Terence Crawford vs. Kell Brook - 14 November 2020

[Ruthless-RKO]

Title Fight Nearly Done For November 14

Terence ‘Bud’ Crawford is set to make his way to the ring for the first—and only—time in 2020.

The unbeaten three-division and reigning welterweight titlist has agreed on his side to terms for a voluntary title defense versus England’s Kell Brook, three sources with intimate knowledge of such discussions informed BS.com on Thursday. Minor details remain unresolved, though nothing that will hold up plans for the two to fight on November 14 at a venue to be determined.

Las Vegas remains the frontrunner to land the event which will air live on ESPN, with Top Rank—Crawford’s promoter—having run shows from The Bubble at MGM Grand since June 9 and every weekend since August 22. There are also talks of the bout landing in Crawford’s hometown of Omaha, Nebraska or taking the fight overseas to the United Kingdom.

The Athletic’s Mike Coppinger was the first to report the development, which advances from the previously revealed status of talks moving in the right direction.

"We're having advanced conversations with Brook," Todd DuBoef, president of Top Rank revealed in an earlier interview with Sky Sports. "It makes sense for both fighters. We're eyeing a November date if it can get done. November 14 is earmarked as the date.

"The location, as of now, is Las Vegas in a studio-type environment. There was talk of going to Omaha, where Crawford is from, in an intimate setting with some fans.

"We're weighing it up. First we've got to see if we can put the match together. Then the venue."

Step one appears to be done.

Rumors of such a pairing have swirled for nearly the duration of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, even if it’s a fight upon which Crawford (36-0, 27KOs) was never too keen. The switching-hitting longtime pound-for-pound entrant has been adamant about facing the elite of the welterweight division—fellow titlists Errol Spence (26-0, 21KOs) and legendary Manny Pacquiao (62-7-2, 39KOs)—or even former titlists such as Shawn Porter and Keith Thurman in lieu of a clash with Brook, also a former titlist but whom has seen his best days.

It has also been years since Brook has seen the welterweight division, having not fought at the weight since his near three-year title reign came to a close in an 11th round knockout loss to Spence in May 2017.

Brook won the title in a 12-round unanimous decision over Porter in August 2014, making three successful defenses before suffering the lone two defeats of his career. The fighting pride of Sheffield, England moved up two divisions in a failed middleweight title bid, suffering a 6th round knockout at the hands of Gennadiy Golovkin in September 2016. Eight months later came his return to welterweight, where he conceded the belt to Spence and has since campaigned in the 154-pound division.

Three wins have followed for Brook, who at one point was being steered towards a long-awaited showdown with countryman and former 140-pound titlist Amir Khan. Ironically, the two were on course for a fight in 2019, only for Khan to bail from talks in favor of his own shot at Crawford whom stopped Great Britain’s 2004 Olympic Silver medalist in six rounds last April at Madison Square Garden in New York City.

Brook has fought once in 2020, scoring a one-sided 7th round stoppage over Mark DeLuca this past February in his Sheffield hometown. The bout was one of the last this year to take place in front of a venue filled with fans, with the ongoing global health crisis shutting down the sport in mid-March and still playing to crowdless locations even upon its worldwide return earlier this summer.

Crawford has been out of the ring since a 9th round knockout of then-unbeaten mandatory challenger Egidijus Kavaliauskas last December at MSG. The bout marked the third successful defense of the 147-pound title Crawford claimed in a one-sided rout of undefeated titlist Jeff Horn in June 2018.

Efforts to unify the title or even face more desirable opposition have proven problematic, leaving Crawford to settle for opportunities such as this. Sources have informed BS.com that the supremely talented 33-year old put ink to paper for all terms, while finer points remain on Brook’s side before the fight can be formally announced.

Once finalized, the bout will take place one week prior to Spence’s unified welterweight title defense versus former two-division champ Danny Garcia, which headlines a Fox Sports Pay-Per-View event on November 21 at a location to be determined. For those holding out hope for a Spence-Crawford superfight, this latest development at least keeps the two on the same general timeline to at least entertain talks for a 2021 showdown.

[JimStone]

Crazy money for an over the hill Brook. Why do they offer so much?

[Ruthless-RKO]

Crazy money for an over the hill Brook. Why do they offer so much?

I think they offered him $1.5m first..

TR are already out of options with fights, they have to pay ott to get fights..

[ThereByTheGrace]

Brooks last fight then

[Ruthless-RKO]

Brooks last fight then

Most likely..

Wasted career.

[JimJim2009]

Brooks last fight then

Most likely..

Wasted career.

It will be. I think Kell will put up a spirited effort in the first few rounds but its too late in the day for him to be able to pull this off. Good luck to him though

[mickey1975]

Brooks last fight then

Most likely..

Wasted career.

I think his bank balance and trophy cabinet says different.

