Manny Pacquiao representative Sean Gibbons told ESPN that the titleholder plans to fight in the summer, against three potential opponents.
Welterweight titleholder Manny Pacquiao will return to the ring later this summer, and it won’t involve Floyd Mayweather Jr.
Sean Gibbons, Pacquiao’s chief representative, told ESPN on Wednesday that the plan is for the Filipino star to fight in “June or July.” The current shortlist of opponents Pacquiao is considering includes titleholder Errol Spence Jr., Shawn Porter and Danny Garcia.
Spence might be a long shot given that the Texan is coming off a gruesome car crash last October. He stated in December that he expects to fight again in the summer. Porter’s last fight was title-unification loss to Spence last September. And Garcia outpointed Ivan Redkach in January. Garcia’s father and trainer told Boxing Junkie that they would move on from a Pacquiao fight if they aren’t given a concrete answer by the end of this month.
As for Mayweather, Gibbons shot down that possibility. “’Mayweather told us, ‘I’m retired, I’m not fighting,’” Gibbons sai
Mayweather has repeatedly hinted that he plans to return to the ring in 2020, most likely in some kind of crossover bout in collaboration with the UFC’s Dana White.
Gibbons added that Pacquiao expects to fight more than once in 2020, even with the potential late start.
Pacquiao (62-7-2, 39 KOs) had a late-career banner year in 2019, in which he defeated Adrien Broner and Keith Thurman, both of whom are considered elite welterweights in their prime.
Austin Trout is excited about his future as part of a new team and a new television deal that will give him more control over his career.
Austin Trout has a new team, a new network, new weight class and a new lease on his career.
The former junior middleweight titleholder, who faces Rosbel Montoya on Saturday in Ruidoso, New Mexico on the Impact Network, is a perennial contender who has become known for giving spirited efforts but falling just short in his biggest fights.
One nagging problem, he says: Inactivity, which he contends makes it difficult to establish the rhythm necessary to succeed on a high level. He has fought only five times since September 2015, which is a little more than once a year.
Why?
“There’s no real reason for me to be as inactive as I’ve been,” the 34-year-old told Boxing Junkie. “I wasn’t injured, I wasn’t suspended, I had no legal trouble. Nothing like that. I was always in the gym waiting for a call. I guess my handlers just didn’t think it was profitable to keep me busy.
“I do know for this part of my career I can’t sit and wonder, ‘What if?’”
Austin Trout is coming off a solid performance in a draw with Terrell Gausha. Jamie Morton / Beau Rivage Resort Casino
That’s where the new people in his life some in.
Trout (31-5-1, 17 KOs) is a centerpiece in the partnership between the Las Vegas-based promotional firm American Dream Presents and Impact Network, an inspirational outlet that will broadcast 52 live boxing shows over the next two years.
No more sitting around waiting for phone calls. Trout said he hopes fight at least three times and possible more this year as he builds toward another shot at a major title.
“They have so many dates,” he said. “… Almost twice a month. I’ll have the opportunity to pick the dates I want, which is a blessing. My whole life was wrapped around when I was going to fight. I never picked a fight date. I was told, ‘You fight on this date,’ especially the last five years.
“There was never any room to say, ‘No, I don’t like that date,’ when I needed to fight. Now I have a little more control.”
Of course, a big question is this: How will Trout perform in those fights?
Well, if his most-recent fight – a draw against capable Terrell Gausha – is an indiction, he has more to give. And, he said, he feels good. One benefit to fighting infrequently is that you spar your body the wear and tear of a more-regular schedule.
“I feel like I’m a young 34,” he said.
Trout’s victory over Miguel Cotto (left) in 2012 was career defining. He has endured a lot of disappointment since then. Elsa / Getty Images
That’s also the opinion of his Trout’s trainer, Rob Garcia, who has been working with veteran trainer Jesse Reid for this fight. Garcia, who first built his name as a strength and conditioning coach, said Trout checks all the physical boxes – speed, balance, reflexes, the ability to anticipate. Trout has it all.
And, just as important, he is in a good place emotionally because of his new opportunities.
“I think he’s re-energized,” Garcia said. “He’s re-motivated, which is where he belongs. At this point, at 34 years old, this will be his time to push, his time to seal his legacy as one of the best fighters of his time.”
And it appears that push will take place at 147 pounds, not 154, his primary weight since he turned pro in 2005.
