Shawn Porter thinks Top Rank’s lowball offer is a sucka move
Within the welterweight division, for years, an on-going melodrama has waged between two of its champions. The boxing public has collectively foamed at the mouth for this clash. There is no denying the appeal for a Terence “Bud” Crawford (37-0, 28 KO’s) versus Errol “The Truth” Spence Jr (27-0, 21 KO’s) showdown. Nevertheless, politics and other hindrances have prevented this bout from being realized.
Spence, who is the IBF and WBC world welterweight champion, does not have a problem with the fight. At the same time though, the unified champion will require the lion’s share of the revenue to make it happen. This is where Crawford, who is the WBO world welterweight champion, takes issue. As the two continue to find more reasons to bicker, the finalization of that bout seems further and further away.
This is why in life, like in a fight, it pays to be versatile and have a plan B. Provided that Spence and Crawford do not fight, and that is the leading probable outcome, who should Bud square-up with next? His friend, and former world champion Shawn “Showtime” Porter (31-3-1, 17 KO’s) has repeatedly stated that he was game. While conducting a recent episode of the Porter Way Podcast, Showtime double-down on his willingness to face Crawford.
“We can fight next year as long as the money is right. Outside of that, what would I have to argue about? We’re going to fight in MGM, Vegas, we’re not going anywhere else to fight. Possibly have some fans, and even if there aren’t any fans I’ve been there, done that. I think the world needs it.”
YOU GOT TO PAY ME!
Sure, Porter is itching to sign a contract to test his might with Crawford. Yet, similar to Bud addressing Team Spence, Showtime is not willing to fight for short money. It has been said that Top Rank was intending on offering Porter one million for a fight with Bud. If true, that is legitimately a sad and soggy deal. Crawford v Porter more than likely would be a pay-per-view and should receive a healthy viewership. So it is easy to believe that Showtime would be thoroughly unenthusiastic about a flat one million dollar offer.
“I am not taking a million. I did the best that I could to send a message to Bob Arum and I also know people who know Bob. And I told them, ‘tell Mr. Arum I don’t mean any disrespect and I know that he doesn’t, you’re going to lowball me – don’t do it. If you feel that that’s the way you get out of fighting me, that’s weak. Don’t do it!”
“However, if you want to make the fight happen, don’t lowball me, I’m worth more than a million dollars. F a million dollars! I’m going to keep it as clean as possible, but I am not fighting Terence Crawford for a million dollars. This is going to be ‘fight of the year’ or a definite candidate for fight of the year. There is no doubt, I know who I am and I know what I can do.”
With the current state of affairs, there is no reason to believe that Spence v Crawford is next. There is also no overwhelming evidence that Bud will get a bout with WBA super world welterweight champion Manny “Pac Man” Pacquiao (62-7-2, 39 KO’s).
If those two prizefights remain elusive, Bud does not have a dance partner better than Porter on deck. Therefore, it would be fun if Top Rank loosened their purse strings and paid Showtime his just due. We would all get a great fight if they did. But for now, we will just have to wait and see how the finances and politics play out.
By: Bakari Simpson
