport of boxing,” he said before a big turnout of mediamen at the Nichirin ballroom of the Yokohama Bay Sheraton Hotel and Towers.
“For me, the biggest fight of this period is the one that will take place this Tuesday. This is something that is special in boxing, a unified and undisputed championship.”
He began promoting in 1966 when Muhammed Ali fought George Chuvalo and went on to do the legendary fights of many of boxing legends, including Sugar Ray Leonard, Thomas Hearns, Roberto Duran, Marvin Hagler, Oscar De La Hoya and Manny Pacquiao.
But Arum remains excited to take center stage and his eyes glowed as he was raving about the potential of Inoue, who he co-promotes alongside Akihiko Honda.
“Inoue is on a level over some of the greatest fighters I have promoted. For me, I really believe that when it’s all written, one of the great superstars of boxing will be this man right here,” Arum said, pointing to where the unbeaten Inoue was seated on the dais.
Just before the event concluded, Arum made his way out of the venue but soon found himself surrounded by media—all Japanese—and doing what he has mastered through the years.
While Inoue is the event’s top attraction, Arum is not far behind.
