Arum blames Bush for slow sales

[XaduBoxer]

Arum blames Bush for slow sales

By Kevin Iole


Bob Arum, the Hall of Fame boxing promoter, will have none of the suggestion that ticket sales for middleweight champion Kelly Pavlik's first title defense are slow because he's facing a weak opponent, Gary Lockett, who is unknown in the U.S.


Arum said that not as many of Pavlik's fanatical followers from Youngstown, Ohio, will make the trek to Atlantic City, N.J.'s Boardwalk Hall for the HBO-televised bout on June 7 than did last year for his title-winning effort over Jermain Taylor.


But Arum said that has nothing to do with Lockett's considerably lower profile than Taylor.


"It's not all left hooks and jabs," Arum said Wednesday during a media conference call.


Arum has a culprit he's blaming, though: President George W. Bush.
"He's (expletived) up the economy so bad, people can't afford to buy tickets," said Arum, who was a staunch supporter of New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson in the race for Democratic presidential nomination.
"People are hurting. There won't be the same number who came to the Jermain Taylor fight. It's not because they're not back Kelly. They're hurting. Gas is over $4 a gallon. Wake up and realize what is happening in this country."


Arum said Pavlik will earn a $2.5 million purse for his first title defense (his win in a February rematch with Taylor was a non-title fight). Lockett, who is from Wales, will make $250,000.


Someone asked Arum if that's Lockett's biggest purse.


"The dollar is so (expletive) weak now, who knows?" he boomed.





Source: Arum blames Bush for slow sales - Boxing Experts Blog - Boxing - Yahoo! Sports

[Kirkland Laing]

Well said Bob Arum. They should throw all the permabull clowns off CNBC and give Bob his own show.

[Macho]

I dont know really , but we have understand that the Economy is really down in the whole World , i hope that the fight with Cotto and Margaro not happen this , most of the time that have to be with the great Promotion that you make obviously...........

[gyrokai]

He sounds frustrated and embarrased.

It won't sell well...
The fight sucks.

[Kirkland Laing]

I dont know really , but we have understand that the Economy is really down in the whole World , i hope that the fight with Cotto and Margaro not happen this , most of the time that have to be with the great Promotion that you make obviously...........

Bush screwed the economy up worldwide.

Things are really bad where Pavlik comes from and bashing Bush is popular there, so Arum is just doing everything he can to shift tickets. Pavlik was actually campaigning with Hillary Clinton recently.

[awdleyfuturehalloffamer]

The president doesn't control gas prices. Blame the environmentalists for shutting down drilling where there is oil. It's not bush's fault these idiots don't want to drill anywhere in the us for oil. Unemployment rate during bush's term is lower than clinton's. Is that such a bad economy?!? I personally believe that the only thing a president can do to control the economy is lower taxes. Other than that, Presidents have no power at all and are at the mercy of economic events.

[Kirkland Laing]

The president doesn't control gas prices. Blame the environmentalists for shutting down drilling where there is oil. It's not bush's fault these idiots don't want to drill anywhere in the us for oil. Unemployment rate during bush's term is lower than clinton's. Is that such a bad economy?!? I personally believe that the only thing a president can do to control the economy is lower taxes. Other than that, Presidents have no power at all and are at the mercy of economic events.

Yes he does have a great deal of control over gas prices. The prices you're paying for gas and food right now are a direct result of Bush's dumbass fiscal and foreign policies. But I don't want to talk about non-boxing stuff on the main board so if you want me to explain it to you start a thread in let's get it on.

[Macho]

A lot of poeple think that the price of Gas is too high by the War , but if the President never would have send the American Soldiers to the War , What really would happen ?.............
Would be more expensive or not ?

[XaduBoxer]

I hope Mexican fans of Ponce De Leon and the Puerto Rican fans of JuanMa Lopez will fully support this card...

.

[Macho]

I hope Mexican fans of Ponce De Leon and the Puerto Rican fans of JuanMa Lopez will fully support this card...

.

Im one of them bro..............
Surelly..........

[Lance Uppercut]

wow, dan rafael wrote the same exact story

[XaduBoxer]

wow, dan rafael wrote the same exact story

Kevin Iole of Yahoo Sports wrote this one...

.

[Mikkel_K]

Somehow this bothers me big time, even though politically it seems we are pretty much on the same line. However - why the f*** stand up and complain about shit like that.

What they could have done was take advantage of the situation. Tell the 'regular folks': 'We know you're hurting. We know gas prices are up. That's why we bring the fight to Youngstown (or somewhere else in Ohio), instead of bringing you to Vegas or Atlantic City. That's why we cut ticket prices too'. Hell, it should be possible to find some kind of indoor (or outdoor) arena in Pavlik's home area and fill it with 10, 20 or 50.000 of local fans, who might just there find their new biggest hero. Make Pavlik the poster boy for those people god damnit! Mind you, he has those qualities big time.

Instead you have Bob f****** Arum standing in Atlantic City complaining about how the exchange rate is hurting his fighters' multi-million dollar purse. And people wonder why boxing is supposedly on the slide

[hitmanhatton]

iv been becoming quite a fan of old bob arum recently with the fights he has been putting on, he also seems the main force that can oppose golden boys way of running the sport, however this is stupid at the end of the day cotto/marg will sell well as its a big fight this pavlik one wont because it isnt simple, regardless of any economical issues