Arum: If Crawford Wins, Spence Fight Must Happen

One of the biggest potential fights in boxing could happen down the line if Terence Crawford retains the WBO welterweight title next week, as Top Rank CEO Bob Arum says if that happens, he will look into a title unification bout with IBF champion Errol Spence Jr.

The welterweights are highly regarded as one of boxing’s most talented divisions, especially when it comes to its champions. Crawford is the lone 147-pound champion promoted by Arum, however. Spence, WBC champion Shawn Porter, WBA (Super) champion Keith Thurman and WBA (World) champion Manny Pacquiao — along with other talents like Danny Garcia — are under Al Haymon’s Premier Boxing Champions (PBC) stable.

Spence competed in a pay-per-view contest with Mikey Garcia at AT&T Stadium Dallas, Texas, last month, battering the WBC lightweight champion to his first loss via a one-sided decision.

Crawford and Spence are regarded as two of not only boxing’s best welterweights but pound-for-pound fighters. And if Crawford can get past Amir Khan next week, then Arum feels Crawford vs. Spence is a bout that must happen. And he hopes a deal can be worked out for Crawford-Spence like the one made for the co-promotional pay-per-view bout featuring Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather back in 2015.

“There’s no doubt in my mind that Errol Spence wants the fight as much as Crawford wants it,” Arum said. “So if Terence wins, I’ll call Al Haymon and work to sit down and make the fight. It’s not rocket science that this has to happen. We can sit down and make the fight in one day just like we did for Mayweather-Pacquiao.

“If a promoter blocks that fight, he ought to be ashamed.”

Crawford vs. Khan for the WBO welterweight title takes place on April 20 from New York’s Madison Square Garden.

Original Story: The Los Angeles Times