By Rick Reeno
A potential junior welterweight fight between Terence Crawford (25-0, 17 KOs) and Chris Algieri (20-1, 8 KOs) is not likely, according to sources with knowledge of the negotiations.
Crawford was the WBO's champion at 135-pounds and plans to move up in weight for a planned return on March 21. The HBO televised fight is being targeted to take place at The Theater in New York's Madison Square Garden.
WBO President Paco Valcarcel has already confirmed that his organization would give Crawford priority status to challenge for the vacant title at 140-pounds. Algieri was the previous titleholder and lost his belt when he moved up in weight last fall to challenge WBO welterweight champion Manny Pacquiao, who dominated the Long Island boxer and dropped him six times.
Following his defeat, Algieri filed a protest with the World Boxing Organization to regain his title at 140.
Top Rank has interest in staging the fight, but BoxingScene.com was advised that Algieri is asking for "way too much money." One rumored figure being kicked around is $750,000. The fight is still possible if Algieri lowers his financial requirements.
Coincidently, BoxingScene was told that Algieri was one of the top considerations to face Shawn Porter as part of March 13th Haymon Boxing card on Spike TV - but sources on the Haymon side indicate that Algieri was "asking for Pacquiao money" to make that fight happen. Porter is now facing Roberto Garcia on the card.
