BoxRec

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.

I’ve cherry-picked particular sentiments expressed in this article, because Steve Kim and Nick Parkinson both tried the “praise burger” approach, by desperately searching for the silver lining in a very dark rain cloud.

Basically, they don’t give Brook any chance of beating Crawford and appear to dislike the matchup, but tried to camouflage their criticism with some positive points (i.e. a negative opinion sandwiched between praise in order to cause less offence).

I guess these journalists chose to be careful with their words, because they're fearful of burning their bridges with Top Rank and their employers (ESPN, who'll broadcast the fight).

Anyway, review the article yourself and see if I've misrepresented their sentiments, since I quoted their words verbatim.

"Can Kell Brook upset Terence Crawford? Is this the right fight for both?"

Steve Kim and Nick Parkinson break down the Nov. 14 bout.

How does Brook defeat Crawford?

Kim: By having the night of his life, turning back the clock and having Crawford overlook him... If this was the 2014-15 version of Special K," this would be an outstanding matchup. But unfortunately, as mentioned above, a lot has happened since that point in time.

This version of Brook is basically just a sturdier version of Amir Khan, who was stopped by Crawford in 2019.

Does a win against Brook do anything for Crawford's legacy?

Kim: Not really -- it's a chance for him to make some money...

Parkinson: ...this won't be a fight Crawford will be remembered for.

Is this the right opponent for Brook?

Kim: Well, if the money is good, maybe it is. This looks like a final payday...

Parkinson: Yes. Kell is 34...

After all that, Brook knows he doesn't have much time left in the sport and has given up on a clash with bitter British rival Khan ever being made....

Another option for Brook would have been a clash with English rival Liam Smith at junior middleweight, but the Crawford fight offers more money...

Who wins and how?

Kim: Unless Crawford slips on a banana peel going into the ring, it's hard to see him losing this fight...

But Crawford will eventually impose his will and his overall skill set to stop Brook between Rounds 7 and 9.

Parkinson: Crawford on points, or by second-half stoppage...

Brook's win over Porter was six years ago, and Crawford will have to be mighty careless for a shock to unfold.

Is Kell Brook after 2 losses from GGG and Spence still better fighter than Kavaliauskas ? I think Brook has something left in the tank and Crawford will have full hands of work against him. Good fight !

A think Crawford will win on points but it would be silly to dismiss an upset brook has a few more big fights in the tank for sure

Kell will be turned into Ezeikel once again, he has no Chance Whatsoever!

detamour wrote: ↑09 Oct 2020, 07:38 Kell will be turned into Ezeikel once again, he has no Chance Whatsoever!

Agree. He needs too step up his game against Crawford. Or he will be outboxed and knock-out.

What would Muhammed Ali have done?

Ali would have held exhibtion matches around desoto texas and long island new york talking about how his would be rival is a coward and a punk. He would have forced the fight to take place and created interest in it.

What does Terrance Crawford do? Take a fight that nobody could be less interested in.

I see nothing but hurt and humiliation in this fight for Kell Brook and a towel being thrown before he gets too badly battered.

stevec@france wrote: ↑09 Oct 2020, 14:06 I see nothing but hurt and humiliation in this fight for Kell Brook and a towel being thrown before he gets too badly battered.

British networks like Sky, BT, ITV & Channel 5 all refused to broadcast the Crawford-Brook bout in the UK.

And Dominic Ingle refused to train Brook for this fight. I believe the man from Sheffield is going solo for his training prep.

I don’t need to ask the reason why these things happened.

This fight just seems like a horrible mismatch to me.

I hope I’m proven wrong though, but unfortunately I won’t be, because Brook is going to be hospitalised due to the severity of the facial injuries he’ll suffer during the course of being battered by Crawford.

Cent0089 wrote: ↑08 Oct 2020, 13:36 Is Kell Brook after 2 losses from GGG and Spence still better fighter than Kavaliauskas ? I think Brook has something left in the tank and Crawford will have full hands of work against him. Good fight !

100%. I think Brook is a dangerous fight. Golovkin and Spence had their hands full until Brook's body broke down. But both were bigger than Crawford

Brook is better than khan but thats not saying much

Ruthless-RKO wrote: ↑07 Oct 2020, 04:11 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.

Non PPV, Lomachenko Lopez Non PPV too.
What's going on, What's Bob up to ?
I'm not complaining.

Kell Brook never ceases to amaze me.
Goes on the road and beats Shawn Porter.
Moves up two weight classes to challenge arguably the biggest hitter in the sport at that time in Gennady Golovkin.
Fights an up coming unbeaten Errol Spence.
Starts to round off his golden years by fighting a top 3 pound for pounder in Terrence Crawford, are you kidding me.
Cementing a reputation as boxing the best available he can, one of Sheffield's and England's finest.
Bet Kell gives him a half decent fight too.

No venue.
Can they get Crawford over to England.
What does it matter if no fans are involved ?

Evander wrote: ↑10 Oct 2020, 02:18 No venue.
Can they get Crawford over to England.
What does it matter if no fans are involved ?

