Eddie Hearn: Top Rank Boxers Aren’t Getting Respect From Bob Arum

Eddie Hearn doesn’t believe Bob Arum respects his fighters.

Hearn is the Matchroom Boxing director, while Arum is the founder and CEO of Top Rank. While the two have been working together to make Anthony Joshua vs. Tyson Fury a reality, they haven’t been afraid to trade barbs publicly.

More recently, Arum was miffed over Matchroom putting in a purse bid for Teofimo Lopez vs. George Kambosos. Lopez is a Top Rank fighter but his next bout went to a purse bid due to failed negotiations. Ultimately, it was Triller who won out.

We’ve seen elite boxers such as Lopez and WBO Welterweight Champion Terence Crawford express their frustration with Arum. Speaking to the folks at Fight Hub TV, Hearn believes it boils down to a lack of respect (h/t Bad Left Hook).

“Bob Arum’s not the boss of Teofimo Lopez. He’s not the boss of Terence Crawford. Bob Arum works for them. And he could never say that to you because he’s old school, you know what I mean? And that’s not what he thinks.

“I work for Anthony Joshua, he’s my boss. I work Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez, he’s my boss. I don’t mind saying it. I don’t have the ego to say anything different. I work for these people, it’s my job to do the best for them. They are the kings, I’m not a king. I’m just a fat guy in pajamas.

“The fighters aren’t getting the respect from him because he’s old school. And the game’s changed, it’s not like that anymore. So it’s a car crash for them. He should just be quiet now and move on and make another big fight.”