By Chris Williams: In a sign that we could be seeing an upset tonight, Top Rank promoter Bob Arum is already openly contemplating a fight between Kell Brook and Manny Pacquiao if Kell defeats Terence Crawford tonight. Arum says Brook might “rollover” Crawford.
Arum has three options if Brook defeats Crawford tonight. He can match Brook against the following fighters:
- Manny Pacquiao – first choice
- Josh Taylor
- Jose Ramirez
All three of those fights would do well in the U.S and likely be sold on pay-per-view. There’s a lot of green made by Arum and Top Rank if Brook beats Crawford. Despite having tried for years to turn Crawford into a star, Arum has failed to accomplish that.
Brook vs. Pacquiao = huge money potential
It’s not like he hasn’t tried to make a star out of Crawford, but the combination of his dull switch-hitting, counter-punching fighting style, and his sleepy way of talking has kept the Nebraska native from gaining a huge fanbase nationally.
You have to thank Brook for singlehandedly creating interest in the promotion for tonight’s fight because no one would be paying attention without him.
As far as Chris Williams knows, Arum doesn’t promote Brook (39-2, 27 KOs) or Pacquiao (62-7-2, 39 KOs); he’s still interested in setting up that fight. Arum is already talking about making the Brook-Pacquiao match suggests that he may have a one-fight promotional deal with Kell.
With WBO welterweight champion Crawford (36-0, 27 KOs) expected to be down to his last three fights with Top Rank before leaving the promotional company to go over to PBC in 2021, it’s arguably in Top Rank’s best interest if Terence loses tonight against Brook.
“Terence will give away a big, big size advantage and Brook is a very accomplished fighter,” Bob Arum said to The Sun.
“I think this is a really competitive fight and if Terence doesn’t watch out, Brook is going to roll right over him, as Brook is very confident. And if he’s successful with Terence, maybe I’ll make Brook with Manny.”
Think about it: If Crawford loses to Brook, Arum can make a big-money Pacquiao-Brook unification fight between the two in 2021 in the Middle East or the UK. It’s a fight that would make a mountain of money, as Brook has his entire country of the UK following him.
Kell could win tonight
If Crawford doesn’t score a knockout, Brook has a better than average chance of winning a close 12 round decision. With the big power advantage that Brook has, he can win many rounds even if Crawford outworks him.
If you watched Brook’s last fight against Mark DeLuca, the power on his shots was like that of a middleweight. Brook is an incredibly powerful puncher, and it doesn’t matter if Crawford outlands him 2 to 1. With that power, Brook can win a decision and then move forward for a fight against Pacquiao or whoever Arum picks.
There’s a lot of money to be made for Top Rank, Arum, Brook, and Pacquiao if that fight takes place. Crawford is likely on his way out the door anyway with Top Rank, so it’s no skin of their teeth if he loses tonight against Brook. It’s a win-win for Top Rank if Brook takes Crawford’s scalp, as it opens the door for a massive fight.