BY NICK GIONGCO
Owing to the Covid-19 pandemic, Bob Arum’s Top Rank Inc. has decided to postpone “all events scheduled for March and April,” the Las Vegas promotional outfit announced on Monday (Tuesday in the Philippines).
The postponement covers a March 28 show as well as those involving Filipino world champions Jerwin Ancajas and John Riel Casimero in Las Vegas.
Ancajas was booked to make the ninth defense of the International Boxing Federation super-flyweight crown on April 11 at the Cosmopolitan Hotel.
Casimero was due to face Japanese Naoya Inoue of Japan in a three-titlebelt bantamweight unification on April 25 at Mandalay Bay.
Just before Top Rank announced its decision to postpone their events, MGM Properties, which operates major hotels in Las Vegas, declared that it was closing down its facilities.
“The health and safety of our fighters, staff and ESPN’s incredible production team is the most important thing as we plan our next steps,” said Top Rank chairman Bob Arum.
“We look forward to the day when we can bring our loyal fans world-class boxing once again, but exercising caution is the most prudent thing to do at this moment,” said the 88-year-old Hall of Fame promoter.
Ancajas, who spent more than two months training in Dipolog City, was quite relieved that his fight will be moved to a later date.
Though he remained on training mode up until Arum made the announcement, Ancajas fully understood the decision to put everything on hold in the meantime.
”Ganyan talaga. Sanay na po ako alam kong may mas maganda pang plano ang Panginoon sa amin, sa akin at sa ating lahat at hindi po ako mawalan ng pagasa na matuloy ang laban kong hindi man matuloy may sunod pa naman,” said Ancajas, who has been the IBF 115-lb champion since September 2016.
Casimero, who had just arrived in Las Vegas after a five-week training camp in Miami, has already been informed as well.
