After COVID crisis: Arum optimistic on Crawford fight against either Pacquiao or Spence

CEBU, Philippines —  Top Rank chairman Bob Arum is highly optimistic that the his prized ward Terence Crawford would land a major fight with either Manny Pacquiao or Errol Spence Jr. once the global health crisis is over.

The 32-year-old Crawford, widely regarded as of the best pound-for-pound fighters in the world, is the reigning WBO welterweight champion.

Pacquiao is the WBA Super welterweight titleholder, while Spence is the unified IBF/WBC champ in the division packed with superstars.

Between Pacquiao and Spence, Arum leans towards the Pinoy ring star to challenge the unebeaten Crawford.

Arum said he had feelers that the Pacquiao-Crawford match would happen in the summer or in the fall but his timebatle was erased by the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Then, of course, everything blew up. But I am optimistic that I will be able to continue with these talks in the next month or so. I talked to Terence and (trainer/manager Brian McIntyre) about it. It appears to me that Crawford and Pacquiaowanna go ahead with that fight,” said Arum in a report by Jake Donovan of boxingscene.com.

If he succeeds in putting everything in place, Arum said he want to stage the megabout outside of the United States. EBV