The staff at Top Rank Inc. takes tremendous pride in being the first promotional company to present a boxing event in the United States amidst the ongoing coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic.
One thing that was never going to happen, however, was rushing to the front of the line just for the sake of being first. That part was saved for their ESPN combat sports counterparts, as the UFC circuit presented three shows over an eight-day stretch in early-to-mid May in Jacksonville, Florida.
While the shows proved to be well-received by the viewing public, they were not without their share of flaws. Brazilian middleweight Ronaldo ‘Jacaré’ Souza and two of his team members tested positive for COVID-19, with their status not known until shortly after the pre-fight weigh-in. Social distancing and general health protocols—such as wearing masks and gloves—were also ignored by several participants, including UFC president Dana White.
The errors were to be expected, though hardly a learning lesson. Top Rank already had a clear vision for its summer series plans, which will begin on June 9 when unbeaten 126-pound titlist Shakur Stevenson (13-0, 7KOs) faces Puerto Rico’s Felix Caraballo (13-1-2, 9KOs) in a 130-pound non-title fight live from a closed-doors MGM Grand Conference Center in Las Vegas.
“We didn’t feel the protocols that the UFC had when they opened up in Florida were adequate,” Arum noted during a recent media conference call to otherwise discuss what will be the first pro boxing event in the U.S. since March 13. “But again, you have to understand that they were also the first ones out the box. So, the fact that they made mistakes, you know, that’s understandable.”
The forthcoming card in Las Vegas—which will air live on ESPN—will come under strict COVID-testing protocol and guidelines as recently approved by the Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC). Top Rank has worked feverishly with the state the commission, the Nevada Coronavirus Task Force and state Gov. Steve Sisolak to ensure all safety measures are followed to the fullest extent.
“We knew all along what UFC’s plans were for these shows,” Arum previously told BoxingScene.com. “Ours is better, and there’s was never going to determine how we handle our shows. There’s will be as good as ours once they start doing shows in Las Vegas.”
As much has already been experienced by the UFC, who—after running its first three post-pandemic-shows in Florida—have taken its act to Vegas, where they presented a card last Saturday. Another—UFC 250—will air this weekend, with UFC to do shows from Sin City every Saturday at least through July 11, all of which will follow the state’s strict testing protocols and without fans in attendance.
“They have now done an event in Nevada and they’re under the same type of protocols that we are,” notes Arum, who has refused to criticize UFC despite his years-long verbal feud with White. “I think it’s all good. The Nevada commission has cleared everything, whether it’s a UFC event or a Top Rank event. Their interest in the safety of the participants is the same for us and now for UFC.
“I have to commend the state of Nevada, the governor and the athletic commission in the type of effort and work that they’ve done to enable us to do these events on the basis of as much safety as humanly possible.”
Jake Donovan is a senior writer for BoxingScene.com. Twitter: @JakeNDaBox