SPORTS SHORTS 60: SHAWN PORTER REJECTS $2 MILLION OFFER TO FIGHT TERENCE CRAWFORD WHO WANTS MANNY PACQUIAO
By Maloney L. Samaco
PhilBoxing.com
Sat, 20 Feb 2021
Former two-time welterweight champion Shawn Porter rejected the $2 million offer to challenge WBO welterweight titlist Terence Crawford because he thinks it’s too small for him to receive such purse for a big fight with a world's top pound-for-pound boxer. As of February 2021, Crawford is ranked as the No. 1 fighter pound for pound by ESPN, No. 2 by Transnational Boxing Rankings Board and Boxing Writers Association of America, and No. 3 by The Ring and BoxRec.
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Porter (31-3-1,17 KOs) did not categorically state the amount he wanted in agreeing to challenge Crawford (37-0, 28 KOs) for his WBO welterweight belt, but estimates had it at 3 to 5 million dollars. One reason that Porter, age 33 years of Cleveland, Ohio, couldn't command a higher price because he doesn’t posses a world title belt. He was also defeated in his biggest career fights by Errol Spence Jr., Keith Thurman, and Kell Brook.
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According to Porter, the price offer was an insult. “I understand the business of boxing at this point, and to even begin negotiations at $2 million is an insult, and everybody in the sport of boxing knows the welterweight division is the hottest division in boxing,” said Porter as quoted by Boxing News 24. For Top Rank, it's too risky to spend a lot of money for a Crawford-Porter fight. Porter answered the amount is a paltry sum. "We command a lot of money, we command a lot of attention, and this fight will do all of that and more. For him [Bob Arum] to say that he’s old-fashioned and for him to say that $1 million isn’t chump change, it’s not chump change for somebody else, but to Shawn Porter, it’s chump change."
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Porter voiced out further that Arum said the amount is okay for Kell Brook but not for him. "Here’s the thing. You offered Kell Brook $2 million because you knew $2 million would get Kell Brook in the ring, and that $2 million was enough for him,” Porter continued. "It’s not enough for Shawn Porter. However, you know the only way you can stay away from Shawn Porter and try and justify it by saying $1 million is not chump change."
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Porter and Manny Pacquiao are the two probable opponents that Top Rank is aiming at against Crawford in his assignment. But, Pacquiao has already asked for a hefty price of $40 million for the Crawford match, which Arum thinks is too high. If the price would not be lowered, during these times of pandemic and crowd restrictions, it seems the Filipino boxing legend will not be able to obtain a deal to fight the three-division champion Crawford.
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Porter says he can fill up whatever stadium Arum wants to take the fight to if fans are allowed to come to the venue. But when Porter and Errol Spence fought in September 28, 2019, it was Spence that attracted the fans at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California. Porter lost that fight by split decision. His two other losses were dealt by Keith Thurman via unanimous decision and by Kell Brook via majority decision.
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“Bud” Crawford had a misunderstanding with his promoter Bob Arum, who announced on media that he could not continue losing money on Crawford’s fights. Crawford answered back saying that Arum must release him from his contract if it was what the Top Rank boss felt for him. The situation has since cooled off and Arum recently told Fighthype that he was working on a deal with either Manny Pacquiao or Shawn Porter as Crawford’s possible next opponent this spring.
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Crawford said that he doesn’t have a problem with either two fights but prefers a match against the former eight-division champion Pacquiao. He said he will have to wait and see. For the Omaha, Nebraska native both of them are great fights. But he prefers to face Manny Pacquiao over Shawn Porter for obvious reasons. Yet he considers the match with Porter as a great fight in its own right. He said over Fighthype that he is going to be ready for whichever bout that might come into fruition.
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"Both of them have their own strong points. Manny Pacquiao is fast and moving, he can punch. Shawn Porter is aggressive, tough, and durable,” Crawford stated. He last saw action November 14 last year when he stopped former champion Kell Brook by 4th round TKO. He has won all five of his fights in the welterweight division via knockout, including that of Kell Brook of England and wins over Egidijus Kavaliauskas of Lithuania by 9th round TKO, Amir Khan of England by 6th round TKO, José Benavidez Jr. of United States by 12th round TKO, and Jeff Horn of Australia by 9th round TKO.
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Joel Embiid was simply dominating in leading the Philadelphia 76ers with a career-high 50 points together with 17 rebounds, 5 assists, 2 steals, 4 blocks and only 2 turnovers in 35 minutes to lift them over the visiting Chicago Bulls, 112-105, on Friday. Embiid is one of the candidates for MVP and played as a leading contender for the award against the Bulls. Ben Simmons did not play for a second straight game due to illness, and the Sixers got all the energy and support from their superstar player.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Maloney L. Samaco.
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