[ThereByTheGrace]

Had a decent career. Thought he would launch into mainstream after beating porter but seemed to go backwards with the opponents for a year or 2. Dont know for sure but the incident in tenerife might have had an impact.

[Ruthless-RKO]

Brooks last fight then

Most likely..

Wasted career.

I think his bank balance and trophy cabinet says different.

Trophy cabinet?

1 world title? Not exactly gonna be a full cabinet is it? Plus the reign was crap.

Who knows what his bank balance is. He got around £5m for both GGG and Spence fights.

But we all know his lifestyle outside the ring. We really don’t know do we?

[margaret thatcher]

I think people often judge him compared to what they think his potential was. it does seem he coulda done more, he was a really good fighter at his best and going to the usa to beat porter was a very nice title win.

At least he can say he was world/brit outright champ, got a biggish win, and made some multimillion paydays

[margaret thatcher]

Looking over his record, i'd forgotten he was in so many brit title fights, i guess for the puristss maybe they would've wanted him to win a euro instead of spend so much time on the intercontinental stuff after his brit title days

[margaret thatcher]

And his career ain't done yet, omg what if he beats Craw

[gilgamesh]

I suspect Brook will look competitive in the early going, Crawford will slowly take over, and come about Round 9 or 10. Crawford will stop him.

[Frostieballs]

I suspect Brook will look competitive in the early going, Crawford will slowly take over, and come about Round 9 or 10. Crawford will stop him.

I can’t see it taking that long.

[gilgamesh]

I suspect Brook will look competitive in the early going, Crawford will slowly take over, and come about Round 9 or 10. Crawford will stop him.

I can’t see it taking that long.

I can, but it wouldn't shock me if it happens sooner.

[Ash93]

Had a decent career. Thought he would launch into mainstream after beating porter but seemed to go backwards with the opponents for a year or 2. Dont know for sure but the incident in tenerife might have had an impact.

Bit like Callum Smith. Won the belt then followed it up with poor opponents and spells of inactivity. Spent too long chasing Khan but going in with Golovkin then killing himself to get back down to Spence pretty much killed him off.

[Pugilist-specialist]

Bud Crawford has bit off more than he can chew.
Kell Brook aint no feather duster man.

[maverick23]

Most likely..

Wasted career.

I think his bank balance and trophy cabinet says different.

Trophy cabinet?

1 world title? Not exactly gonna be a full cabinet is it? Plus the reign was crap.

Who knows what his bank balance is. He got around £5m for both GGG and Spence fights.

But we all know his lifestyle outside the ring. We really don’t know do we?

Brook’s career is a tough one. He must have at least a few million in the bank and he had a really good world title win against Porter which has aged really well.

Also got stabbed which meant he lost a great deal of time and momentum, struggled with weight a little, wasn’t helped by the IBF giving him no-name mandatories followed by a beast in Spence and he rolled the dice in a big way against Golovkin (which I’m sure set him up for life).

He probably could have achieved a little more but he’s set up for life and will be well remembered when he does retire. It is a shame though that he never fought Khan as I think he would have beat him in a really good fight.

[Ruthless-RKO]

This has been confirmed.

[Ruthless-RKO]

ESPN has announced that unbeaten WBO welterweight champion Terence “Bud” Crawford (36-0, 27 KOs) will fight ex-IBF champ Kell Brook (39-2, 27 KOs) on November 14 at a venue to be decided. Promoter Bob Arum stated that the event will air on an ESPN platform and not be on pay-per-view.

[Ezzard]

I expect Brook to get into his best shape knowing this is the last roll of the dice. Like many, I think he'll put up a good show before Crawford takes over in the second half of the fight.

He was 50-50 with Spence through to about the 8th and Spence was a big WW. Brook has more wear and tear now and likely will struggle to make 147.

Crawford may catch him early and put his foot down but I expect he'll be wary.

Never knew why Brook stood in front of Golovkin. I thought he'd look to hit and run and clinch... Instead he just went for it.

[ash.123]

Agree with what’s been said, Brook will start okay but Crawford will take over and probably stop him mid to late rounds.

[(craig)]

Brooks last fight then

Most likely..

Wasted career.

Adam Smith was still claiming on the Toe 2 Toe podcast last week that 'everyone' still wants to see Brook fight Khan so don't be surprised to see him glove up and plough through it one more time.

[Ezzard]

I've enjoyed Khan's career. I think he's achieved a hell of a lot. But he's finished as a top fighter. I hope he retires. He can't hold a shot well enough to compete at 147.

[ash.123]

I've enjoyed Khan's career. I think he's achieved a hell of a lot. But he's finished as a top fighter. I hope he retires. He can't hold a shot well enough to compete at 147.

Yeah I want Khan to call it a day. Achieved so much and you can’t knock him. Gets far too much stick for me.