Arum Trying to Bring Roy Jones to Staples

Promoter Bob Arum, eager to retain both his place among boxing’s top promoters and his foothold in the Los Angeles market, hopes to conclude negotiations with Staples Center officials today for a pay-per-view fight card July 28 featuring light-heavyweight champion Roy Jones.

Arum, who lost former welterweight champion Oscar De La Hoya in a court decision earlier this year, has a one-fight agreement with Jones.

Also on the show, in separate fights, would be two featherweight champions, Erik Morales (40-0, 31 knockouts), the World Boxing Council titleholder, and Derrick Gainer (37-5, 23), the World Boxing Assn. champion.

This card, if approved, would be the second staged by Staples Center. It figures to be a much tougher sell than the first, last year’s blockbuster De La Hoya-Shane Mosley welterweight showdown, also promoted by Arum.

And even with that fight, Staples Center made only a small profit.

As usual, Jones would not be fighting anybody of note, a pattern that has made him a hard man to market, despite his unquestionable skill. His proposed opponent, Julio Gonzalez, is 26-0 but was knocked down three times in his last fight.

Morales would fight Injin Chi, and Gainer would box Juan Manuel Marquez.