Bob Arum, a towering figure in boxing promotion, built a global promotional empire through skill, timing, and relentless ambition. A former lawyer who pivoted from corporate practice to the fight game, the 93-year old Arum leveraged his legal experience to navigate contracts, broadcasts, and venues, transforming contemporary boxing business models. His biggest promotions included marquee showdowns on the Pacquiao and Mayweather circuits, and historic cards featuring Muhammad Ali, Julio Cesar Chavez, and Mike Tyson, among others. He co-founded Top Rank, expanded it into live events, pay-per-view and international partnerships, and pioneered cross-promotional strategies with ESPN and other networks. Arum’s knack for matchmaking, marketing, and diplomacy reshaped modern boxing’s economics and reach. He is undeniably the most successful boxing promoter ever, with more than 500 world title championship fights under his belt.
Recently, Bob revealed the 7 boxers he loved most, not because they brought him money but because they made him the legendary promotion giant he turned out to be. And after more than 60 years in the fight industry, he still continues to promote marquee boxing events. But these were the 7 ring gladiators who gave the sport the respect, the adulation and the glamor that elevated it into its present stature.
First, there was Oscar De La Hoya, the Golden Boy of boxing, who defined a new era with a polished, star-quality presence and a glittering multi-division résumé. His official record stood at 39 wins, 6 losses, 0 draws, with 30 knockouts. Oscar’s signature bouts include victories over Julio Cesar Chavez, Pernell Whitaker and Felix Trinidad, plus memorable battles against Floyd Mayweather, Bernard Hopkins and Manny Pacquiao, highlighting his versatility across the lightweight to super-welterweight to light-heavyweight divisions. A technically refined, highly skilled counterpuncher with elite movement, stamina, and durability, his biggest assets were his elite hand speed, cardiovascular fitness, and a strategic, patient approach that produced crowd-pleasing triumphs. Oscar had everything, from good looks to charisma to cross-over appeal, creating a huge fan base that transcended physical, social and cultural borders.
Next was Mexican ring hero Julio César Chávez, one of boxing’s all-time greats. Julio forged a legendary Mexican brand to a global career. His official record stood at 107 wins, 6 losses, 2 draws, with 86 knockouts. Julio’s defining battles included triumphs over Meldrick Taylor, Hector Camacho and Greg Haugen, plus countless memorable defenses at lightweight and super-featherweight. A relentless, pressure-forward fighter with iron durability, he blended relentless body work, accurate combinations, and high-volume output. His stamina, his granite chin, his elite punching accuracy, and his exceptional crowd-pleasing tenacity made him one of the sport’s most enduring icons.
Marvin Hagler, the fierce middleweight icon of the 1980s, enjoyed a long, dominant reign and a Hall of Fame career. His official record stood at 62 wins, 3 losses, 2 draws, with 52 knockouts. Hagler’s boxing resume include classic wins over John Mugabi, Tommy ‘The Hitman’ Hearns, and monumental showdowns with Roberto Duran, establishing him as the undisputed middleweight champion. A relentless, compact pressure fighter with a granite chin, he combined brutal inside punching, superb balance and devastating body work, delivering fierce, sustained aggression and exceptional durability. Marvin retired from the ring bitter, having lost what he felt was a winning fight against Sugar Ray Leonard.
Sugar Ray Leonard, one of boxing’s all-time greats, climbed from the amateur ranks to become a charismatic Olympic champion and five-time world champion. His professional record stood at 38 wins (25 by KO), 6 losses, and 1 no contest. Leonard’s biggest fights include showdowns with Hagler, Hearns, Roberto Duran and Wilfredo Benitez, shaping welterweight to light heavyweight history. A brilliant footworker with quick hands, exceptional ring IQ, clutch in-fight adaptability and a strong charismatic appeal, his assets were speed, defense, timing, and memorable, crowd-pleasing bursts.
Roberto Duran, the legendary Cuban-born Dominican-American WBA/WBC lightweight champion, carved a hall-of-fame career spanning four decades. His official record stood at 103 wins, 16 losses, 0 draws, with 70 knockouts. Duran’s defining moments include wins over Ken Buchanan, Iran Barkley, Esteban De Jesus. He was part of the “Fab 4” consisting of Hagler, Hearns, Benitez and himself. The historic “No mas” defeat to Sugar Ray Leonard would haunt him all throughout his boxing career. A relentless, swarming pressure fighter with an iron will, he used a relentless offensive arsenal, superb stamina, and a granite chin, to make him one of boxing’s most feared, adaptable tacticians.
Manny Pacquiao, our very own Pinoy legend and multi-division icon, rewrote boxing history with an astonishing career spanning two decades. His official record stands at 62 wins, 8 losses, 2 draws, with 39 knockouts (note: records vary slightly by source; this reflects official counts through his prime). Pacquiao’s landmark fights include victories over Marco Antonio Barrera, Eric Morales, Juan Manuel Marquez, Miguel Cotto, Antonio Margarito, Ricky Hatton and De la Hoya, cementing him as the world’s only eight-division world champion and one of the sport’s greatest. A speedy, left-handed (southpaw) counterpuncher with relentless work rate, superb footwork, angles, and power, his assets were speed, stamina, and fearless aggression.
Finally, Muhammad Ali, boxing’s most iconic figure, defined an era with unmatched charisma, courage, ring artistry and an out-of-ring advocacy that rallied the masses of fans all over the world. His official professional record stands at 56 wins, 5 losses, 0 draws, with 37 knockouts, though his greatest impact transcends statistics. Ali’s legendary moments include battles against Sonny Liston, George Foreman, Joe Frazier (Three Classics), and Ken Norton, plus his unforgettable 1960s social activism. A slick, elusive, and truly anticipative fighter, he combined speed, reflexes, tactical smarts and a superior psychological mind game to outsmart opponents. At his prime, Ali had extraordinary footwork, superior hand speed, and radiant confidence, enabling strategic shoulder-to-shoulder exchanges and dramatic comebacks. His enduring legacy extends beyond the ring.
These were – in Bob’s scrutinizing eyes – his best 7 fighters ever. (Note that he did not include Floyd Mayweather in the list.)
Now in the twilight of his years, Bob extends his love for the boxing icons whose careers he had touched one way or another. Bob’s legacy as a boxing promoter is defined not just by the fighters he signed or the records he shattered, but by the seismic shift he sparked in the business itself. He turned boxing into a global spectacle, forging enduring and pioneering networks, and championing undercards that became milestones. His fearless matchmaking, creative promotions, and relentless pursuit of scale reshaped the sport’s economics and culture, ensuring boxing’s reach endured far beyond the ring. Arum’s imprint will loom over boxing history even for generations to come.
Cover photo courtesy of Daily Sabah. Other photos courtesy of SkySports, Syracuse.com, LA Sentinel, The Birmingham Times, Tapalogy, Inquirer Sports, Andscape, and NBC News. For a closer look, just click on the pics.
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