One reason for the move is obvious: Potential big fights abound at 147, where the likes of Manny Pacquiao, Errol Spence Jr, Danny Garcia and Shawn Porter reside. And he said a new fitness regimen has changed his body, which has made 147 a natural weight.
Trout is fighting Montoya (17-9-1, 13 KOs) at a catch weight of 151.
“I didn’t think it (making 147) was possible until I changed my diet up,” he said. “I do body scans, which tell you how much fat, water and muscle you have. Looking at the numbers, I have enough to heathfully make 147.
“… I used to walk around at 186. Now I walk around at 170 to 172. I don’t get as big anymore. I can get down to 147 for sure.”
Trout acknowledges that his one-sided decision over Miguel Cotto in 2012 – a career-defining fight that was followed by his loss to Canelo Alvarez – seems like a lifetime ago. Since then, as we said, he has had to endure more than his share of disappointments.
One thing never deserted him, though: Love of the sport, which he says is as strong as ever. Without that, there’s nothing.
“I still enjoy it, I still love it,” he said. “That’s why I’m doing it. The love is strained sometimes. Boxing is an asshole, if you know what I mean. But, yes, I love the game. It’s done so much for me and my family. It’s allowed me to see the world. I’m looking to get a fight in Ireland in April and then come home Albuquerque [New Mexico]. After that we’ll look around and see what we can do.
“… We weren’t supposed to be champion the first time. I didn’t belong to anyone at that time. I just fought and climbed the rankings until no one could deny. Like before, I’m just going to keep fighting.”
Danny Garcia demonstrated on Saturday that he remains the clever boxer-puncher of old and a threat to Manny Pacquiao or Errol Spence Jr.
GOOD
Danny Garcia didn’t get the knockout he wanted in front of what amounted to his hometown fans Saturday at Barclays Center in Brooklyn. And his opponent bit him on the shoulder. Other than that, he had a pretty good night.
Garcia (36-2, 21 KOs) dominated tough, but overmatched Ivan Redkach en route to a one-sided decision. Just as important, he got in good work after a nine-month layoff. And just as important as that, he gained valuable experience against a capable left-handed fighter, which should help prepare him for what he hopes will come soon.
The goal is to get either Manny Pacquiao or Errol Spence Jr. — both southpaws — into the ring in what would be Garcia’s first big fight since he lost a close decision to Shawn Porter in September 2018.
Garcia said immediately after the fight that he doesn’t have a preference – he even mentioned a few others he’d like to fight – but Pacquiao is the obvious prize given the amount of money to be made.
I don’t think Garcia gave a great performance on Saturday but he demonstrated that he remains the clever, resilient boxer-puncher that he has always been. And I believe that fighter would give either Pacquiao or Spence a great deal of trouble if they were to meet, especially Pacquiao.
I was as impressed as anyone with the Filipino icon’s performance against Keith Thurman in July but it’s clear he can fight only in spurts at 40-plus, which was enough against a rusty Thurman. And I’ll never be shocked at anything Pacquiao accomplishes. I just don’t think this version of Pacquiao matches up well with a talented, experienced counterpuncher like Garcia.
Spence? I would pick him to beat Garcia because I think he’s a better all-around fighter but I believe Garcia would push him.
All in all, I’m glad Garcia is back and in position to fight for a title again.
Danny Garcia (right) said he had to lose 25 pounds in camp to make weight for his fight with Ivan Redkach. AP Photo / Frank Franklin II
BAD
I was surprised when Garcia said he had to lose 25 pounds in camp for his fight against Redkach.
I’m not saying I had a good handle on Garcia’s habits between fights. I didn’t. I just would’ve thought of him as a professional who wouldn’t put himself in a position to have to lose that kind of weight, even after a long layoff.
He said he felt good, not great on Saturday. And he acknowledged that the weight loss might’ve slowed him down to some degree. It probably did.
The good news is that he recognizes where he went wrong and said after the fight that he won’t fall into that trap again, although time will tell whether he has truly learned a lesson.
“I promised myself that I’m going to stay in the gym now and stay in shape,” he said.
I don’t believe it’s realistic to expect the majority of professional fighters to develop the discipline and habits of such legendary fitness fanatics as Evander Holyfield and Bernard Hopkins. They’re freaks.
I do think it’s reasonable to expect fighters to be athletes year round. They should arrive at training camp in good shape so they can focus on strategy and other crucial fight-related factors, not weight loss.
