Bob Arum says he has “grave doubts” about whether Errol Spence Jr. will fight in the “foreseeable future.’’
In an interview with iFL TV, Arum said he has been told that Spence, who was thrown from his Ferrari in a scary crash on Oct. 10, will be out of the ring throughout 2020 and possibly the following year.
“I have received some inside intelligence that allows me to say that,’’ Arum said.
Arum declined to identify his source.
“I don’t think that would be appropriate, but it is good information,” Arum said. “It’s – very unfortunately –very good information.”
Arum made the comments in relation to a question about the chances of Terence Crawford fighting Spence in a welterweight unification bout. Arum, Top Rank’s chairman, promotes Crawford, who faces Lithuanian Egidjius Kavaliauskas on Saturday night at New York’s Madison Square Garden on ESPN. Spence is tied to Al Haymon’s Premier Boxing Champions.
“I don’t think (Crawford-Spence) will happen next year,” Arum said. “I don’t think it’ll happen the year after. And it’s not because promoters don’t want it to happen.’’
There have been no updates from Spence or PBC regarding his future since the single-car crash in Dallas. Spence, who scored a split decision over Shawn Porter on Sept. 28 in Los Angeles, reportedly suffered facial lacerations and damage to his teeth. He was charged with DUI after his release from a Dallas hospital.
“Let’s pass on Errol Spence because until we see him face-to-face, until he appears in public, until we can establish that he’s ready to go back into the ring, it’s unfortunate, but let’s not talk about him,’’ Arum said. “He’s a lovely young man. That was a horrible accident that he had. And just leave it at that.”