Matchroom vs Top Rank TnS Boxing Podcast #33 -As we enter the calendar year 2017, Talk’n’Shoot issues it’s 33rd edition of the TnS Boxing Podcast and we are once again joined by veteran journalist Frank Lotierzo of The Sweet Science to take a look at boxing’s biggest international players.
For this in-depth discussion, we take a “Matchroom vs Top Rank” approach to the conversation, comparing the two rosters, their approaches and their front men, the inimitable Eddie Hearn and the irrepressible Bob Arum.
One of the strongest points Matchroom has going for them is their heavyweight roster. Hearn had a fantastic 2016 with the big boys as he guided young 26-year-old Anthony Joshua to a world title earlier than planned. Besides that, he jumped on signing undefeated Cuban Luis Ortiz after he was released by Golden Boy Promotions and he has continued the development of Dillian Whyte, who is now 20-1 and working towards a second lucrative showdown with Joshua.
Arum’s only real heavyweight asset right now is 27-year-old Andy Ruiz Jr (29-1) who failed in a bid for a world title this past December but put on a credible showing against New Zealand’s undefeated Joseph Parker.
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When Matchroom finally hits the truly international stage, they will find Arum already there. Where Arum excels is the breadth of the globe he has covered. For the last decade his prize possession has been Filipino star Manny Pacquiao who he has guided to being boxing’s second biggest attraction of this century behind Floyd Mayweather Jr.
Waiting in the wings of the Top Rank roster to take Pacquiao’s place seems to be Vasyl Lomachenko of the Ukraine. Arum, who has been promoting for 50 years and got his start in boxing by promoting the great Muhammad Ali has even compared the Ukrainian phenom to Ali. Lomachenko’s body of work as a professional has seen him face a truly international array of fighters from Mexico’s rugged Orlando Salido to Puerto Rico’s talented Roman Martinez as well as the USA’s talented Gary Russell Jr and Nicholas “the Axeman” Walters of Jamaica. Arum has been enamored with Lomachenko and has carefully groomed him on the world stage, quickly guiding him to world titles in two weight classes in under 10 professional fights.
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The discussion takes various interesting turns and includes a discussion of the approach to matchmaking that both companies use. Don’t miss the latest TnS Boxng Podcast #33 with Frank Lotierzo right here.
Matchroom vs Top Rank TnS Boxing Podcast #33
Eddie Hearn and his Matchroom Boxing won the 2016 Promoter of the year award at Thesweetscience.com after a tremendous year that saw him further cement his position as England’s top promoter as well as laying the groundwork to take Matchroom truly international in 2017.
As for the 85 year old Arum, he has been playing in boxing’s international scene for a long time, and 2016 saw him continuing to play the “world” card as he loads up on talent. The 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics saw Arum keeping a close watch. He came away with top talent from the USA, Brazil and the U.K. all signed to the Top Rank roster. Not one to be denied in the end of the year awards, Arum was honored as the 2016 Personality of the Year by The Sweet Science and he finished second to Hearn in the Promoter of the Year awards.
Matchroom vs Top Rank TnS Boxing Podcast #33 / Check out more boxing news on video at The Boxing Channel.
