ARUM SAYS PACQUIAO IS READY TO GO AGAINST CRAWFORD
By Dong Secuya
PhilBoxing.com
Sun, 24 May 2020
Hall of Fame promoter Bob Arum, in an exclusive interview with Philboxing contributor Peter Maniatis, said that eight-division world champion and the current WBA welterweight super champion Manny Pacquiao is ready to face WBO welterweight champion Terence Crawford in a unification fight.
“I've talked to Manny via Zoom, first time I talked to him face to face in a while, Manny was getting ready to go bed, it was morning in California, and he is ready to go [against Crawford],” Arum said in the Maniatis interview.
“Manny is ready to do that fight and we'll try to do that out of the [United States],” Arum added.
With the ongoing coronavirus pandemic that knocked down the the sports industry all over the world and drastically changed people's lives and lifestyles, Arum would be hard pressed to find a suitable venue for such a mega-fight.
Arum also said that Pacquiao wants the Crawford fight to happen within the year. “Manny wants the fight to happen this year because he's running for political office next year, for the presidency,” Arum said.
The Philippine presidential election would not happen until May, 2022. So if Pacquiao is indeed running for the Philippines' highest office, he'll probably use next year to start his preparations.
Pacquiao has been rumored to face, among others, Conor McGregor, Mikey Garcia, Danny Garcia and Errol Spence even before the pandemic came. Ditto with the long sought rematch with Floyd Mayweather Jr. This time however it seems the hottest talk of the hour is a fight against Crawford. Let's see how it goes.
Pacquiao and Crawford were both under Arum's Top Rank banner for many years until Pacquiao signed with rival promoter Al Haymon of Premier Boxing Champions to fight Adrien Broner in January and then Keith Thurman in July, all of last year.
Crawford, 32, undefeated with 36 wins, 27 inside the distance, is one of boxing's top pound for pound fighters but who is still looking for that highly recognizable name to beat to propel him to real boxing superstardom. There are two names that fit the bill: Pacquiao and Spence. Crawford claimed he's been pursuing a Pacquiao fight since 2017 while a Spence fight had been difficult to make because of the not so cordial relationship between Arum and Haymon.
Pacquiao, 41, who had been believed to be on the verged of retirement many times only to come back each time to surprise everyone with scintillating wins against top caliber and much younger opponents, shows, even at his advance age, that he is not afraid to face anyone, even against the world's top pound for pound fighters. This only adds to the Pacquiao mystique and to his legendary boxing career that now span for more than a quarter of a century.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Dong Secuya.
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
Weights Set from San Jose: Amari Jones and Vincenzo Gualtieri Cleared for IBF Middleweight Eliminator
Fri, 22 May 20262026 NBA Playoffs: Gilgeous-Alexander Back to MVP Form as Thunder Top Spurs 122-113 in West Game 2
By Reylan Loberternos, Fri, 22 May 2026IBA flag raised at the peak of Mount Everest following historic ascent
Fri, 22 May 2026Jacamos fights for vacant WBC Youth World junior fly in South Africa on May 23
By Lito delos Reyes, Fri, 22 May 2026Lastimosa to fight for vacant PBF Youth light fly crown
By Lito delos Reyes, Fri, 22 May 2026USA Boxing Elite High Performance Squad Adds Seven Wins on Day Four at 2026 Copa America
Fri, 22 May 2026Bohat fights for PBF Silver bantamweight crown
By Lito delos Reyes, Thu, 21 May 2026AGM Bernardino to hold chess simul in San Manuel, Tarlac
By Marlon Bernardino, Thu, 21 May 2026JONES VS. GUALTIERI FINAL PRESS CONFERENCE
Thu, 21 May 2026Round 12 with Mauricio Sulaiman: From Madrid to Johannesburg – The Legacy of the WBC in South Africa
By Mauricio Sulaimán, Thu, 21 May 2026TYSON VS. MAYWEATHER EXHIBITION IS ON— TYSON BROKEN HAND PUSHES EVENT FROM SPRING TO FALL OF 2026
Thu, 21 May 2026Three Lions Promotions Building pro boxing back to Glory days in Metro Vancouver
Thu, 21 May 2026Jenn Perella shines, Bobby Laing stops Russ Kimber in 1st round
Thu, 21 May 2026TRAINING CAMP NOTES: Gustavo Trujillo Looks to Continue his Rise in the Heavyweight Division
Thu, 21 May 2026Filipino Francisco "Django" Bustamante rules 2026 Buffalo’s Pro Classic 1 Ball One Pocket Division
By Marlon Bernardino, Thu, 21 May 2026