'It's more than ethical' US promoter Bob Arum on bringing boxing back to TV

Veteran boxing promoter Bob Arum told SNTV on Friday that "it's more than ethical" to bring the sport back onto TV screens next week despite the United States suffering the world's largest coronavirus death toll, with over one hundred thousand fatalities.

Next Tuesday the 88 year-old American CEO of Top Rank boxing will become the first promoter to host a televised boxing event in the USA since sport was forced to shut down in March due to the coronavirus outbreak.

The six-fight event will take place in a ballroom at the MGM Grand Hotel in Las Vegas and is headlined by WBO featherweight champion Shakur Stevenson's (13-0, 7 KOs) non-title bout at super featherweight against Puerto Rico's Felix Caballero (13-1-2, 9 KOs).

All participants will be tested for Covid-19 on arrival and then limit their movement between a "bubble" of block-booked floors of the hotel and a separate room where they will train and eat.

A dedicated lift will transport them between the two areas.

They will then be tested again for the coronavirus after Monday's weigh-in.

Fans and media will not be in attendance, with the fight commentators being based remotely.

In the arena, the fight judges will be pushed back from their usual ringside position and adjudicate from a distance of eight feet.

Arum is planning on hosting two events per week at the same venue throughout June and July, mainly comprising of USA-based fighters.