Rival Events Are Set for L.A., Las Vegas

Bob Arum and Dan Goossen can only hope that their respective pay-per-view shows match the intensity of the hissing match the rival boxing promoters have engaged in this week.

Especially with Staples Center spokesman Michael Roth acknowledging Thursday that Arum’s Top Rank will indeed stage a card at the arena on Oct. 4, the same night that Goossen is throwing a show at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas. Goossen announced his card on Wednesday.

The Staples Center promotion, which will be on HBO pay-per-view, is expected to cater to the Latino market with World Boxing Council featherweight champion Erik Morales reportedly getting top billing, while the Las Vegas card will be headlined by a heavyweight bout between four-time titlist Evander Holyfield and International Boxing Federation cruiserweight champ James Toney. Goossen said having competing shows was not good for boxing.

“It would be no different than having the Lakers playing the same night and the Clippers right next door,” Goossen said. “Now although the Lakers are the powerhouse, and certainly we’ve got ... a major heavyweight boxing event and a major, major promotion, you still don’t want the Clippers playing next door if you can, so the fans aren’t deprived of one or the other.”

Goossen sees his Showtime pay-per-view event on par with the Lakers.

“You’re diluting the market and one thing that we don’t need is a market that’s diluted,” he said. “We need to build up the industry, not confuse [fans] or have them make a choice.”

Arum could not be reached for comment, but did tell The Times last week that he would not be dissuaded by competition.

“We are going to dig our heels in and stick to [Oct. 4],” he said. “To go with the other show, we think, would say that Hispanic fighters don’t matter. They do matter.”

Said Goossen: “It demeans our business when he says that. Because when everything is all said and done, it’s not about Hispanic fans, it’s not about African-American fans, it’s not about Caucasian fans. It’s about fight fans, OK?

“The Hispanic fans are some of the greatest fans in the world but what makes them so great is that they, like most fight fans, like a great fight. And that’s what we’re going to deliver.”