By Allan Fox: Bob Arum is optimistic that the unification fight between unbeaten welterweight champions Terence Crawford and Errol Spence Jr can finally get made.
Arum says he spoke with Al Haymon of PBC, and he believes the Craword- Spence fight be put together. The Top Rank promote views that match as one of the only ones that can make money.
Arum has complained recently of having lost money on some of Crawford’s fights, and he wants to some profit, even it’s not a lot, in a Spence (27-0, 21 KOs).
But for the match to happen, the pandemic will need to end, as the fight will need a crowd, and restaurants will need to be open for a closed circuit.
The vaccine for COVID 19 is expected to be released soon for the general public. We can’t know how long it will take before enough people are vaccinated for boxing fans allowed to return to fights in large numbers.
For a fight as big as the Crawford vs. Spence clash, it needs a large stadium like the AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, which seats a maximum of 100,000.
Arum confident Crawford vs. Spence takes place
“No, I’m pretty sure in talking to [Al] Haymon, we can get that fight done,” said Bob Arum to Barbershop Conversations on putting together a unification fight between Terence Crawford and Errol Spence Jr in 2021.
“It’s the only fight that makes sense that anybody is going to make money with. So I’m pretty sure we can get that fight [Crawford vs. Spence] done,” said Arum.
Arum and Haymon must come together to make the Crawford vs. Spence fight soon. Not only is important for the sport of boxing, but the match must be made before Spence outgrows the division.
Spence has already said that he plans on moving up to 154 after three more fights, and he could move that timeline ahead.
If Arum is going to wait until the pandemic is finished before negotiating the fight between Errol and Crawford, he could run out of time.
Many anti-vaxxers are already saying they will not get the vaccine for COVID 19, as they lack trust in it. Unfortunately, this virus is going to stay around beyond 2021.
Pandemic must end before big fights can happen
“But again, let me tell you from a promoter’s standpoint, for the people who have to raise the money, that fight can’t happen, and other big fights can’t happen until the pandemic is gone,” said Arum about the Spence vs. Crawford contest.
“We can bring spectators in, pay-per-view, restaurants, and bars for closed circuit, all those revenue streams working. Then you can start talking seriously about doing a major fight like that [Crawford – Spence],” said Arum.
It doesn’t sound realistic what Arum is hoping for with the pandemic ending soon. If Arum wants to make the Crawford vs. Spence fight, he will need to do it during the pandemic.