BoxRec

Negotiations Underway, Says Eddie Hearn

The opponent who'll be tasked with testing Terence Crawford next could soon become known.

Matchroom Boxing head Eddie Hearn has revealed that he’s aligning Kell Brook to face the three-division champion Crawford.

“I had a couple of conversations with Bob [Arum] and [Top Rank VP of operations] Carl Moretti yesterday. And I feel that’s a big fight for UK TV, so we’re trying to help out and get that over the line,” Hearn told IFL TV. “I would love to see Kell get that fight. I think [Top Rank] had a conversation with Keith Thurman, and obviously they wanted too much money. It’s difficult at the moment … Crawford wants a lot of money, and Kell wants a lot of money. He deserves it. We’re trying to make that fight happen to assist Top Rank in getting the numbers together.”

Arum has long been eyeing a November 14 or 21 return date for the Nebraska-bred, WBO welterweight champion Crawford (36-0, 27 KOs). By the time Crawford enters the ring, he will already have celebrated his 33rd birthday.

In recent weeks, Team Crawford has even entertained the thought of taking on Thurman, but such discussions immediately hit a snag once “One Time” reportedly asked for $10 million.

Arum outlined five welterweight opponents Crawford could potentially face back in June.

The list was made up of Manny Pacquiao, Shawn Porter, Yordenis Ugas, Thurman and Brook.

Former IBF welterweight champion Brook (39-2, 27 KOs) appears to have the most probable chances to land the Crawford fight.

Brook said he would retire in the ring if he lost to Mark DeLuca in February, a fate he escaped when he scored a 7th round knockout win.

The 34-year-old Brook is riding a three-fight winning streak after suffering back-to-back losses to Gennadiy Golovkin in 2016 and Errol Spence Jr. in 2017.

Crawford has not fought so far this year.

His 2019 was highlighted by TKO wins over Amir Khan and Egidijus Kavaliauskas in fights that took place at the Madison Square Garden in New York.

Another mismatch for Crawford.

I'd say his biggest test to date really at WW. I true 147lb fighter who is big at the weight.

Brook has some size and power deterring Crawford from getting nasty but Terence can fully exploit his "broken" status and outgun him.

Crawford by stoppage. Was hoping for a better challenger. This is a formality.

Would have been a good fight a few years ago. Crawford will beat Brook pretty handily now though imo.

Boxerbeetle wrote: ↑25 Aug 2020, 14:01 Would have been a good fight a few years ago. Crawford will beat Brook pretty handily now though imo.

Would have done then too.

Brook always performs in the big fights, he lost to GGG and Spence but he fought well. Hopefully gets himself bang up for this and in good shape. Don’t see Brook winning but it’s closer than you might initially think

Covfefe wrote: ↑25 Aug 2020, 22:59

Boxerbeetle wrote: ↑25 Aug 2020, 14:01 Would have been a good fight a few years ago. Crawford will beat Brook pretty handily now though imo.

Would have done then too.

hmmm. i think 'peak' Brook would have had a decent fight with Crawford. he's definitely the hardest sharpest puncher Crawford will have faced at 147, I'd say?

Brooks training looking light and still got another 10 weeks. If he does the weight well he will be a threat to Crawford. Does the WBO have the next day check weigh in like the IBF ?? If not that's another plus for Brook.

Counter-puncher wrote: ↑26 Aug 2020, 04:03

Covfefe wrote: ↑25 Aug 2020, 22:59

Boxerbeetle wrote: ↑25 Aug 2020, 14:01 Would have been a good fight a few years ago. Crawford will beat Brook pretty handily now though imo.

Would have done then too.

hmmm. i think 'peak' Brook would have had a decent fight with Crawford. he's definitely the hardest sharpest puncher Crawford will have faced at 147, I'd say?

I’m probably being harsh, I dislike Brook immensely. I consider him one of the biggest wastes of talent we’ve ever had. Good title win but just wasted time throughout his career hoping for the big Khan fight. Crawford will be way too good now, physicality might make it a little interesting but he’ll break Brook down. I think he’s do the same to any version of Brook too.

Brook would've done well early vs Craw, several have, but Craw comes into it as it goes and takes over vs any version

Kinda odd to put Brook a fight like this now as he hasn't done much of anything of note for a long time, but I mean...I guess it gives him the chance to knock out a guy that Spence knocked out quicker.

People will see through it though.

The definition of a cash our fight. Lost all time for brook a long tune ago. Never reached his true potential and it's all his own fault. Lack of discipline. Crawford dismantles him.

Brook was struggling to make welter 4 years ago, not sure how he could do it now and still be anywhere near the fighter he was.

Shit fight but be interested in seeing it anyway.

Cash out fight. Been managed awfully since the Porter win.

There’s only actually a year and a half or so between them in age. Brook getting some heavy slagging here, he’s not gonna beat Crawford but I don’t see a one-sided beat down.

Delta Jay wrote: ↑27 Aug 2020, 14:58 There’s only actually a year and a half or so between them in age. Brook getting some heavy slagging here, he’s not gonna beat Crawford but I don’t see a one-sided beat down.

Age has nothing to do with it.

Again Zerafa, Brook said he’d weigh low and he did.. 150 pounds. And he turned in a bad performance.

rio wrote: ↑27 Aug 2020, 10:51 The definition of a cash our fight. Lost all time for brook a long tune ago. Never reached his true potential and it's all his own fault. Lack of discipline. Crawford dismantles him.

This.

I wonder if sky will try stick it on ppv..

Ruthless-RKO wrote: ↑27 Aug 2020, 15:04

Delta Jay wrote: ↑27 Aug 2020, 14:58 There’s only actually a year and a half or so between them in age. Brook getting some heavy slagging here, he’s not gonna beat Crawford but I don’t see a one-sided beat down.

Age has nothing to do with it.

Again Zerafa, Brook said he’d weigh low and he did.. 150 pounds. And he turned in a bad performance.

He wasn't really bothered about Zerafa.... needs a fight to get up for and this is it

Switch hitter wrote: ↑27 Aug 2020, 15:45

Ruthless-RKO wrote: ↑27 Aug 2020, 15:04

Delta Jay wrote: ↑27 Aug 2020, 14:58 There’s only actually a year and a half or so between them in age. Brook getting some heavy slagging here, he’s not gonna beat Crawford but I don’t see a one-sided beat down.

Age has nothing to do with it.

Again Zerafa, Brook said he’d weigh low and he did.. 150 pounds. And he turned in a bad performance.

He wasn't really bothered about Zerafa.... needs a fight to get up for and this is it

I honestly think Zerafa is a decent fighter, the fact he could beat him so well and in such bad form says a bit doesnt it?

Zerafa bearing Horn made Brook’s win look better but he lost in the rematch and Horn got battered yesterday.

Devil's advocate: Craw got dropped on his butt last fight and looked vulnerable at points? Kell will be Craw's best ww opponent, and possibly best opponent ever. Kell has won rounds and put up a fight vs everyone he's faced. It's possible that Spencer (and GGG) were better than Craw

Kell, on the ball, is red hot. Wether he is or not is a different matter.

Outside of maybe one or two fighters anyone against Crawford is a formality, so Kell Looks a decent enough fight as a “comeback”.

He’s not winning, but Kell’s a proud fighter. and heavy handed enough to make the early rounds very interesting.