WILL CRAWFORD BE NEXT FOR PACQUIAO? WHAT SELECT FOLKS SAY ABOUT IT
By Ed de la Vega, DDS
PhilBoxing.com
Mon, 26 Oct 2015
As I watched Terrence Crawford toy with an overmatched Montreal resident Dierry Jean Saturday night, I can not help but think about what Top Rank?s head honcho, Bob Arum said he might do. I think Dierry Jean was picked for Crawford to win dramatically. The guy has a respectable record and an NABF belt. But he stood no chance against Crawford.
Arum in my opinion is looking for the last squeeze of Manny Pacquiao?s abilities as a fighter. He wants to rake in as much as he can get from a Pacquiao?s ?last fight?. Nothing wrong with that as he is after all the promoter of Pacquiao.
Arum is well aware that the Filipino pug has expressed his desire to have one more fight and then quit to concentrate on his run for a Senate seat in the Philippines. Pacquiao allegedly expressed such to him when they had dinner in New York a few days ago when Pacquiao took a short trip to the Big Apple to receive the Game Changer of the Year Award given by the Asia Society.
Personally, I think Arum is playing ball and is setting up a Crawford vs. Pacquiao in case Team Pacquiao can?t sign up Khan, Bradley or even the reluctant Marquez for Pacquiao?s April 2016 fight.
I think Arum will try his best to make the Paquiao-Crawford fight for two reasons:. First, if Crawford gets beat, he will not lose too much glitter because of the caliber of Pacquiao as an opponent. Thus, Arum can still sell out fights for Crawford particularly if done in Nebraska. He can?t do that with Khan (a Golden Boy fighter) or Bradley who is not a huge draw. Perhaps with Marquez that?s possible but the guy wants to stay retired.
On the other side of the coin, if Crawford beats Pacquiao, which is entirely possible, then lo and behold, Arum has got himself a new cash cow!
Wanting to know what others feel about such a hypothetical match, I sent e-mails to a few friends for their opinions. Here is what the first 12 who replied have to say:
Ace Freeman (FightFan.com - Edmonton, Alberta, Canada) ?I think Manny would be too mobile and too powerful for Crawford. Top Rank and HBO maybe pushing for that fight but I am not sure Manny?s team like it. I actually think, Provodnikov would be a good come-back fight because he would stand there and get beat up in an exciting war?.
Ryan Maqui?ana (Boxing Scene) ?I think Crawford is ready and Manny is not the same anymore. Those two reasons combined make this fight far from being a mismatched. The question is if they will give Crawford a tune-up fight vs. a small welterweight in January to prepare him for Manny? (in April).
Rich Mazon: (Philboxing.com) ?Crawford is the best option in the Top Rank stable for Pacquiao. His string of wins, his undefeated record plus being Fighter of the Year last year are more than enough for him to qualify as Pacquiao?s opponent next year. It will be a passing of the baton but is Pacquiao ready to pass that baton? Especially if this is his last fight- which I doubt it will be.?
Abac Cordero (PhilStar) ?Crawford could be too young and too hungry but not necessarily too good for Pacquiao. I think Pacquiao should go for Amir or Bradley for his comeback fight?11 months after his loss to Floyd and after surgery. Be impressive then hope for a rematch with Floyd by the end of 2016. He can?t risk it all against Crawford.?
Ronnie Nathanielsz (New Standard/BoxingMirror.com)) Ronnie did not actually state an opinion but wrote back ?just sent out a story in trainer Rick Staheli asking Manny to stay away from Crawford who he says is dangerous?.
Ivyh Habaradas (HookedOnBoxing.com) ?Given his most recent performance, he (Crawford) has proven to be a seasoned boxer. His performance along with Pacquiao?s is guaranteed to deliver a good show?.
Robert (Bobby) Macabagdal (Asian Journal) ?How will this be possible MP & Crawford fight be sold? Only boxing fans would know who TC is. I am looking at this as a Filipino boxing fan. MP needs a bigger name. (It?s) not worth for MP to get hurt?.
Joe Bruiser (FightFan.com) He is undefeated and on the rise and is probably as good an opponent as any for Pac. I don?t think he (Crawford) is a big PPV name though so it is probably high-risk -low reward. Depending on how much Pac is declining I think he has a decent chance (better chance than Algieri or Rios for sure).
Al Applerose (Riverside Press Enterprise) ?If Manny is in good shape, he?s gonna tattoo Crawford. (Manny has) too much talent and experience.?
Steve Angeles (ABS-CBN Los Angeles Bureau) Bud is fun to watch especially when he switches stances in the middle of fight. I like Bud, boringly smart, good complete smart fighter but not for Manny. I?d like to see Bud stay undefeated a few more fights then lose to like Jason Pagara. For me that?s a better match-up?. Hype and ticket wise, if its Manny?s last fight, he can fight anyone, it will still sell?.
Dodong Donaire (Trainer Extraordinaire?) It could be a good fight. One thing he is younger than Pacquiao and Manny is not the same Pacquiao we used to see before. Crawford also throws a lot of punches and I think he is not afraid to fight Pacquiao?
Bernardo Quirino (a devout boxing fan) ?Crawford is a hungry lion but I still think he is not in Pacquiao?s level. Pacquiao is still too fast and packs a whole lot of dynamite.?
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Ed de la Vega, DDS.
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