Any fighter who has been through it will tell you that ballooning in weight between fights can adversely affect his performances and shorten his career.
Maybe this should be a mantra: Training begins the day after your most recent fight.
Jarrett Hurd (left) had reason to be pleased after his victory over Francisco Santana. Amanda Westcott / Showtime
WORSE
Those who were critical of Jarrett Hurd’s performance went a little too far.
The guy is with a new trainer. He’s trying to change his style to become a better fighter and extend his career, which is no easy task. That’s why his fight against Francisco Santana on the Garcia-Redkach card should be seen as only a first step in that direction.
I thought Hurd looked pretty good in some respects. He used his length well by jabbing consistently and following with plenty of hard, accurate power shots. He landed a healthy 47% of his power punches, according to CompuBox.
Hurd isn’t as gifted as Stephen Fulton, who also fought on the Garcia-Redkach card. He isn’t unusually quick or athletic. He’s a big, strong guy who made his name by overwhelming his opponents with physical pressure.
Now, after his limitations were exposed in a stunning loss to Julian Williams in May, he is trying to get better. He split with trainer Ernest Rodriguez and hired Kay Koroma, who he believes can help him evolve as a boxer.
I love the fact that Kormoa said he wouldn’t work Hurd if he insisted upon exercising a rematch clause in his contract with Williams, his way of saying “we have a lot of work to do.”
That work has begun. Hurd had the opportunity to show his progress on Saturday. He had reason to be pleased. He obviously wasn’t frustrated, as post-fight interviewer Jim Gray suggested.
“There was definitely no frustration in there,” Hurd said. “We didn’t want to go toe to toe and we didn’t want to make this a risky fight.”
Will Hurd become a great fighter? Probably not. Can he get better? I think so. Give him time.
Kenny Porter was all game for his son to face Terence Crawford, but he claims he never received a phone call from Crawford’s handlers.
Kenny Porter was game for his son, Shawn Porter, to face welterweight titleholder Terence Crawford in a bout that would bridge boxing’s great political divide. But recent radio silence from the Crawford side has convinced the father-son tandem to move on.
In an interview with FightHub TV, Kenny Porter said his son now has his eyes set on facing a Top-10 welterweight and then moving on to face Errol Spence Jr. in a rematch of their Sept. 2018 barn burner. Spence won that fight by split decision.
“As much as Bob Arum talked about it in his press conferences, it appears to me that it’s a smoke (screen) because I never received a phone call,” the elder Porter said. “I understand that there’s a lot of things that have to happen in order for that fight to happen, but the first thing that needs to happen is you need to make the call. That’s the first thing. So, we didn’t get a call.”
Obviously, the Porters have other options. Most of the top welterweight contenders, including Porter, are aligned with Al Haymon’s Premier Boxing Champions, which presumably means there is less bureaucratic red tape in the way to getting a fight made. In addition to Spence, there is also titleholder Manny Pacquiao.
“Level of competition means a lot to me,” Kenny Porter said. “It means a lot to Shawn. Terence Crawford, Manny Pacquiao, Errol Spence. Those are the level of fights that we want to fight in.”
Terence Crawford, apparently fed up, called out Errol Spence on social media on Sunday, accusing him of ducking a fight.
Welterweight titleholder Terence Crawford appears to have least one New Year’s resolution: tweet more often. That is, tweet more often at division rival Errol Spence Jr.
The Omaha, Nebraska native unleashed a slew of fiery tweets directed at Spence on Sunday night, apparently in response to a tweet that Spence posted earlier about his willingness to fight anyone in the weight class.
y’all can believe the bs if you want ion 🦆 nothing
Crawford flexed his fingers and responded in kind.
“So what’s been the hold up homie?” Crawford wrote. “When I came to the division y’all all said I had to get a title first. Now you changed yo mind and talking about wrong side of the street. So I’m just here for another excuse what’s up.”
So what’s been the hold up homie? When I came to the division y’all all said I had to get a title first. Now you changed yo mind and talking about wrong side of the street. So I’m just here for another excuse what’s up.
A Spence-Crawford unification fight is one of the best possible matchups in the sport. But efforts to make it are borderline nonexistent because both fighters are aligned with rival entities. Bob Arum’s Top Rank, which promotes Crawford, generally doesn’t do business with Al Haymon’s Premier Boxing Champions, which manages Spence. The Feb. 22 Tyson Fury-Deontay Wilder fight is an exception.
