Could it be Manny Pacquiao after all?
ESPN is reporting that Terence Crawford is in talks with his fellow welterweight titleholder from the Philippines for a pay-per-view fight on June 5 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
A source at Top Rank, which handles Crawford, said the negotiations have been ongoing and the sides aren’t near a deal. The Athletic broke the story.
“Discussions have taken place for a very long time,” the source told ESPN. “And while the fight is not yet close to being finalized, if it does take place, Abu Dhabi is the targeted location and June 5 is the targeted date.”
Bob Arum, Top Rank CEO, said recently that he was making a run at Pacquiao and was also in talks with former beltholder Shawn Porter as a second option for Crawford.
And Keith Thurman, who Pacquiao outpointed to win his title in July 2019, also has been rumored to be in the mix of potential opponents for Crawford.
Pacquiao (62-7-2, 39 KOs) hasn’t fought since the Thurman fight, which means he would be out of the ring for almost two years if he fights in June. He’s 42.
Crawford (37-0, 28 KOs) last fought this past November, when he stopped another former 147-pound titleholder, Kell Brook, in four rounds.
Arum said he will announce the pound-for-pound king’s next bout and other details this week, although reports indicate that word come at a later date.
“There’s going to be an official announcement within the week on Bud Crawford’s next fight,” Arum told Barbershop Conversations over the weekend. “I can’t reveal it now, but it will be a major fight.
“It will be an official announcement of a major pay-per-view event – date, venue, everything. I’m not at liberty to discuss it at this time, but it’s a big deal, and not just any old fight.”
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