Bob Arum says Terence Crawford vs. Josh Taylor won’t happen until 2022

By Boxing News - 06/25/2021 - Comments

By Chris Williams: Top Rank boss Bob Arum says fans will have to wait until 2022 for the huge fight between WBO welterweight champion Terence ‘Bud’ Crawford and Josh Taylor.

Arum confirmed that Crawford would be fighting next on October 23rd, whereas Taylor will be fighting in November.

Arum says undisputed 140-lb champion Taylor (18-0, 13 KOs) signed a document stating that he must defend against his WBO mandatory Jack Catterall next. That fight will be taking place in the UK, Arum says.

As far as Crawford’s next fight in October, Arum says his management is looking at different fighters, but he has no idea who they’re sifting through at the moment.

Although we heard Arum recently mentioned Jose Ramirez, Regis Prograis, and Jose Zepeda as three options, Crawford’s management may choose someone entirely different from those guys.

Unfortunately, Prograis is out of the picture, though, after saying that he’s trying to set up a fight with Mikey Garcia at 140. Prograis would have easily been the best of those three based on talent and power.

“That’s the date we hope to bring him back,” said Bob Arum to Fighthype about when Crawford will be fighting again on October 23.

Image: Bob Arum says Terence Crawford vs. Josh Taylor won't happen until 2022

“I have no idea who his people are sorting through. There are plenty of good candidates out there that he can fight at welterweight, junior welterweight. We’ll come up with the best possible opponent.

“Then he’s out, fine,” said Arum when told that Regis Prograis said he can’t move up to 147 for the Crawford fight.

Josh Taylor fighting in November

“That’s a great fight, and I hope it’ll happen but not until next year because Taylor and [Jose] Ramirez both had to sign a document that the winner will have to fight Jack Catterall of the next fight in the UK. Taylor will do that in November,” said Arum in ruling out a Josh Taylor vs. Crawford fight next.

“That means we’d talk about a Taylor-Crawford fight, which is a great, great fight, and Taylor wants that fight, and I’m sure Terence would want the fight, that won’t be until next year,” said Arum.

IBF/WBC welterweight champion Errol Spence Jr said recently that he wants to fight Crawford after his title defense against Manny Pacquiao on August 21.

If Spence doesn’t fight Crawford, he could face WBA 147-lb champion Yordenis Ugas. Errol says he wants to fight two more times at welterweight before moving up to 154 to start campaigning in that weight class.

Image: Bob Arum says Terence Crawford vs. Josh Taylor won't happen until 2022

Arum sounding negative about Spence vs. Crawford

“Forget the Spence thing. Spence knows he can’t beat Crawford, and he’s going to go up in weight after the Pacquiao fight, so forget that.

“What’s going to happen is Crawford’s biggest fight out there is Josh Taylor and Teofimo moving up, yeah,” said Arum.

I wouldn’t say Crawford vs. Taylor is the biggest fight out there, but it’s the easiest potentially for Arum to put together.

Where things could become difficult for Bob is if Crawford chooses not to re-sign with Top Rank when his contract expires after his October 23rd fight.

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If Craword signs with PBC, it’s unlikely that a fight between him and the Top Rank-promoted Taylor will happen.