The 32-year-old Crawford (36-0, 27 knockouts) is coming off an entertaining beat down of competent but unknown Egidijus Kavaliauskas on Dec. 14 in New York City. Spence (26-0, 21 KOs) is recovering from a car crash in October, in which he was ejected from his Lamborghini. He appeared to be in good health when he was interviewed during the Tony Harrison-Jermell Charlo card on Dec. 21. He said he would return to the ring in the summer. In his last fight, Spence outpointed Shawn Porter in a thrilling title-unification bout on Sept 28.
Keep defending him because I’m tell all y’all now and I mean what I say when that day come when I knock him all I want all y’all to keep that same energy because he gone cry in the car he wasn’t built for this shit I got over here just watch me show the world
The promotional gridlock hurts Crawford more than it does Spence, 29. Therein lies the source of Crawford’s evident frustration. Crawford’s 2018 campaign was dogged by his inability to land a significant fight, as Top Rank simply does not have access to the best welterweights in the division. PBC, on the other hand, has a host of viable options for Spence to keep things in-house, including titleholder Manny Pacquiao and Danny Garcia. A Pacquiao-Spence fight, in particular, would do great business.
Crawford isn’t buying that as a legitimate argument. He accused Spence – and for that matter, every other PBC welterweight – of hiding behind their handlers. “… Stop using the f- promoters, managers and advisors for that weak ass excuse y’all doing they work for us y’all dumb mf if you really want a fight you tell them i don’t give two f—s that’s who I want to fight. let yo nuts drop you say you yo own boss…”
And stop using the fucking promoters, managers and advisors for that weak ass excuse y’all doing they work for us y’all dumb mf if you really want a fight you tell them i don’t give two fucks that’s who I want to fight. let yo nuts drop you say you yo own boss @ErrolSpenceJr
There is also the question of whether Spence will be ready to engage in a high-level bout anytime soon. If the plan is for Spence to take a tune-up and then aim for showdowns against Pacquiao and Garcia, it may be close to two years before a Crawford fight enters the realm of possibility.
A welterweight matchup between Terence Crawford and Shawn Porter makes sense for a lot of reasons.
No one knows which – if any – of the PBC welterweights will fight Terence Crawford any time soon. Promotional and TV rivalries are often unyielding.
That said, if there is any accuracy to current chatter, it seems that momentum is building toward a showdown between Boxing Junkie’s No. 2 pound-for-pound fighter and Shawn Porter. If nothing else, the veteran contender said that the fighters, not Top Rank (Crawford) and PBC (Porter), will decide whether they will fight.
If it happens, fans are in for a treat. Crawford’s all-around ability and Porter’s relentless pressure should make for an entertaining matchup.
Here are three reasons I would like the fight to happen:
CRAWFORD NEEDS A TEST AT 147
Crawford is arguably the best fighter pound-for-pound in the division, as I mentioned earlier. However, he’s probably No. 2 at the weight – behind Errol Spence Jr. – because he hasn’t proved enough at 147 pounds. His victims in the division: Jeff Horn, Jose Benavidez Jr., Amir Khan and Egidijus Kavaliauskas.
A fight with Porter, a respected former two-time welterweight titleholder coming off an inspired performance against Spence, would provide Crawford with the opportunity to prove he can beat a next-level opponent and demonstrate his credentials at 147.
Of course, any of the top PBC welterweights – Porter, Spence, Danny Garcia, Keith Thurman or Manny Pacquiao – would serve that purpose.
SPENCE BEAT PORTER
The best possible opponent for Crawford is Spence. The winner of the fight would be the undisputed king of the division.
The next best opponent? Porter, because Spence just beat him – barely. Spence had to dig deeper than he ever had to in his previous fights to win a split decision – 116-111, 116-111 and 112-115 – and maintain his perfect record.
If Crawford can beat Porter, particularly if he can beat him more easily than Spence did, he will have made a strong statement and added intrigue to a potential future matchup with Spence.
THEY BOTH DESERVE THE OPPORTUNITY
Crawford is a three-division titleholder and, even if you have reservations about him, a Top 5 fighter in the world. Indeed, he has dazzled us fight after fight with his ability, power and killer instinct, which we saw in his most recent fight against Kavaliauskas on Dec. 14.
The thought of the 32-year-old future Hall of Famer failing to lure another top welterweight into the ring because of boxing politics is depressing.
