Is There Simmering Beef Between Terence Crawford And Top Rank?
The rumblings are getting louder and louder about possible friction between WBO World Welterweight champion Terence Crawford (36-0, 27 KOs) and his promoter of record, Top Rank. We at 3KingsBoxing reported that CEO of Top Rank, Bob Arum, admitted Crawford could very well end up leaving the company.
Now there are more embers to the growing fire of speculation. Talk behind the scenes are that Crawford as well as his manager/trainer Brian “Bomac” McIntyre are becoming increasingly frustrated about landing a high-profile fight in the Welterweight division.
And the level of angst reached a level of pettiness during the lead-up to Crawford’s November 14 title defense against former IBF World Welterweight champion Kell Brook (39-2, 27 KOs) that’s set to take place at the MGM Grand Bubble in Las Vegas.
THINGS ARE NOT KOSHER
According to The Athletic, McIntyre delayed sending the signed contract to fight Brook for three weeks. Arum didn’t receive the contract until October 17th, the night of Teofimo Lopez’s upset win over Vasiliy Lomachenko. This was done because Team Crawford was upset by a lack of early promotion for their fight against Brook.
They also contend that behind the scenes, McIntyre is putting the pressure on Top Rank to make a big-money fight for Crawford at Welterweight.
SHOW AND PROVE AT 147
There are growing cries from fans asking when will matchups happen against the likes of unified champ Errol Spence Jr or WBA “Super” champion Manny Pacquiao? Also, bouts against former champions Keith Thurman, Danny Garcia or Shawn Porter have also been brought up.
During interviews with the boxing media, Crawford has always expressed things are copacetic between him and Arum. When questioned about the lack of a big fight so far at 147-pounds, the 33-year-old from Nebraska responds by saying neither he nor Top Rank is at fault.
He argues that he’s called for a big fight even before moving up to Welterweight and says all parties have to come to the negotiation table in good faith, and fights can be made. But privately, Crawford’s camp seems to be singing a different tune.
“Bud” has had a very distinguished career. He’s a three-division world champion, including earning the rare distinction of becoming the undisputed champion.
Universally recognized as arguably the best Pound-4-Pound fighter in the sport, there’s more for him to accomplish. Something he’s fully aware of.
Truth is, folks are clamoring for him to fight the best at 147 pounds. It seems this is something he desires to do before moving on with his career.
The question is, when “will it happen?”
Furthermore with his contract reportedly set to expire in 2021, will this happen while with Top Rank? Only time will tell.
Stay tuned to 3KingsBoxing on this emerging development.
By: Michael Wilson Jr.
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