TERENCE CRAWFORD could have his call to fight in the UK answered by Sky Sports – who ‘would love’ to welcome the US star back.
Crawford, who beat Ricky Burns in Scotland in 2013, was in Manchester to watch as gym-mate Amir Khan was beaten by Kell Brook.
Terence Crawford could have his call to fight in the UK answered by Sky Sports Credit: Getty Images – Getty
Chris Eubank Jr has been touted as an opponent for Terence Crawford Credit: Richard Pelham / The Sun Afterwards, the unbeaten welterweight champion thanked his British supporters and teased a return to fight in the UK.
Crawford, 34, said: “I can’t say enough. The best fans on earth are the UK fans.
“I’ll be looking forward to coming back to the UK soon, and maybe one day we can get a fight down there.”
Undisputed light-welterweight king Josh Taylor, who fights Jack Catterrall on Saturday, has his eyes on Crawford.
But promoter Ben Shalom, whose Boxxer stable is partnered with Sky, named middleweight Eubank Jr, 32, as a shock alternative.
Shalom told SunSport: “I’d like Terence to come and fight Eubank in the UK.
“Obviously he’d have to come up in weight, but I think that’s a massive fight.”
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Crawford is currently a free agent after leaving Hall of Fame promoter Bob Arum following his November win over Shawn Porter, 34.
Shalom knows to lure the American across the pond for a UK cameo, it would have to be a blockbuster occasion.
He said: “Obviously, he’s used to earning a lot of money, so we need to find the right fight, it needs to be a pay-per-view fight.
“He wants to be a part of it and he’s seen the Sky platform as well. We’d love to make it happen, but it’s about finding the right fight for him.
“That’s the key, whether it’s Josh Taylor down the line or whether it’s Eubank and he comes up. He’s got options.”
Crawford walked out on 90-year-old Arum’s Top Rank stable following failures to negotiate a super-fight with fellow champ Errol Spence Jr, 31.
Arum had touted Taylor – also on his books – as a potential rival for Omaha’s pound-for-pound contender.
I’d like Terence to come and fight Eubank in the UK. Obviously he’d have to come up in weight, but I think that’s a massive fight.
Promoter Ben Shalom
But Eubank Jr – two weight divisions above – is a new wildcard avenue but one Shalom is confident Crawford would not think twice about.
The 28-year-old promoter added: “Look, Terence will fight anyone, anyone.
“Whether he has to come up in weight, I don’t know how open he is to that.
“Obviously, he wants to fight Spence next but Spence is fighting later in the year.
“Terence is waiting for his big opportunity and he’ll take anything if the money is right.
“It would involve Chris coming down a bit, but I definitely think Terence is open to fighting anyone and in the UK, including Eubank Jr.”
Head of Sky Sports Adam Smith, Terence Crawford and promoter Ben Shalom Credit: @benjshalom Source: Boxing - thesun.co.uk