Porter gave the performance of his long, successful career against Spence, pushing his more highly regarded opponent to his limit, only to lose a split decision – and his title – in a fight-of-the-year candidate in September.
To fight that well and that hard yet come up empty was devastating for Porter, who proved he belonged in the ring with the very best. He earned a shot at Crawford and his title.
Adrien Broner was ordered to pay $830,000 to a woman who accused him of sexual assault in a Cleveland nightclub in 2018.
Adrien Broner can’t keep his hands to himself outside of the ring if accusations are true.
The Cincinnati boxer’s latest alleged misstep has him on the hook for $830,000 to be paid to a woman who accused him of sexual assault in a Cleveland nightclub in 2018. An Ohio judge from Cuyahoga County delivered the verdict on Tuesday after Broner failed to show up to defend himself. Broner’s lawyers previously withdrew from the case.
Sound familiar?
In 2016, Broner choked a waitress at a nightclub, according to police. He was cited for that.
In 2017, he was accused of groping a woman at a shopping mall in Atlanta but charges were later dropped. That same year, he was arrested for failing to appear in court on charges of disorderly conduct and alcohol intoxication in 2014.
According to the lawsuit in his latest incident, Broner forced himself on the plaintiff while seated on a couch, kissing her without her consent. After initially denying the allegations, Broner pleaded guilty in April.
If a Terence Crawford vs Shawn Porter fight is ever made, it will be because both fighters asked for it.
Step aside, promoters.
If welterweights Terence Crawford and Shawn Porter ever share the same ring, it will be on their own accord, the two expressed recently. Not their promoters, managers and respective networks.
The sentiment was reiterated this past weekend, which saw titleholder Crawford dispatch Egidijus Kavaliauskas in the ninth round at Madison Square Garden.
After the fight, Crawford, whose recent career has been engulfed by concern over his inability to land meaningful fights, was asked about potentially meeting Porter, one of the top welterweights aligned with Al Haymon’s Premier Boxing Champions.
“That’s not going to be up to Bob Arum, PBC or Al Haymon,” Crawford, 32, said. “That’s going to be up to us, if we are going to agree to the fight.”
Arum, Crawford’s promoter, echoed those thoughts.
“That’s up to Porter and Crawford,” Arum said. “If they want to fight each other, we’ll get it done.”
Financial requirements and network allegiances aside, Porter and Crawford are friendly with each other, which could only help get them over the finish line. In the wake of Errol Spence’s October car crash, talk of a Crawford-Spence showdown has subsided considerably. In the interim, Porter’s name has come up as an attractive alternative.
During an episode of Inside PBC Boxing that aired on Fox before Crawford’s fight, Porter made it clear the decision to fight Crawford will be made between them.
“I’ve said this before,” Porter said, “if Terence and I fight, it will be because we decided to fight.”
Terence Crawford received more resistance than expected from Egidijus Kavaliauskas but responded like the champion he is.
GOOD
I’m sure there are people who believe Terence Crawford was exposed somehow in his title defense against Egidijus Kavaliauskas on Saturday night in New York. I don’t agree … at all. In fact, I think more of him now that I did before the fight.
So a good fighter (which is what Kavaliauskas is) landed some flush punches to Crawford’s face and body in the first half of the fight. So what? Fighters who take risks also take punches, even great fighters (which is what Crawford is). Crawford’s moments of vulnerability mean nothing to me.
And it’s not as if Crawford acted confused or disheartened when the clever Lithuanian had success. Instead, he got angry. He dug in, refusing to retreat, as if to say, “I’ll show you who the better man is,” and then did.
Crawford switched to an orthodox stance in the seventh round, which made it more difficult for Kavaliauskas to land his right. That was the turning point in the fight.
In the next two-plus rounds, Crawford, on fire with determination, put Kavaliauskas down three times – once in the seventh and two times in the ninth – and hurt him in the process. The referee saved the challenger from further punishment 44 seconds into Round 9.
Was it the most dominating performance ever? No. It was impressive, though. I loved Crawford’s reaction to Kavaliauskas’ success. I thought when it became clear that Crawford was trying to knockout his tormentor, “Those are the instincts of a champion.” And the way he finished off Kavaliauskas was breathtaking, both in its efficiency and thoroughness.
That’s what a great fighter does, battle fearlessly through adversity and win in spectacular fashion.
