Bob Arum
Robert Arum | |
|---|---|
| Born | December 8, 1931 Brooklyn, New York City, U.S. |
| Occupation(s) | Attorney, boxing promoter |
| Known for | Founder and leader of Top Rank boxing promotional firm |
Robert Arum (born December 8, 1931) is a prominent American attorney and boxing promoter. He established and currently leads Top Rank, a professional boxing promotional firm headquartered in Las Vegas. Prior to his involvement in boxing promotion, Arum practiced law within the tax division of the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York.
Background and early life
Arum’s origins trace back to Brooklyn, New York City, where he was raised in the Crown Heights area, coming from an Orthodox Jewish family.
Education and legal career
He completed his secondary education at Erasmus Hall High School, attended New York University, and earned his law degree cum laude from Harvard Law School. Early on, Arum served as an attorney with the United States Department of Justice during the Kennedy administration. Although initially indifferent to boxing, his interest shifted after 1965.
After leaving the Justice Department, Arum joined the Wall Street law firm Phillips, Nizer, Benjamin, Krim & Ballon, where he assisted senior partner Louis Nizer by conducting research related to the Kennedy assassination. In 1963, while prosecuting for the DOJ, Arum successfully obtained an indictment against a Washington Heights Savings and Loan president on charges of mortgage tax evasion; this case ended tragically with the defendant’s suicide, influencing Arum’s decision to step away from prosecutorial work. He maintained a civil law practice until he closed his office in 1979.
Boxing promoter
In 1962, as part of his DOJ duties, Arum was tasked with seizing funds from the September 25, 1962 Floyd Patterson vs. Sonny Liston world heavyweight championship bout. This assignment led him to meet Lester M. Malitz—a former Leo Burnett vice-president and CCTV innovator—who promoted the 1965 Terrell–Chuvalo fight. Malitz hired Arum as legal counsel, and in 1966, encouraged by Jim Brown, Arum transitioned into boxing promotion. Brown introduced him to Muhammad Ali, who mentored Arum in the intricacies of boxing promotion.
Arum took on the roles of vice-president and secretary at Ali’s promotional company Main Bout; Mike Malitz held a 20 percent stake and Jim Brown owned 10 percent, both acting as vice-presidents. Arum recalls attending his first live fight at the 1966 bout between Muhammad Ali vs. George Chuvalo.
Throughout the 1980s, Arum became a leading figure in boxing promotion, competing directly with Don King. He orchestrated major superfights such as Marvin Hagler vs. Roberto Durán, Marvin Hagler vs. Thomas Hearns, and the 1986 Las Vegas doubleheader featuring Hagler–Hearns–Shuler. In 1994, he sought to broaden his scope by participating in an effort to acquire and relocate the Minnesota Timberwolves basketball team to New Orleans; however, this proposal was ultimately declined.
Arum continued to stage prominent bouts including Marvin Hagler vs. Sugar Ray Leonard, the 1989 rematch between Sugar Ray Leonard vs. Thomas Hearns, and Evander Holyfield vs. George Foreman. His notable signings during the 1990s encompassed world champions like Michael Carbajal, Oscar De La Hoya, Manny Pacquiao, and Erik Morales. Later in his career, he also promoted legendary champion Julio César Chávez.
In recent decades, Arum has strategically concentrated on promoting Hispanic fighters, acknowledging boxing’s strong appeal within Hispanic communities. This approach began after signing Roberto Durán for a comeback match against Davey Moore. Subsequently, he brought on board fighters such as Julio César Chávez Jr. and Oscar De La Hoya. His roster features Puerto Rican boxer Miguel Cotto, Mexican-American athletes Antonio Margarito and José Ramírez, Honduran-American contender Teófimo López, and Mexican fighter Óscar Valdez.
Arum frequently stages events in Southwestern U.S. cities with substantial Spanish-speaking populations and promotes numerous fights on Spanish-language broadcasters like Telefutura and later Azteca América. In 2016, he arranged an all-Hispanic undercard for the bout between Manny Pacquiao vs. Timothy Bradley III as a response to then-presidential candidate Donald Trump’s comments on immigration.
He was honored with induction into the International Boxing Hall Of Fame in 1999 and later into the Southern California Jewish Sports Hall of Fame in 2003.
