Top Rank boss Bob Arum didn’t hold back when blasting Matchroom rival Eddie Hearn for “sticking his nose where it shouldn’t be” this week.
This latest development could see heavyweight talks ongoing hit a stumbling block.
Hearn, who threatened a bid as covered by WBN, put in a purse bid to stage Teofimo Lopez vs. George Kambosos Jr.
The Essex man laid down a $3.5 million check to secure the IBF mandatory lightweight clash but lost to Triller, who bid almost double.
Lopez vs. Kambosos Jr. will head to the platform that successfully put on Mike Tyson vs. Roy Jones Jr. in 2020.
Arum didn’t mind the outcome. He praised Triller for securing his company an almost $800,000 windfall from the process.
Hearn took the brunt of the vent as Arum blasted his UK counterpart for even attempting to take the fight to DAZN.
“Everyone’s happy, though the bid being the size, it was pretty crazy. That fight isn’t worth anywhere like that,” Arum told Ring TV.
“Everyone’s a winner, the fighters, Lou DiBella and Top Rank. The only loser was Eddie Hearn and Matchroom. They put their nose where they shouldn’t have been.
“Eddie lost the bid, got Top Rank p—ed at them for no reason. They came away with nothing. Everybody else involved came out ahead.
“Who was the loser? Eddie Hearn. He p—ed us off and spent $5,000 to out a bid. He ended up with nothing.”
FURY vs. JOSHUA
Anyone’s guess is what this means for the already precarious talks between Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua.
Top Rank’s star heavyweight, Fury, has already stated his frustration at the lack of progress in negotiations with his British rival.
When Hearn stated on many occasions that a deal is close and that it could happen any day.
‘The Gypsy King’ told ESPN: “They’ve had a full year to make something happen. It hasn’t happened as of yet.
“We’re no further forward today than we were a year ago.
“The way (Covid-19) is at the moment. I don’t think (it has) got much to do with the fighters. It’s to do with the venue, date, place, and site fees. It’s to do with everything but the fight itself.”
A shocking statement from Fury, considering all the positivity in the UK media: who knows what happens with the heavyweight battle now Arum and Hearn are at loggerheads again.
HEAVYWEIGHT
Regarding Lopez vs. Kambosos, Bob Arum proved no sour grapes existed when he wished Triller success with the spring event.
“I give it to them. If Triller is successful with this app, they can do a Teofimo fight with a young audience. Then he comes back to ESPN, on PPV or otherwise, with an enhanced fan base,” said the 88-year-old Hall of Famer.
WBN Editor Phil has over ten years of boxing news experience. Follow WBN on Twitter @WorldBoxingNews.