BAD
Richard Commey fell into a desperate situation very quickly. Mikey Williams / Top Rank
I’m using the word “bad” here as something positive, as in Teofimo Lopez is a “bad” man.
The Honduran-American’s fight against lightweight titleholder Richard Commey on the Crawford-Kavaliauskas card was supposed to be a 50-50 proposition. Instead, it was a showcase for the next great star.
Lopez essentially ended the fight with a crushing right hand that put Commey down and left him discombobulated early in the second round. The Ghanian managed to get up but a vicious barrage of hard shots from Lopez ended the fight, giving him a major 135-pound title in his 15th fight.
That’s what you call a career-defining victory. And he’s only 22.
A star was born? No, a star was born 22 years ago. Lopez has unusual God-given gifts, which have been finely honed over the years. Add to that his power, his killer instinct, his poise and his ability to do a back flip and you get a truly special fighter.
And he’s just getting started.
Next up? Could be Vasiliy Lomachenko, which is playing with fire. All the momentum he has built could come to a sudden halt against the No. 1 fighter pound-for-pound. One thing, though: Lopez is naturally bigger than Lomachenko. Is that equalizer?
Should be interesting.
WORSE
Terence Crawford reiterated after his victory on Saturday that he’ll fight anyone, anytime. Let’s hope his top rivals were listening. Mikey Williams / Top Rank
I agree with those who say this: If Crawford wanted to fight the welterweights at Premier Boxing Champions, he probably shouldn’t have signed a long-term contract with Top Rank.
That said, I also agree with the thrust of Tim Bradley’s ringside diatribe against the PBC 147-pounders for refusing to cross promotional barriers and fight Crawford.
Like it or not, Crawford is the top welterweight and arguably the best fighter in the world. And fighters constantly say, “I want to fight the best.” Fighters also say regularly in so many words, “I want to give the fans the fights they want.” It couldn’t be more obvious that the fans want to see the PBC welterweights fight Crawford.
So why haven’t any of the them – Errol Spence, Shawn Porter, Keith Thurman, Danny Garcia, Manny Pacquiao, et al – taken the steps necessary to make it happen?
I can only come to two conclusions: One, they don’t want to fight the best. And, two, they really don’t care what the fans want. If they did, they would demand to fight Crawford. None of them have, not even Spence, the one fighter fans had been dying to see in the ring with Crawford before his car accident.
And it’s not like PBC and Top Rank are complete strangers. For example, the companies will work together on the Deontay Wilder (PBC)-Tyson Fury (Top Rank) rematch in February.
I understand the business of boxing. Promoters and managers are territorial. They want to keep their big fights – and the money they generate – in house if possible. To be sure, PBC and its welterweights aren’t breaking new ground.
It’s just a shame, from the standpoint of Crawford and the fans, that a fighter as good as he is can’t test himself against the best possible opponents because of boxing politics.
Terence Crawford faces mandatory challenger Egidijus Kavaliauskas on Saturday in New York.
Terence Crawford is in New York for some mandatory business Saturday, favored to beat Lithuanian welterweight challenger Egidijus Kavaliauskas at Madison Square Garden and still ranked first or second in the pound-pound debate, yet uncertain about what awaits him in 2020.
Crawford hears rumors and smiles. Depending on the day or perhaps the hour, Floyd Mayweather is coming back. Or maybe not. It’s still not clear what Errol Spence Jr. will do two months after he was thrown from his Ferrari in a scary wreck on Oct. 10 in Dallas.
Crawford was asked about both this week in a media tour that included Ariel Helwani’s MMA Show on ESPN, which will televise his title defense after college football crowns its pound-for-pound best with the Heisman.
Question: Who does he have a better chance at fighting next year, Mayweather or Spence?
Even if Mayweather does come back for more than an exhibition, the feared Crawford doesn’t expect to be anywhere on his list of potential opponents.
“That fight will never happen, I believe,’’ he said.
Meanwhile, there’s been no word on what Spence plans to do.
“Me and Spence fight, I don’t really know,’’ Crawford said. “I don’t know his health reasons right now. I know when he comes back to the fight game, he’s not itching to get back in the ring against me right off the injuries.’’
There had been a groundswell of talk from fans and media, all urging Crawford-vs.-Spence, in the immediate aftermath of Spence’s split-decision over Shawn Porter for two welterweight belts on Sept. 28 in Los Angeles. But there’s only been silence since Spence’s single-car crash.