Controversies
Throughout his career as a boxing promoter, Arum has been at the center of numerous conflicts, including a protracted rivalry lasting four decades with fellow promoter Don King, despite having collaborated with him on various bouts. UFC chief Dana White has openly criticized Arum and engaged in a public dispute with him; notably, White briefly ventured into boxing promotion in 2018, becoming a competitor.
In 1994, Arum joined forces with John Daly to organize the High Noon in Hong Kong event, which was abruptly canceled when Barry Hearn pulled his fighters due to unpaid purses owed by Top Rank.
Arum confessed in 2000 to paying $100,000 to IBF president Robert W. "Bobby" Lee Sr. as part of a $200,000 bribe intended to secure approval for the Schulz–Foreman fight. Lee was subsequently convicted for money laundering and tax evasion. The Nevada State Athletic Commission imposed a $125,000 fine on Arum. Similar admissions were made by other promoters involved.
In 2001, Oscar De La Hoya successfully sued Arum to terminate his contract with Top Rank; however, the two publicly reconciled in 2014.
Arum voiced criticism in 2003 regarding the judging of the De La Hoya versus Sugar Shane Mosley bout, insinuating possible retaliation from the Nevada State Commission but later issued an apology. In January 2004, FBI agents conducted a raid on Top Rank’s Las Vegas office amid an investigation into alleged fight-fixing; by 2006 no formal charges had been brought forward.
In 2007, Floyd Mayweather Jr. accused Arum of undercompensating and exploiting him during their ten-year partnership, though Mayweather later stated he held no grudges against Arum.
Arum filed a lawsuit against HBO, accusing the network of acting as an unofficial promoter and undermining his position by dropping Mayweather after he demanded more challenging opponents. The dispute was settled privately, but Arum criticized HBO’s dominance over fight promotions and its impact on promoters’ authority.
Following California’s revocation of Antonio Margarito’s boxing license in 2009 due to illegal hand wraps, Arum defended Margarito and suggested racial bias influenced the decision. He also pledged that Top Rank would avoid conducting events in California until the issue was resolved.
In 2020, Arum expressed dissatisfaction with top boxer Terence Crawford for inadequate self-promotion and lamented financial losses from Crawford’s last three fights. Crawford responded publicly with disappointment and filed a lawsuit against Arum in January 2022, alleging racial discrimination and insufficient promotional support that resulted in financial damages.
Personal life
Arum has been married twice. From his first marriage, he has three children: Richard, Lizabeth, and John. His son John Arum (1961–2010), who was an environmental attorney known for advocating Native American tribal rights, tragically died in a climbing accident in 2010.
Since 1991, Arum has been wed to Lovee duBoef; their family includes two stepchildren: Todd duBoef, who serves as President of Top Rank, and Dena duBoef, its vice president. He maintained a close friendship and business relationship with the late billionaire casino magnate Sheldon Adelson.
During the 2016 U.S. presidential election, he endorsed Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton.
Cannabis advocate
Arum portrayed DEA agent "Stokes" in the 1975 movie The Marijuana Affair, a role he secured through his connection with Lucien Chen, a promoter and filmmaker originally from Jamaica. He has been a vocal supporter of cannabis decriminalization, revealing in 2017 that his marijuana use began in 1966. Arum advocates for its use among athletes as an effective pain management alternative to conventional medications. He also condemned the Nixon administration for its harsh stance on cannabis and forecasted that prominent sports organizations like the NFL would eventually amend their marijuana regulations.
Film and television
Throughout his career, Arum has made appearances in numerous documentaries, boxing-related programs, films, and television series—primarily as a boxing commentator but occasionally taking on acting roles—such as his cameo as a boxing enthusiast in Play It to the Bone and his part in Arliss.
See also
External links
- Pages with script errors
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- 1931 births
- Living people
- American boxing managers
- American boxing promoters
- American boxing trainers
- American Orthodox Jews
- Businesspeople from New York City
- Erasmus Hall High School alumni
- New York (state) lawyers
- New York University alumni
- Harvard Law School alumni
- Jewish American sports executives and administrators
- Lawyers from New York City
- American billionaires
- People from Crown Heights, Brooklyn
- 21st-century American Jews