Arum shares his thoughts on the passings of his sister and son

On Monday, RingTV.com conducted a Q&A with a philosophical, matter-of-fact and upbeat Top Rank Inc. CEO Bob Arum just three days after the death of his sister, Sari Rosenbaum.

A resident of Portland, Conn., the 76-year-old Rosenbaum passed away on Friday morning following a battle with cancer.

Along with family members, Arum was in Middletown, Conn., on Sunday attending the Sunday funeral services of Rosenbaum, who is survived by husband Howard, daughter Julia, sons Michael and Daniel, grandchildren Alec and Cecily, and her sister Gloria Dror.

Rosenbaum's passing occurred the day after Arum had concluded a week-long, four-city, three-country tour that promoted Manny Pacquiao's third bout against Juan Manuel Marquez in defense of Pacquiao's welterweight belt on Nov. 12.

The tour covered Pacquaio's Manila, Philippines as well as New York, Los Angeles and Marquez's native Mexico City, respectively.

It was nearly a year ago to the day that the 79-year-old Arum experienced the mountain hiking-related death of his 49-year-old son, John Arum, an attorney.

John Arum's passing forced Bob Arum to leave the early part of his promotional tour for the Nov. 13 Manny Pacquiao-Antonio Margarito pay-per-view event.

A veteran of nearly 50 years in the business, Arum shared with RingTV.com how his family honored his sister, and the therapeutic value of continuing to work through her death alongside family members such as his stepson and step daughter, Todd duBoef and Dena duBoef -- president and director of sales at Top Rank, respectively.

RingTV.com: How is your family and how are you in the wake of Sari's passing?

Bob Arum: As far as my sister is concerned, she was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer over two years ago. So considering how devastating that is, she had a very good quality of life up until four weeks ago.

So, this was not particularly unexpected. John's death was terribly unexpected. Death, no matter what, is obviously not a good thing to go through.

RingTV.com: Were you able to be there for your emotionally family and vice versa?

BA: Absolutely. We were together on Friday at her house, and we were together on Saturday, and we went out with her family out to eat on Saturday night.

We obviously bonded as a family and with my brother-in-law and his kids. My kids came up and there were visits from my grandchildren.

RingTV.com: Were the services a celebration of her life?

BA: Well, the eulogies were extremely inspiring because she was a pillar of her community. She was one of the charitable leaders in her community.

RingTV.com: How have you worked through these things personally and as a family?

BA: I think that it has nothing to do with boxing and nothing to do with what I do, but obviously, if you're active doing something.

If you're still in business at my age, and you play a big role in your business, then it takes your mind off of the tragedy and it distracts you from brooding too much.
 

RingTV.com: Looking back on the tour, what are your thoughts on the Pacquiao-Marquez promotion thus far?

BA: It was one of the greatest experiences of my career, with the huge crowds in Manila and in Mexico.

RingTV.com: Looking forward a little bit, can you shed any light on the undercards for Pacquiao-Marquez III or the Miguel Cotto-Antonio Margarito fight on Dec. 3?

BA: I know, but until we get the contracts back, I'm not saying anything. But all of those three fights are all done. They're all world title fights on the under cards.

They're all really good fights, and we're finalizing the Pacquiao-Marquez under card also. But I will say that both cards are going to be terrific.

Lem Satterfield can be reached at lem.satterfield@gmail.com