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Manila Bulletin devider Sports devider Boxing devider Arum: Pacquiao-Crawford in US 'too risky'

Arum: Pacquiao-Crawford in US 'too risky'

Published May 24, 2021 09:14 pm

Top Rank promoter Bob Arum (center) with Manny Pacquiao (right) and veteran boxing trainer Freddie Roach in this file photo. (Top Rank)

Top Rank honcho Bob Arum bared that holding the supposed mega-bout between Filipino boxing legend Manny Pacquiao and WBO welterweight champion Terence Crawford in the United States "was too risky."

"We tried to do Pacquiao and Crawford over in Abu Dhabi because the money is huge for that fight," explained Arum in an interview with veteran boxing reporter Elie Seckbach. "And then people could say, 'Well, why didn't you do Pacquiao and Crawford from the US?'

"Because, y'know, as a business person, I just thought that it was too risky." Hopefully, they come out okay with Pacquiao and Spence but it's risking a lot of money to do."

It would be recalled that the Pacquiao-Crawford bout didn't materialize due to funding woes from Abu Dhabi investors.

READ: Pacquiao-Crawford bout in Abu Dhabi reportedly scrapped

Then comes the announcement of Pacquiao settling to clash with Spence, the unified IBF and WBC welterweight titlist, on US soil on August 21.

Despite the failure to secure the negotiation, Arum is looking forward to the Pacquiao-Spence showdown.

And he has a few words to spare about it: "I would never count out Manny Pacquiao but you would have to make Spence the big favorite."

Pacquiao, 42, has not fought since scoring a split decision win over Keith Thurman in July 2019 to improve at 62-7-2 record on top of 39 knockouts.

Pacquiao, the only eight-division world boxing champion, got stripped of his super WBA welterweight belt and was declared "champion in recess" due to inactivity.

Spence, 31, for his part, remained unbeaten in 27 matches with 21 KOs with the latest coming from a unanimous decision win over Danny Garcia in December last year while Crawford is also undefeated at 37-0 card with 28 KOs.

Related Tags

Terence Crawford Errol Spence Jr. Errol Spence bob Arum Manny Pacquiao
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