Bob Arum talks Gilberto Ramirez

By: Francisco Martinez

Bob Arum was at the Fortune gym in Los Angeles, CA to oversee the media workout for one of his prized young pugilist in Gilberto “El Zurdo” Ramirez as he prepares to face off against Derek Edwards for the WBO international super middleweight crown. We managed to get an interview with Top Rank’s very own, “The Godfather” of Boxing, Bob Arum. The legendary promoter talks to us about “Zurdo” Ramirez potential along with other issues related to some of the fighters currently under his expertise guidance in Boxing.

Boxeomundial.com: “Out of all your young prospects, what potential does Zurdo Ramirez have?”

Bob Arum: “Well he’s one of our stars. We believe that his upside is tremendous. I really believe that he’ll be super, super attraction both, here in the United States and in Mexico”

Boxeomundial.com: “Do you think this move to 168lbs is a permanent one?” (Zurdo Ramirez has competed his last 4 fights at 168lbs, super middleweight after starting the most part of his young career at 160lbs, middleweight)

Bob Arum: “This is his weight 168lbs. Eventually I wouldn’t be surprised if he went up to 175lbs” (light heavyweight)

Boxeomundial.com: “Do you guys have a title shot for the end of the year?”

Bob Arum: “Yes. We are the mandatory for the winner of Arthur Abraham/Stieglitz fight. That takes place in July” (On July 18th Arthur Abraham defends his WBO super middleweight title against Robert Stieglitz in what becomes part four of their classic actioned packed serious of fights)

Boxeomundial.com: “If that fight happens where do you think it takes place?”

Bob Arum: “It’ll take place either in Germany the United States or in Dubai”

Boxeomundial.com: “Won’t that be a little bit intimidating taking him to Germany?”

Bob Arum: “Why? The ring is the same the officials will be neutral, appointed by the WBO and I don’t think it would be intimidating at all”

Boxeomundial.com: “Do you guys have plans of making Zurdo an attraction on HBO at some point?”

Bob Arum: “Yeah, he’s going to be an attraction for boxing and I’m not going to limit him to HBO because we want to develop his career the way we want to develop his career and I will have him fight on PPV, on HBO, in China, in Dubai, we have plenty of other options, other then to just put him on HBO and be dictated by them as to who he has to fight”

Boxeomundial.com: “When you first started promoting Zurdo did you expect such a loyal fan base to magnate towards him in such a short period of time?”

Bob Arum: “Yeah, the first press conference we had with him I said he would be the next Carlos Monzon and everybody laughed. He’s going to be in this spot in day what Carlos Manson was decades ago”

Boxeomundial.com: “Is it much easier working with fighters like Zurdo Ramirez where promoting him is much easier?”

Bob Arum: “Well he’s very fan friendly that’s very, very good. He’s very cooperative and he has good people with him so that makes our job easier”

Boxemundial.com: “You have another fighter on your stable, Terence Crawford and then you have this situation with Mikey Garcia. If that situation with Garcia is to be resolved and he ends up on your promotion is that a fight you would like to make?”

Bob Arum: “I would love to make Crawford and Garcia. I would give Garcia a tune up fight and then put him in with Crawford”

Boxeomundial.com: “Do you see Crawford being an opponent for Pacquiao in the future?”

Bob Arum: “We have to see how Pacquiao comes out of the surgery. We don’t know, we don’t know when he’s going to be ready to fight, when he will be around. It’s all up in the air”

Boxeomundial.com: “What about a main event between Top Rank and PBC. Is it possible that Crawford ends up fighting the winner of Porter/Broner or is that something that is just not going to happen?” (Premier Boxing Champions is Al Haymon’s promotion base)

Bob Arum: “I don’t think that’s going happen. We’re going to keep Crawford at 140lbs for a while and Porter is a natural 147lbs and has to come down a few pounds for those fights with him if interested”

Boxeomundial.com: “How many years do you have left in promoting?”

Bob Arum: “It’s depends on god. I thank god for every additional day and month that he gives me”

Boxeomundial.com: “Thank you Mr. Arum we appreciate it”