Bob Arum, the promoter of Terence Crawford and Josh Taylor, believes a fight between two of his Top Rank stable’s leading stars is off the cards until at least 2022.
The veteran Hall of Famer, who’s showing no signs of slowing down, is busy making plans for both Crawford and Taylor’s next bouts with both expected to see action before the end of the year.
Crawford, continually linked to a big battle with Errol Spence, has seen his name linked to a host of boxers a division south of the welterweight division.
Regis Prograis, Jose Ramirez, and Jose Zepeda all appear to be in the frame and October 23rd is the date scheduled for the Nebraskan’s return.
For Taylor, a domestic contest with Jack Catterall is next with the Chorley man fulfilling his mandatory obligation.
That fight is potentially heading to Scotland as Top Rank seek to build on Taylor’s growing popularity and if the 140lbs ruler is successful then it’s all systems go for Taylor vs. Crawford next year.
“That’s a great fight,” said Arum to FightHype on a meeting between Crawford and Taylor. “I hope it’ll happen but not until next year because Taylor and Ramirez both had to sign a document that the winner will have to fight Jack Catterall of the next fight in the UK. Taylor will do that in November.
“That means we’d talk about a Taylor-Crawford fight, which is a great, great fight, and Taylor wants that fight, and I’m sure Terence would want the fight, that won’t be until next year.”
On any hopes of Crawford taking on Spence, Arum added, "Forget the Spence thing. Spence knows he can’t beat Crawford, and he’s going to go up in weight after the Pacquiao fight, so forget that.”