By Jeff Aronow: Keith ‘One Time’ Thurman advises that Terence ‘Bud’ Crawford leave his promoter Bob Arum of Top Rank and go out on his own once his contract is up this year.
Thurman says Arum isn’t showing WBO welterweight champion Crawford (37-0, 28 KOs) any respect, and he thinks he should bail and move on. Crawford could have some interest from PBC, Matchroom Boxing, or even Golden Boy if he leaves.
At this point, it’s debatable whether Arum will attempt to re-sign Crawford when his contract is up.
The recent comments from Arum about him having lost enough money to build a house in Beverly Hills, California, suggests that he’s not comfortable with trying to match against certain fighters.
Arum was trying to put a fight together between Crawford and Manny Pacquiao in the Middle East, but the deal didn’t get made.
Although Arum had the chance of moving the fight to the U.S to get it done, he didn’t want to do it because he didn’t know who would pay for it.
Having been burned in the past has likely made Arum hesitant to match Crawford unless he knows the money will be there.
Even if Crawford does go, his situation may not improve if he’s unable to sell fights.
Thurman wants Crawford to leave Arum
“When it comes to anybody on this fight fighting Bud Crawford, I think Crawford just needs to get away from Bob [Arum],” said Thurman to Fighthype. “As I said, Bob doesn’t even give him credit that he deserves.
“His own promoter doesn’t even respect him. He needs to get away from that man and be his own man if that’s what he needs to be, and I think he’ll be able to negotiate better fights from there,” said Thurman about Crawford.
Interestingly, Thurman isn’t volunteering to fight Crawford. We’ve heard the rumors that Thurman wanted $10 million to fight Crawford, which was never going to happen.
Thurman is in negotiations now for a fight against Shawn Porter in the fall on pay-per-view. It would be great for the winner to take on Crawford. I don’t think it’s going to happen, but it would be an excellent fight.
Spence can still make money at 147
“I don’t know his heart, his goals,” said Thurman when asked if Errol Spence Jr will move up to 154 after he unifies the 147-lb division. “He’s still dominating the welterweight division.
“There’s still plenty of money to be made in the welterweight division after Pacquiao and in fights against myself and Bud Crawford.
“But if he [Errol Spence] feels well accomplished and wants to move on, that’s him. I heard long ago that he had the desire to move up.
“So I’m basing my theory based off of those old rumors that he has the desire to move out of the welterweight division,” said Thurman.
Errol Spence (27-0, 21 KOs) fights against Manny Pacquiao on August 21st, and after that, he says he wants Crawford for the undisputed championship. Errol says he’ll move up if he can’t get the fight with Crawford, and he’ll also move up if he beats him.
Thurman still hoping to recapture a world title at 147
“Me personally, I have no desire to move out of the welterweight division. I want all my dreams to come true at 147,” said Thurman.
“If I move out, that just means I’m at the later point of my career, and I’m doing other things. But my ignition of passion comes at 147.”
At this point in Thurman’s career, he might not be capable of winning another world title.
