Errol Spence doesn’t care for how Terence Crawford kowtows to Bob Arum
When it comes to their individual skillsets, IBF and WBC World welterweight champion Errol “The Truth ” Spence Jr (27-0, 21 KO’s) and Terence Crawford harbor a great respect for one another. They easily see the capability of their would-be foe and can foresee the challenge they would present in the ring. Now when it comes to their opinion about how the other man carries themselves in life or conducts their business, that is quite a different story.
While holding more belts and having staged more notable prizefights at 147, Spence feels that he is easily the A-side in any proposed showdown. There is nothing new about that information. However, in a recent interview, Spence did get a bit more in-depth about his feelings toward Crawford’s relationship with his promoter, Bob Arum.
NO RESPECT!
During a recent Q&A session with Barbershop Conversation, Spence revealed what he felt was WBO Welterweight champion Terence “Bud” Crawford’s (37-0, 28 KO’s) flip-flopping behavior.
“I think Bob treat him like any owner does an athlete. You know, basically treat him like he is property. I feel like he don’t really respect Terence like that and he think he trying to get any type of money out of him he going to get out of him. And I think Bob is probably frustrated with him because of certain things, but you know I feel like they don’t really have a relationship like that.”
“Terence Crawford, if somebody say something to him, he going to snap back at them and I feel like with Bob, why he didn’t snap back at Bob when Bob was saying all this? If I say something crazy, he going to say something crazy back. Somebody say something crazy to him, he going to say something crazy back.”
“But when Bob say something crazy, he say he didn’t mean it or he make some excuses for Bob. You know, that’s what I didn’t respect about the situation. I’m like, you got to man up and be your own man. You know he saying all this about you and you ain’t saying nothing. You act like you confused. But let me say something, he will go on a Twitter rant!”
WHATS THE FUTURE HOLD?
There is a great deal of truth in what Spence is saying. Many throughout the boxing world were mystified when Bud chose to re-sign with Top Rank when his contract lapsed. The main reason for this bewilderment was the fact that there are no other major welterweights in the Top Rank stable. For Crawford to have a regular supply of sellable opponents, he has to deal with the PBC. When he opted to stay put, many could not make heads or tails of that decision.
This confusion was only deepened when Bob Arum flat out said he could keep or lose Crawford without missing a beat. The harsh way that the veteran promoter publicly spoke about one of the best fighters in the game seemed like the height of disrespect. Instead of showing indignation, as Spence eluded to, Crawford instead brushed it to the side like it was no big deal.
It really will be interesting to see what Crawford chooses to do from here. Errol Spence already has more belts and is commonly viewed as the man to beat in the division to be top dog. That was before Spence signed on for a bout with Manny Pacquiao. If The Truth defeats Pacquiao, there is virtually nothing that Bud has to leverage for equality at the bargaining table. This will be even worse if Pacquiao is reinstated as the WBA Super champion as many believe he will be. So while potentially holding all the major belts minus one, and staging the bigger fights, it should be no puzzle why Spence questions how Crawford moves on the business end.
By: Bakari Simpson
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