Who’s Next for Terence Crawford: Manny Pacquiao or Errol Spence?

On November 14^th, Terence Crawford made an emphatic statement in his WBO title defense against a bigger opponent in Kell Brook. This was the 4^th time Crawford (37-0, 28 KOs) has defended his title, but it’s arguably his most impressive.

Crawford shocked fans and pundits with an impressive 4^th round TKO over Kell Brook who was supposed to be Terence’s toughest opponent in the last few years. Instead, Crawford showed the sport why he’s the top pound for pound boxer.

As boxing analyst Max Kellerman said, Crawford has gone from a lightweight that can outbox his opponents to a welterweight that can knock them out.

With that fantastic performance, boxing betting sites and fans are asking who Crawford will fight next. Let’s take a look at some of his potential opponents and the corresponding betting odds for these matchups.

👑 LEFT NO DOUBT 👑@terencecrawford stuns Kell Brook with a big right hand and wastes no time closing the show in Round 4. Goodness … #CrawfordBrook pic.twitter.com/pvD56GdSdL

— Top Rank Boxing (@trboxing) November 15, 2020

Who Will Crawford Fight Next?

This question is more complicated than one may think. There are multiple layers to Crawford’s situation with Top Rank promotions and they could all play a factor in what happens next.

Prior to the Brook fight, Crawford’s promoter Bob Arum said that Errol Spence Jr. or Manny Pacquiao would be the next opponent for Crawford provided he beat Brook.

Not only did Crawford beat Brook, but he did so in a manner that nobody expected. A 4^th round TKO over a former champ is impressive enough. However, Brook was the bigger fighter who had a size and power advantage. Yet, it was Crawford who flashed the knockout power and not Brook.

So, now, Top Rank has to decide on which direction they want to go. And, we’re not just talking about Crawford’s next opponent, but we’re also talking about whether or not Top Rank can keep Crawford signed to their promotion.

Will Crawford Stay With Top Rank?

Crawford’s time with Top Rank is coming to an end in October 2021. And, by all accounts, the sides are growing further apart. In fact, Bob Arum publicly blasted Crawford this weekend:

“The question is, ‘Do we want to keep him?’ I could build a house in Beverly Hills on the money I’ve lost on him in the last three fights. A beautiful home. Nobody questions Crawford’s innate, tremendous ability. By beating a naturally bigger guy (in Brook), decisively, that’s a big statement that he’s making. The question is, ‘Does it pay the bills?’ Look, you can have the greatest opera singer in the world. If the fans don’t support it, you’re out of business.”

It’s clear, Bob Arum is losing touch with the sport of boxing and with reality. If you can’t make money off the best boxer in the sport today then that’s on the promoter and not the fighter.

Crawford doesn’t spend a lot of time being an egomaniac outside of the ring. He does most of his talking inside the ring. The problem is that Top Rank has struggled to put together compelling fights for Crawford prior to this Kell Brook contest.

In addition to tensions building between the two sides, Crawford’s attorney sent Top Rank’s brass a letter in September detailing a list of items that Terence is upset with. I’m sure they can now add Arum’s public comments about Crawford to this list.

Where Would Crawford Go if He Leaves Top Rank?

If Crawford does depart from Top Rank in October 2021, there will be a line of promotions trying to sign a world champ in his prime. At the top of this list, and the most likely landing spot, is Premiere Boxing Champions (PBC).

In fact, there really isn’t any other promotion that can offer Crawford what PBC can offer and that includes Top Rank.

First and foremost, PBC can offer Crawford the Errol Spence fight, which is the matchup that fans want and the sport of boxing needs at 147 pounds. It’s the two best fighters of the weight class and it would put the winner one major step closer to becoming the undisputed champion.

In addition to Spence, PBC probably has the better line to a Manny Pacquiao fight that Crawford has called for. Pacquiao linked up with PBC for his last two fights which were victories over Adrien Broner and Keith Thurman.

However, those aren’t the only options. PBC also has other compelling matchups like Danny Garcia, Keith Thurman and Shawn Porter. All three would be stepping stones for Crawford’s march towards undisputed territory.

If Crawford stays at Top Rank then he will be in the same position he is now. Just floating around without any direction because his promoter can’t lock in a deal for major PPV fights.

Although Manny Pacquiao was a longtime boxer for Top Rank, he hasn’t worked with the promotion since 2017. And, there have been reports that Bob Arum tried setting up something with Pacquiao’s team this year, but nothing really came of it.

If Crawford stays at Top Rank, his options are very limited: Mikey Garcia, Vergil Ortiz Jr., and a rematch against Egidijus Kavaliauskas.

These are not compelling matchups that fans want to see and this is exactly why Crawford will most likely leave Top Rank in 11 months. Of those three, the Kavaliauskas bout would be the most competitive but Crawford already stopped him in their first fight.

Terence Crawford vs Errol Spence Jr.

As mentioned, this is the fight that everyone wants to see in the welterweight division. It’s the two top fighters in the weight class. Currently, Bovada.lv favors Errol Spence in this matchup as he’s listed at -130 and Crawford is +100.

Errol Spence vs Terence Crawford is the fight we need to see. Simple as that. pic.twitter.com/2FHkiREj9U

— Michael Benson (@MichaelBensonn) November 15, 2020

I would imagine that these odds change in a few weeks after Errol Spence fights Danny Garcia in Texas. That bout was pushed back from its November 21^st date and also changed venues to Cowboys stadium.

