Top Rank chief Bob Arum is currently in the UK to discuss options for some of his fighters and has held a meeting over the weekend with Matchroom Sport chief Barry Hearn, father of Eddie, ostensibly with a view to making match-ups for Matchroom world champions Kell Brook and Scott Quigg.
On his twitter account on Sunday, the elder Hearn posted a picture of himself with the long-time Top Rank chief alongside the caption, “Great evening with an old friend. Lots to talk about!”
The “lots to talk about” is likely to include a potential fight for WBA (reg) super bantamweight champion Scott Quigg, who is keen on a fight with former multi weight world champion Nonito Donaire, who himself showed he still has more to give by destroying Frenchman Anthony Settoul in Macau recently.
With Arum reportedly keen on Dubai for such a fight to take place, it will be interesting to see if a deal can be brokered for the two to meet in Manchester instead, as regardless of whether certain fans feel Donaire is on the slide, he remains a world class fighter and a fantastic name to bring to British shores if the bout can be made here.
The other obvious option on the Matchroom side of things is IBF welterweight champion Kell Brook, who is STILL without an official opponent regarding the next defence of his title.
A fight in the UK with the Top Rank promoted Brandon Rios has been on, then off, and with fan reaction lukewarm at the possibility of Brook fighting Argentine Diego Chaves next, it’s likely the senior Hearn was on a charm offensive to either get that fight with Rios back on or secure someone like recent world title challenger Jessie Vargas to come over in the near future instead.
Ideally they would go one better and get a fight with WBO welterweight champion Tim Bradley, who has been on UK shores early in his career, though is unlikely to be tempted these days to leave America. His wife and agent Monica has just priced him out of a fight with Rios on HBO in the States, so my guess is he remains an outside shot as opponent for Brook unless Kell is prepared to travel to try and unify.
The other two obvious world champions on the Matchroom roster are James Degale (IBF 168) and Lee Selby (IBF 126), although both of these fighters have recently signed “advisory agreements” with Al Haymon and it’s still unclear, especially with regard to Selby, just what the involvement of Matchroom is in his affairs anymore.
Matchroom ARE still involved with DeGale, although they now deal via Haymon, so fights with Top Rank 168lb fighters like Gilberto Ramirez are unlikely to happen for “Chunky,” given the frosty Arum/Haymon relationship.
The jewel in the Top Rank crown still remains Manny Pacquiao, who could also potentially fight Brook, although it’s reported Arum will be meeting with Amir Khan, who after failing to land a fight with Floyd Mayweather is refusing to fight Brook himself and would rather chase a payday with the fading Filipino star instead.
Arum has also this weekend sealed deals with promoter Frank Warren for France’s Michel Soro to fight Liverpool’s Liam Smith for the vacant WBO 154lb title on the October 10th Queensbury Promotions card in Manchester, UK.
Twitter @Undilutedpoison
