Bob Arum names the most underrated fighter he has promoted after nearly six decades in boxing | Boxing News
This month, Top Rank CEO Bob Arum, who just celebrated his 94th birthday, marked almost sixty years of promoting fights. The Harvard-educated former lawyer has collaborated with some of boxing’s greatest icons—from Muhammad Ali to Floyd Mayweather—and has helped stage many of the sport’s most memorable clashes, including the famous three-round duel between Marvin Hagler and Thomas Hearns in 1985.
In a rapid-fire interview with Sky Sports, Arum was asked to name the fighter he considers the most underrated. His answer: Miguel Cotto.
Cotto, the Puerto Rican force known for precise body punching, joined Top Rank after leaving the 2000 Olympic Games, where he was defeated in his opening bout by Mukhammadkodir Abdullaev—a loss he later avenged in the professional ranks five years afterward.
During his 11-year partnership with Arum, Cotto captured world titles across three weight classes and headlined Madison Square Garden multiple times. He ultimately captured a fourth division title in 2014 before retiring in 2017 and earning induction into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 2022.
Cotto’s most notable victories include wins over Zab Judah, Shane Mosley, Antonio Margarito, and Sergio Martínez. His aggressive front-foot style and relentless body assault earned him a loyal following, particularly among New York boxing fans.