As of now, these two men are a combined 63-0 and they matchup as follows:

Details	Terence Crawford	Errol Spence Jr.
Age	33	30
Height	5’8”	5’10”
Reach	74”	72”
Total Fights	37	26
Record	37-0	26-0
Knockouts	28	21

Crawford has 11 more professional fights and a two inch reach advantage. Spence has a two inch height advantage and a higher KO percentage of 81% to Crawford’s 76%.

Spence typically has the speed and technical advantages in his fights, but I don’t see that being the case for this bout with Crawford. These two are evenly matched.

With that said, I would take Crawford as I feel he’s destined to be an elite fighter and one of the best of this era. I like what Spence brings to the table, but I’ve felt that Crawford has had the “it” factor for quite some time now.

Terence Crawford vs Manny Pacquiao

Although Crawford vs Spence is the best fight for the welterweight division, and one of the best in the sport, a bout against Manny Pacquiao (62-7-2, 39 KOs) would be the most high profile fight for Crawford. It would also provide Terence with the biggest payday.

Pacquiao is the fight that Crawford wants as he made the following comments about Manny:

 “I want Pacquiao.  I don’t know, Manny is a true champion. He has never ran away from any challenge anytime, So that is just him being the great Manny Pacquiao he is, you know. Fighting these young lions and beating two of them- Adrien Broner and Keith Thurman.”

Let’s see how they matchup:

Details	Terence Crawford	Manny Pacquia
Age	33	41
Height	5’8”	5’5”
Reach	74”	67”
Total Fights	37	71
Record	37-0	62-7-2
Knockouts	28	39

As you can see, Crawford has all of the advantages except for experience. Crawford is eight years younger, three inches taller, and has a seven inch reach advantage. He will also have the speed and power advantages over Pacquiao.

Although Pacquiao faced a tall champion in Keith Thurman last year, he’s not on the same level as Crawford. Furthermore, Pacquiao will be 42 years old by time he steps back into a boxing ring. He’s a legend of the sport, but he’s no longer one of the best.

Having Pacquiao fight the pound for pound best boxer in the sport makes absolutely no sense for Manny.

In addition to the issues that Crawford is having with Top Rank, there’s another major hurdle standing in the way of a showdown with Pacquiao – Conor McGregor.

For several months now, the rumored boxing match between Pacquiao and McGregor has picked up steam to the point where it looks like it could happen early next year. Boxing betting sites have Pacquiao listed as a massive favorite at -900 compared to McGregor at +500.

Pacquiao would make a ton of money against McGregor and only take a fraction of the punishment that he would experience in a fight against Crawford.

As much as they talk about a Pacquiao fight, it’s not going to happen. Crawford is too good and Pacquiao is too far past his prime to beat the P4P best boxer.

Could Crawford Go up in Weight?

There has been some interest coming out of Crawford’s camp with moving up to 154 pounds and fighting against the WBO champ Patrick Teixeira (31-1, 22 KO). In fact, representatives from Teixeira’s camp have said they would love that matchup.

Teixeira does have a mandatory fight against Brian Castano next. That bout is expected to take place in February. However, if Crawford really wants to go for a world title in a 4^th different weight class then that wouldn’t take place until next summer.

Further pouring salt in the wounds of the fractured relationship between Crawford and Top Rank is the fact that PBC also has most of the top fighters in the 154 pound weight class like Charlo, Rosario, Williams, Lara, Hurd and more.

I could see Top Rank trying to use smoke and mirrors next summer by saying Crawford is chasing another world title in a 4^th weight class because it’s making history and because Spence is ducking him.

The reality is, Top Rank has nothing else to offer.

The Next Opponent for Crawford Is….

I see Crawford beating both Spence and Pacquiao. I think “Bud” can clean out the welterweight division and go down as an all-time great for this weight class. The problem is, all of the top challengers are signed to PBC except for Pacquiao who wants Conor McGregor instead.

Speaking of McGregor, Crawford has said he would fight Conor as well. Terence’s reasoning was that “money talks” and he wants to get paid. Unfortunately for Crawford, he will lose out on facing McGregor in a fight. Conor wants a big payday, not a beating and a smaller check.

In reality, Crawford’s next opponent will be Top Rank promotions. With 11 months left on his contract, PBC can sit and wait until Crawford is a free agent and then sign him with the promise of a Spence fight.

👀@pugboxing asked @BobArum before last night if Top Rank was going to be able to keep Terence Crawford.

“The question is, ‘Do we want to keep him?’ I could build a house in Beverly Hills on the money I’ve lost on him in the last three fights.”https://t.co/NxyIE1dns8

— The Athletic Boxing (@TheAthleticBOX) November 15, 2020

Top Rank has nothing to offer Crawford at this time or in the near future. In fact, the cupboards are barren in two weight classes, which makes it even more unlikely that Terence stays with Top Rank.

With Arum’s public criticism over Crawford not making him enough money, and the long list of complaints that Terence’s attorney has already given Top Rank, this relationship is going to end ugly.

I don’t see Pacquiao agreeing to this fight anytime soon. He will seek the McGregor fight, which means Top Rank’s lottery ticket for Crawford is null and void.

There’s no fight that can be made to keep Crawford with Top Rank especially since all of the other promoters know that Terence will be a free agent soon.

In all likelihood, Crawford’s next fight will be either a legal one or a public one with Top Rank as these two sides head for an ugly divorce.

And for fight fans, we will have to continue to wait in order to see the best welterweight get those big fights like Spence. Just another example of the terrible politics in the sport of boxing.