Terence Crawford vs. Errol Spence Jr. | TNT Sports PPV - 29 July 2023

[Ruthless-RKO]

Crawford On Spence Clash: I Feel Like This Is The Biggest Fight Of The Decade!

“Well, this is a big fight for not only myself but for him too,” said Crawford during an interview with Hudrico Live. “I feel like this is the biggest fight of the decade. You got two American fighters thats undefeated, that’s considered top five in the pound-for-pound list. Both in they prime, what more can you ask for?”

“Hopefully soon, hopefully soon.”

[Counter-puncher]

anyone think this is actually going to happen?

[goose 5]

Not in 2022.

[tiny_acres]

anyone think this is actually going to happen?

Late 2024 after both have moved to 154.

[CaptainSpacerod]

One of the things that they can’t agree on is which company will supply the water at the fight venue.

If they’re arguing about such minutiae it would seem this fight is a long way from being made

[margaret thatcher]

One of the things that they can’t agree on is which company will supply the water at the fight venue.

[KiwiRider]

One of the things that they can’t agree on is which company will supply the water at the fight venue.

If they’re arguing about such minutiae it would seem this fight is a long way from being made

Or they just don't want it more likely

[coneye]

One of the things that they can’t agree on is which company will supply the water at the fight venue.

If they’re arguing about such minutiae it would seem this fight is a long way from being made

Or they just don't want it more likely

Would be sponsors causing that problem , easy fix slit the sponsorship money for that fight

[Ruthless-RKO]

Growing Concern On Spence's Side That Crawford's Team Isn't Committed To Fight

When Errol Spence Jr.’s representative sent back another revised contract to Terence Crawford’s attorney early this month, those working on Spence’s behalf were optimistic that it would lead to the consummation of a deal for the unbeaten welterweight champions to finally fight at some point early in 2023.

The most recent three changes Crawford’s attorney requested, none of which were considered major deal points, were made. He hasn’t responded, however, to Spence’s representative in the two weeks since he was sent the revised contract.

Boxing Scene has learned that the recent silence from the lawyer negotiating on Crawford’s behalf has caused growing concern on Spence’s side that Crawford’s team isn’t committed to completing a deal for what would be the most meaningful non-heavyweight fight in boxing. Neither side has set a deadline by which negotiations need to result in a completed deal, but BS.com has been informed that Spence’s handlers believe they have made all of the changes Crawford’s attorney has requested and are perplexed as to why he hasn’t gotten back to them.

Spence has his own promotional company, Man Down Promotions, but he works with Premier Boxing Champions founder Al Haymon, his longtime adviser. Crawford was promoted by Bob Arum’s Top Rank Inc. for most of his career, but he is a promotional free agent because his contract with Arum’s company expired after his 10th-round stoppage of former IBF/WBC champ Shawn Porter last November 20 at Mandalay Bay Resort And Casino’s Michelob ULTRA Arena in Las Vegas.

If Crawford, the WBO 147-pound champion, and Spence, who owns the IBF, WBA and WBC welterweight titles, come to an agreement, the rivals will likely meet in a 12-round pay-per-view main event on an undetermined date in February at a venue to be chosen in Las Vegas.

Crawford, 35, and Spence, 32, are commonly considered two of the top five fighters, pound-for-pound, in boxing. They have publicly expressed their desire to fight each other next, but details of their prolonged negotiations have mostly remained very private over the past few months.

Factions of frustrated fans have expressed doubt about Crawford-Spence materializing because negotiations have taken so long, but Spence has conveyed confidence on social media and elsewhere. Neither Crawford nor Spence have publicly discussed specifics related to their negotiations, although Crawford hasn’t given any indication that he wants to fight anyone other than Spence next.

Initially, November 19 was widely reported as the targeted date for their bout. Potential dates early in 2023 became more realistic options once the two sides failed to complete a deal last month, though, because there wouldn’t have been enough time to properly promote a pay-per-view event of that magnitude prior to November 19.

