TERENCE CRAWFORD called out Manny Pacquiao after beating Kell Brook – with Bob Arum revealing talks for a Middle East fight next year.
Crawford stopped Brook in round four to retain his WBO welterweight world title.
Terence Crawford called out Manny Pacquiao after beating Kell BrookCredit: Getty Images – Getty
Pacquiao was already in talks to fight Crawford this year Credit: AP:Associated Press
But he was initially set to unify his crown with Pacquiao’s WBA version in Qatar this year until the coronavirus pandemic KO’d the proposal.
Now, Crawford, 33, wants to re-visit negotiations with the Filipino icon, 41.
He said: “I already said who I want. I want Pacquiao. I want to revisit that fight. That was a fight that should’ve happened right now.
“But being that the pandemic happened, and they weren’t going to allow fans in the Middle East, they had to put a hold to that.
“Everything was 95 per cent done. We had the venue. The money was almost there.
“It wasn’t quite there. That was the only thing we were waiting on.”
Legendary promoter Arum told SunSport a deal was in place for the welterweight pair to fight but without fans able to attend it was axed.
Talks are still ongoing with hopes Crawford will face Pacquiao in his next fight in the Middle East before Ramadan starts on April 23.
Crawford stopped Brook on the ropes to end the fight in the fourth Credit: Getty Images – Getty
Terence Crawford victorious against Kell Brook to retain his WBO welterweight titleCredit: Getty Images – Getty
Arum said: “It was set to take place in the Middle East before the minister of health stopped it.
“But we’re [now] in talks want do it in the Middle East before or after Ramadan.”
Crawford has long been linked with a fight against WBC and IBF unified champion Errol Spence Jr – who defends his belts against Danny Garcia next month.
But Arum fears Spence, 30, will swerve the unification at all costs.
He said: “Errol Spence and Garcia are fighting Dec 5th.
“If they really wanna make a big pay-per-view, I’ll put Terence Crawford in with both of them and he’d beat both on the same night.
“Spence will try to avoid Crawford as long as he can ‘cause he knows he can’t beat Crawford.
“You saw the performance tonight. He’ll take out Spence in the same number of rounds as he did Kell Brook.”
Source: Boxing - thesun.co.uk
