Veteran boxing promoter Bob Arum has offered to promote a possible debate between Donald Trump and Bernie Sanders.

“It’s the debate of the century between two of the top pound for pound politicians in the country: Mr Trump, the Republican Party’s presumptive nominee and Senator Sanders, the Democratic candidate,” Arum said in a release issued Thursday. “We have two contenders ready, willing and able to go mano a mano over the most important issues facing the United States. And I am ready to promote it.”

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The idea of a debate between Trump and Sanders has gained steam in the day since it was first proposed during Trump’s appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live on Wednesday night.

“If I debated him [Sanders], we would have such high ratings, and I think we should take that money and give it to some worthy charity,” the presumptive Republican presidential nominee told the late-night TV host.

Trump, who on Thursday crossed the threshold of delegates needed to secure the party’s presidential nomination, seemed to waver on his willingness to debate Sanders after initially doubling down on them at a morning press conference in North Dakota, where he said: “I’d love to debate Bernie – he’s a dream.”

Sanders’ response on Twitter confirmed his interest, but a Trump aide later clarified that the candidate was joking and had no intent of debating the senator from Vermont.

Arum said 80% of the net proceeds will go to the charity or charities of the candidates’ choice, agreed upon in advance, with a minimum donation of $20m.

The moderator or moderators will be subject to the approval of the candidates, though Arum has recommended Hillary Clinton, Ted Cruz and Mitt Romney.



The 84-year-old chairman and CEO of Top Rank Promotions is no stranger to the political arena. As a Harvard Law graduate working as an attorney in the tax division of Robert F Kennedy’s Justice Department during the mid-1960s, Arum abruptly changed careers after he audited a fight and saw how much money could be made.

He’s been a major force in boxing since, promoting such towering figures as Muhammad Ali (27 fights), Marvin Hagler (20), George Foreman (14) and Sugar Ray Leonard (seven).