Crawford (38-0, 29 KOs), of Omaha, Nebraska, has not fought in the 11 months that have passed since the three-division champion stopped Porter in what was widely viewed as one of the best performances of his career. Spence (28-0, 22 KOs), of DeSoto, Texas, stopped former WBA champ Yordenis Ugas (27-5, 12 KOs) in the 10th round of his most recent bout, a unification fight that took place April 16 at the Dallas Cowboys’ AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.

[Ruthless-RKO]

[Ruthless-RKO]

[Ruthless-RKO]

Looking at Feb 4 now.

[Ruthless-RKO]

Crawford: Spence Didn’t Want The Fight As Bad As I Did; I Agreed To All Of Their Bullsh!t

“I’m excited about this opportunity,” Crawford told ESPN.com. “I was really looking forward to the Errol Spence fight. I started communicating with Al Haymon and PBC back in June. And unfortunately, they represent a fighter in Errol Spence who didn’t want the fight as bad as I did.”

“I agreed to all of their bullsh!t and they’ve been dragging their ass for months,” Crawford said. “Spence was nowhere to be found while I was trying to make the deal. I explained to Al Haymon and Errol that I was going to fight before the end of the year. … David Avanesyan is a very tough task. He’s knocked out his last six opponents and this guy is dangerous. Once I’m successful against Avanesyan, my plan is still the same – whoop Errol Spence’s ass.”

Spence Reacts To Crawford-Avanesyan: Everyone Can Now See Who Was The Holdup!

"I don't know who [Avanesyan] is," Spence told the Dallas Morning News on Thursday night soon after Crawford had told ESPN a fight with the Texan was no longer in the cards.

"I've done everything that I said I was going to do and I'll fight him next and we'll see who is holding the fight up. Everybody sees now who is holding the fight up. He had this [fight against Avanesyan] I guess in his back pocket."

"I'm excited about this opportunity," Crawford told ESPN. "I was really looking forward to the Errol Spence fight. I started communicating with [boxing manager] Al Haymon and PBC back in June. And unfortunately, they represent a fighter in Errol Spence who didn't want the fight as bad as I did.

"I agreed to all of their [B.S.] and they've been dragging their ass for months. Spence was nowhere to be found while I was trying to make the deal. I explained to Al Haymon and Errol that I was going to fight before the end of the year. ... David Avanesyan is a very tough task. He's knocked out his last six opponents and this guy is dangerous. Once I'm successful against Avanesyan, my plan is still the same: Whoop Errol Spence's ass."

"I got to talk to my manager but I already told them I'm at this weight too long. I might be moving up I don't know. I might be moving up,” said Spence.

He wrote on Twitter: “[Crawford] been stalling for months I could’ve fought in November … Been fighting at this weight for over a decade this sh!t ain’t easy or fun.”

[CaptainSpacerod]

More bad news for boxing. What a terrible state of affairs.

[thenamesnevers]

Crawford is full of shit.

[mickey1975]

Surely Crawford must go down as a terrible boxer/bottle job/liar/coward now on here.

[Ruthless-RKO]

Surely Crawford must go down as a terrible boxer/bottle job/liar/coward now on here.

He's definitely NOT a terrible boxer though..

[Counter-puncher]

yeah, see, i always said i'd believe it when i see them both in the ring. boxing is such a stupid fvcking sport i fvcking hate it.

[Bigdogsnose]

Surely Crawford must go down as a terrible boxer/bottle job/liar/coward now on here.

Why? We dont know what happened in the negotations. The fact hes took a stay busy fight doesnt mean he's to blame for fight not happening now.

Always felt he wanted this fight more than Spence did.

[mickey1975]

Surely Crawford must go down as a terrible boxer/bottle job/liar/coward now on here.

Why? We dont know what happened in the negotations. The fact hes took a stay busy fight doesnt mean he's to blame for fight not happening now.

Always felt he wanted this fight more than Spence did.

I agree. It happens. Most won't, though.

[Teddy's Toupee]

Surely Crawford must go down as a terrible boxer/bottle job/liar/coward now on here.

Why? We dont know what happened in the negotations. The fact hes took a stay busy fight doesnt mean he's to blame for fight not happening now.

Always felt he wanted this fight more than Spence did.

He's alluding to other posters' opinions of Fury. It's quite sad really that he feels compelled to make everything about his man-crush.