It matters to Crawford.

He's one of those boxers who are having trouble understanding that the world economy has recently taken a serious hit.

Or perhaps like Canelo and a few others, he just doesn't care either way.

Kell Brook on the other hand seems to love the sport. Willing once more to fight the best, willing once more to be dare to be great.

Unless he can somehow win, this might be the time to hang up the gloves and move into commentary, training, carrying the bucket or just join the likes of Joe Calzaghe for a round of golf.

It's certainly has been a great career.

Happening in the US then.

Evander wrote: ↑10 Oct 2020, 04:35 Happening in the US then.

It looks like Grampa Bob just has do his sums and work out how to squeeze out a few more $$ from the available US venues.

We'll probably never hear the end of how he's doing us all a big favour by taking a financial hit for the good of the sport etc etc.

The only good thing about a Crawford win is the increased likelihood of Crawford - Spence sooner than later down the line.

The cruel low blow inflicted by Mr Covid might actually turn out to be a win-win for the fans.

To maintain the incomes that the so called stars are accustomed to might mean either more regular fights or more big showdown fights.


https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.boxing ... 0677%3famp

He rarely takes chances on his A list boxers.
He must guarantee them over a period of time.
Arum is proper OG as they say.
A persistent promoter.

Thomastearns wrote: ↑10 Oct 2020, 05:09

Evander wrote: ↑10 Oct 2020, 04:35 Happening in the US then.

It looks like Grampa Bob just has do his sums and work out how to squeeze out a few more $$ from the available US venues.

We'll probably never hear the end of how he's doing us all a big favour by taking a financial hit for the good of the sport etc etc.

The only good thing about a Crawford win is the increased likelihood of Crawford - Spence sooner than later down the line.

The cruel low blow inflicted by Mr Covid might actually turn out to be a win-win for the fans.

To maintain the incomes that the so called stars are accustomed to might mean either more regular fights or more big showdown fights.


https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.boxing ... 0677%3famp

That's what boxing needs. The top guys are crazy overpaid, arum just has ESPN money. What they're losing on boxing isn't as big a deal as dazn.

Thomastearns wrote: ↑10 Oct 2020, 05:09The only good thing about a Crawford win is the increased likelihood of Crawford - Spence sooner than later down the line.

The cruel low blow inflicted by Mr Covid might actually turn out to be a win-win for the fans.

To maintain the incomes that the so called stars are accustomed to might mean either more regular fights or more big showdown fights.

Crawford has a $3m per bout guarantee, hence the reason why Bob Arum is complaining about rival networks refusing to purchase Top Rank’s boxing content.

He wrongly expected the Brits to fund a mismatch being staged at 4am UK time.

Anyway, let’s focus on what you said about the increased likelihood of Crawford-Spence Jr.

Everyone with a financial vested interest in certain boxing events will expect to receive their well-deserved slice of the pie.

And the PBC, in conjunction with Fox and Showtime, may find they can enjoy larger slices of a small pie (baked using in-house ingredients), rather than cutting a bigger pie (baked from a cross-network/promotional recipe) into smaller pieces.

So I think we’re less likely to see Crawford-Spence, because Top Rank demands a 50-50 split, even though they have no credible opponents at 147lbs for Crawford to face.

If the price was right uk will pick it up. I read they haven't yet picked up loma v lopez either. Arum wants too much

Also according to ingle he isnt training brook because he doesn't want to travel to the US due to covid

Jeff_lacy_ko wrote: ↑10 Oct 2020, 08:19 If the price was right uk will pick it up. I read they haven't yet picked up loma v lopez either. Arum wants too much

Bob Arum and Kell Brook have complained about BT, ITV, Sky and Channel 5 refusing to purchase the Crawford bout.

The Lomachenko-Lopez bout was in a similar situation, until FITE TV agreed to broadcast it for a £9.99 PPV price.

None of the TV networks in the UK are willing to cover the Crawford-Brook mismatch at 4am UK time, so I’m assuming that’ll be another £9.99 FITE TV PPV.

I will say this

Crawford is in a no win position

He wins easily brook is shot

Brook is competitive Crawford is overrated

Jeff_lacy_ko wrote: ↑10 Oct 2020, 08:20 Also according to ingle he isnt training brook because he doesn't want to travel to the US due to covid

I don’t believe anyone is working with Brook, which isn’t a good sign.

Maybe Kell doesn’t want to fund the cost of a decent trainer to detract from his earnings from the final purse of his career.

Enlightened-One wrote: ↑10 Oct 2020, 08:27

Jeff_lacy_ko wrote: ↑10 Oct 2020, 08:20 Also according to ingle he isnt training brook because he doesn't want to travel to the US due to covid

I don’t believe anyone is working with Brook, which isn’t a good sign.

Maybe Kell doesn’t want to fund the cost of a decent trainer to detract from his earnings from the final purse of his career.

Was it Fewkes who trained him not long ago? Against Zerafa?