Terence ‘Bud’ Crawford is set to make his way to the ring for the first—and only—time in 2020. The unbeaten three-division and reigning welterweight titlist has agreed on his side to terms for a voluntary title defense versus England’s Kell Brook, three sources with intimate knowledge of such discussions informed BoxingScene.com on Thursday. Minor details remain unresolved, though nothing that will hold up plans for the two to fight on November 14 at a venue to be determined.
Las Vegas remains the frontrunner to land the event which will air live on ESPN, with Top Rank—Crawford’s promoter—having run shows from The Bubble at MGM Grand since June 9 and every weekend since August 22. There are also talks of the bout landing in Crawford’s hometown of Omaha, Nebraska or taking the fight overseas to the United Kingdom.
The Athletic’s Mike Coppinger was the first to report the development, which advances from the previously revealed status of talks moving in the right direction. We’re having advanced conversations with Brook, Todd DuBoef, president of Top Rank revealed in an earlier interview with Sky Sports. It makes sense for both fighters. We’re eyeing a November date if it can get done. November 14 is earmarked as the date.
Rumors of such a pairing have swirled for nearly the duration of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, even if it’s a fight upon which Crawford was never too keen. The switching-hitting longtime pound-for-pound entrant has been adamant about facing the elite of the welterweight division—fellow titlists Errol Spence and legendary Manny Pacquiao or even former titlists such as Shawn Porter and Keith Thurman in lieu of a clash with Brook, also a former titlist but whom has seen his best days.
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