Arum came in without a box background. A Brooklyn-born attorney and former federal prosecutor, he moved from handling financial matters to promoting fights after meeting Ali in private practice.
“60 years is a long time. I’ve met some great people, and it’s been a great adventure,” Arum said. “People ask what my hardest promotion was. My hardest promotion was my first fight, just to continue the fight. Everything else was easy in comparison.”
That first show came during a difficult period for Ali, with cities in the United States unwilling to host him after his stance on the Vietnam War. Arum stepped in to lead the fight in Toronto and get it over the line when others would not.
From there, the shows grew from singles events to global charts, including the runs of Leonard, Hagler, Hearns and Duran. He later led George Foreman’s return to the heavyweight title and worked closely with Manny Pacquiao’s cross-division championship run.
“The last thing I would imagine myself doing at that point was being a boxing promoter,” Arum said. “When I first started, there were no satellites to deliver combat broadcasts to another country. That technology didn’t exist.”
Top Rank’s numbers reflect that reach. More than 2,200 cards were promoted, more than 700 world title fights and events presented across more than 200 US cities and dozens of countries.
Arum has also taken fighters from pro debut to world titles across several generations, including Oscar De La Hoya, Floyd Mayweather Jr., Miguel Cotto and Vasiliy Lomachenko, with current prospects moving through the same structure.
“The biggest lesson I’ve learned is that you have to be flexible enough to know that things won’t always be the same,” Arum said.
The model has shifted over time, from closed circuit broadcasts to global streaming, but the core remains the same. Build fighters, keep them active and put them in fights that move them to belts.
At 94, Arum is still working. Arum’s longevity has spanned multiple promotional eras, from closed circuit fights to worldwide streaming deals.
“When I look back, what I’m most proud of in the 60 years I’ve spent in this sport is that I’ve lasted this long, both physically and mentally. It’s not easy being a promoter.”
Top Rank plans to celebrate the anniversary throughout 2026, continuing to run cards and develop fighters across divisions.
