LEGENDARY promoter Bob Arum revealed his ‘Mount Rushmore of boxing’ – with Floyd Mayweather narrowly missing out.
The American National Memorial sculpture, situated in the Black Hills region of South Dakota, features the carved heads of former presidents George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt and Abraham Lincoln.
And SunSport asked Arum – who has worked with the best across five decades – which past or present stars deserve the recognition to be put on boxing’s own Rushmore.
The iconic Top Rank boss selected Muhammad Ali, George Foreman, Harvin Hagler and Manny Pacquiao.
But had he been given a fifth choice, Mayweather would have got the nod.
Here Arum explains his decision making.
Muhammad Ali
BA: He’s the greatest of all time.
He brought boxing back from the dead, boxing couldn’t get on television in the United States because they had all these mob figures that were controlling boxing.
Ali brought boxing back, he was a superb fighter, and he was a person of the world who elevated boxing to tremendous heights.
Arum with legendary heavyweight Muhammad AliCredit: Getty Images – Getty
George Foreman
BA: He’s my friend, and the greatest guy that I met.
The comeback that he pulled off in his second career was absolutely amazing and legendary to win the heavyweight championship at aged 45.
Arum described Foreman as ‘greatest guy’ he ever met Credit: Getty Images
‘Marvelous’ Marvin Hagler
BA: He fought everybody, he was a consummate professional and he came from nothing.
He wasn’t an Olympian, people ignored him when he was coming up.
But he put that all aside, he had these two Italian-American guys from Brockton, the Petronelli brothers and they stuck together as a team and he elevated himself to the top of the sport.
Marvin Hagler, left, pictured alongside Arum and Sugar Ray Leonard Credit: Getty Images – Getty
Manny Pacquiao
BA: He really brought the Asian fans, the Filipinos, Malaysian people and made them interested in boxing.
He achieved great feats whether it was his beat down of De La Hoya, he elevated boxing during that period.
Arum used to promoter Filipino icon Manny PacquiaoCredit: Mark Robinson – The Sun
Floyd Mayweather
BA: Mayweather is in that picture and if I was doing five then I’d certainly add Mayweather.
Floyd Mayweather pictured with Arum and Pacquiao Credit: Getty Images – Getty
Dana White reveals his four fighters for UFC’s ‘Mount Rushmore’ including Jon Jones and Amanda Nunes
Source: Boxing - thesun.co.uk