[Ruthless-RKO]

Get a load of this

[Ruthless-RKO]

Crawford: Hedge Fund Offered Me, Spence $25M Guaranteed Apiece; Haymon Wasn’t Interested

Terence Crawford revealed Tuesday night that representatives from two unnamed hedge funds offered to pay him and Errol Spence Jr. guaranteed purses of $25 million apiece during prolonged negotiations with Premier Boxing Champions founder Al Haymon.

Crawford discussed why talks for their high-profile fight fell apart late last month during a 20-minute session streamed on Instagram Live. The unbeaten WBO welterweight champion also divulged that he personally informed Spence of the $50 million offer, but that Haymon, who advises Spence, wouldn’t consider the possibility of working with these unidentified investors Crawford contended were willing to absorb the significant financial risk involved in their pay-per-view showdown.

“We’re going on and on,” Crawford said, “you know? And of course, me and Al, you know, we’re going back and forth, back and forth about, you know, the numbers. We not going back and forth about anything else. We just going back and forth about the numbers. On and on, I have two companies, you know, that reach out to me that, you know, wanted to give me and Spence $25 million guaranteed – $25 million guaranteed, up front. So, a real guy like myself, I called Spence. ‘Hey, bro, look, listen, you know what I mean? I got this company that’s willing to give us $25 million apiece guaranteed. What’s up? What you gonna do?’ He like, ‘Twenty-five million? What about the back end?’

“I’m like, ‘Dude, listen, if they make they money back then we get [an] 80-20 [percentage on the back end]. You know what I mean? It’s simple math.’ I said, ‘Man, we got people who are buying the fight, I mean, stealing the fight. They got the firesticks.’ And he laughed. He like, ‘Man, I got a firestick, too.’ I’m like, ‘See.’ I’m like, ‘Man, ain’t nobody really like buying, you know what I mean, pay-per-views no more.’ I said, ‘Man, we get this up-front money and we good. It’s a no-brainer. You know what I mean?’ ”

Crawford (38-0, 29 KOs) will instead defend his 147-pound crown against Russia’s David Avanesyan (29-3-1, 17 KOs) on December 10 in Crawford’s hometown of Omaha, Nebraska. The three-division champion expects Spence (28-0, 22 KOs), the IBF/WBA/WBC 147-pound champ, to face fellow PBC fighter Keith Thurman (30-1, 22 KOs,1 NC) sometime after he squares off against Avanesyan.

If Crawford and Spence win their upcoming bouts, Crawford wants to resume negotiations for what would be a full welterweight title unification fight. Crawford lamented Tuesday night, however, that because Spence isn’t his own boss that the DeSoto, Texas native couldn’t push for them to take $50 million in guaranteed purses.

The 35-year-old Crawford later explained Tuesday night that he was willing to accept Haymon’s unusual offer of $0 guaranteed for one of the most meaningful fights that can be made in boxing. Crawford apparently was convinced that his share of the revenue from their fight would’ve earned him enough money to work without a guarantee.

That was only after, according to Crawford, Haymon wouldn’t entertain the idea of a third party’s involvement.

“[Spence] had to go back and ask Al for permission, you know, if he can, you know, take this big chunk, a lump sum of money, to fight Terence Crawford,” Crawford said. “Which he didn’t call me back, so I proposed it to Al. I hit up Al. I’m like, ‘Al, listen, you know, man, I got this big hedge fund company out there. You know, they claim they know you. Not one, but two. Not one, but two. You know, two companies willing to put $20-plus million in both of our pockets, guaranteed. Al told me straight up, ‘I’m not letting anybody touch this fight.’ Like, ‘All right, cool.’

“But I’m like, ‘Why?’ He like, ‘Why would you wanna put a ceiling on yourself? Why you wanna put a cap on yourself?’ I’m like, ‘Well, that’s not putting a cap on myself if this company is taking a risk? Then, you know, it’s high risk, I mean, high reward.’ If that’s the case, you know, I can’t see a fight that’s been doing millions [of pay-per-view buys], you know, since Floyd and them. So, you know, that was an altercation.”

[Ruthless-RKO]

[Ruthless-RKO]