Top Rank promoter extraordinaire Bob Arum has been cited by the pre-eminent TV boxing network HBO as ?Promoter of the Year? in its annual awards for 2007.
In its accompanying notes HBO said Top Rank ?dominated boxing in 2007 and at 76, the still-innovative Bob Arum found ways to make fights more appealing to fans at a time when boxing was struggling to remain relevant.?
HBO noted that Top Rank ?put on the most competitive and exciting fights more consistently than anyone else.? It said Top Rank fighters won three straight major fights in a row? when Kelly Pavlik knocked out Jermain Taylor, Manny Pacquiao out-boxed Marco Antonio Barrera and Miguel Cotto beat Sugar Shane Mosley.
However, it noted that the Pacquiao-Barrera and Cotto-Mosley fights were co-promoted with Golden Boy Promotions of Oscar De La Hoya.
HBO said that not only did Top Rank ?make some great matchups, it outclassed all opposition in putting on strong undercards so that fans were entertained, top to bottom.? Reference was made by HBO to the fact that Arum also successfully produced three of his own pay-per-view shows and each was injected with music, faster pacing and aggressive marketing.?
With Cotto, Pavlilk, Pacquiao and Victor Ortiz, Top Rank has what HBO says are ?arguably four of the best young fighters in the US under its banner and several cant-miss prospects waiting in the wings.?
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