Terence Crawford Files Lawsuit Against Bob Arum
WBO welterweight champion Terence “Bud” Crawford (38-0, 29ko) will soon enter his highest profile fight yet. Social media is on fire with news of a $10 million lawsuit filed against his former employer, legendary promoter Bob Arum.
A BITTER DIVORCE
According to documents procured by the New York Post, Bud claims that Arum’s inability to properly support, and promote black fighters has hurt his career and the leading cause of him not getting the big fights. Crawford’s complaint lists a host of racial issues and accusations thrown at the Top Rank CEO.
“For years, professional boxers and others in the sports world have called out Top Rank’s owner, Bob Arum, for his disparate treatment of Black boxers, including those very same Black boxers that Top Rank is contractually obligated to promote.”
“Because this is boxing a sport with a checkered history, and because Arum is now dismissed as just a grumpy old white man, Arum continues to make racist and bigoted statements and purposefully damage the reputations of Black boxers without any consequences.”
“Arum clearly allows his revolting racial bias to impact the fighters he is obliged to promote.”
Filed Statements by Terence Crawford, WBO welterweight champion
These are jaw-dropping allegations. It did not take long for this to become a nuclear situation. Bud parted ways with Arum after defeating “Showtime” Shawn Porter on November 21, 2021. During the post-fight interview, he said goodbye to the company.
“Bob [Arum} couldn’t secure me the Spence fight when I was with him, so how he going to secure the Spence fight if I am not with him? So, I am moving forward with my career right now, and I wish everybody the best.”
Terence Crawford, WBO welterweight champion
THIS WAS BOUND TO HAPPEN
If we are to be honest, who did not see this coming? In 2020, Arum set the boxing media on fire with public statements of how the WBO champion was a financial liability.
“I could build a house in Beverly Hills on the money I’ve lost on him in the last three fights.”
“There is a limit to what I can get out of ESPN, and on PPV, Crawford’s never done anything on PPV. Nothing against him, it is what it is.”
Bob Arum, Top Rank CEO
Crawford responded by saying that Arum did not promote him the same as his fellow stablemates.
“He [Arum] get paid to promote. That’s why he is my promoter, he is supposed to promote me. When you look at someone saying, ‘oh, he is hard to promote,’ Why? Because he doesn’t promote me like he promotes everyone else!”
“Nobody in your stable doing numbers like I am doing, nobody! Not even your prima donnas that you put so much promotion and everything into.”
Terence Crawford, WBO welterweight champion
A LONG TIME COMING
Bud has expressed disappointment in not getting the big fights. One fight in particular that burns him up was an unfulfilled promised bout with future Hall of Famer Manny Pacquiao. He doubled down on that in an interview on The Last Stand Podcast.
“Here it is 2021, and I was promised the Manny Pacquiao fight in 2015.”
Terence Crawford, WBO welterweight champion
So this has been festering inside of Crawford for a long time. 3kingsboxing will stay on top of this story and provide any further developments.
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By: Garrisson Bland
