Bob Arum: Crawford May Be The Greatest Fighter in The World But…..

“He’s got to promote like (unified lightweight champion Teofimo) Lopez does. He’s got to promote like (former featherweight champion) Shakur (Stevenson) does. Like (Floyd) Mayweather did. Like (Manny) Pacquiao did,” Arum said. “If he doesn’t, then who the **** needs him? He may be the greatest fighter in the world, but, hey, I ain’t going bankrupt promoting him.” When asked before Saturday’s fight if Top Rank can keep Crawford, knowing that Spence and several other talented welterweights are linked to rival Al Haymon’s PBC, Arum responded, “That’s not the right question. “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. https://theathletic.com/2198399/2020/11/15/terence-crawford-needs-to-take-it-upon-himself-to-finally-get-that-marquee-fight?source=user-shared-article The thing is Bud is 33 years old, why does he expect him to change at this stage of his career? And what does he mean bankrupt himself? Is he referring to not wanting to send out big offers to other top WWs on events TR will lose money? When they had their interview together post-fight, they weren't on the same page at all. Arum went on a rant on Spence and then Crawford the next minute said he wants Pacquiao next. Definitely seems like some bad blood on both sides. Edit: I added another quote from Bob saying if they even want to keep Crawford LOL. Classic Bob right there.

Comments (20)

HewJohnson

You can’t promote yourself if you keep fighting easy opposition.

5y ago

F_l_i_c_k_e_r

Genuine question: If Crawford left Top Rank, finally started fighting the elite welterweights and began inexplicably losing, what would be the excuses that come up for him? Is he suddenly a shot fighter? Or what?

5y ago

koolkc107

Lemme see if I got Flappy Bob's take a hunnert... You sign a guy to an extention in Sept 2018. You guarantee him at least 3 million plus a fight to get him to sign. You, Flappy Bob his promoter, then proceed to match him in three successive fights with 1) a one-legged super lightweight; 2) a glassed jawed fading star; and 3) a guy who's name nobody can pronounce coming off a draw with 2nd level guy. And then you, Flappy Bob, complain about all the money you've lost because you allege the fighter is not a good promoter...even though his title is "fighter" and yours is actually "promoter", the thing you're accusing the fighter of not being good at. I wish I could got to a store and buy something that give me such a pronounced level of "idgaf" that clearly flows through Flappy Bob's bloodstream...

5y ago

SCEN3RY

Stupid of Bob to say that. Interviews the day before the fight he mentioned he thought Crawford was the best thing since Sugar Ray and that he wants to continue to promote him, so this is definitely odd. After the fight he was also same as usual, very complimentary of Crawford. Maybe Arum heard Bud wants out and got a little self-defensive before this particular interview.

5y ago

KTFOKING

They are probably bigger draws than Crawford was at the time though, his PPV with Postol did like 50k buys. HBO were also on the way out of boxing around that time. I don’t think the money was there tbh. I don’t really wanna see Pacquiao in with Crawford and Spence now tbh, I just think he’s too old and would take a beating tbh. I’d have huge respect for him if he fought either but I don’t think it’d end well. I can’t blame these younger guys for wanting to fight Pacquiao though, it’s a huge fight financially. I’d rather see this generation of Welter’s fight each other, Spence-Crawford is obviously the one we all wanna see. Definitely, but Pacquiao showed vs Thurman he still has it so if he wants either of the two, then I don't have a problem with those fights. But of course the fight is Spence vs Crawford if the former can show he is still the same fighter pre-accident.

5y ago

RJJ9402GOAT

Pacquiao wanted 20M, the same he is getting now to fight the likes of Thurman and Broner. Now Pacquiao is going to fight Garcia and Crawford will be left out again. They are probably bigger draws than Crawford was at the time though, his PPV with Postol did like 50k buys. HBO were also on the way out of boxing around that time. I don’t think the money was there tbh. I don’t really wanna see Pacquiao in with Crawford and Spence now tbh, I just think he’s too old and would take a beating tbh. I’d have huge respect for him if he fought either but I don’t think it’d end well. I can’t blame these younger guys for wanting to fight Pacquiao though, it’s a huge fight financially. I’d rather see this generation of Welter’s fight each other, Spence-Crawford is obviously the one we all wanna see.

5y ago

SweetPbfAli

Arum and TR seem to be operating on an outdated model in regards to promoting his Black fighters. He is waiting for an Ali or SRL to walk in but these newer, younger guys aren't operating on that spectrum. DLH, Floyd, Cotto, and eventually Manny all left TR at some point, it's not a coincidence at this point. I still think TR is the best promotional outfit in the sport but boxing isn't exactly a breeding ground for top tier companies so their competition isn't substantial.

5y ago

KTFOKING

I always got the impression Arum wanted to make Pacquiao-Crawford, I felt it just wasn’t all that realistic financially based on what Team Pacquiao was demanding. Didn’t they want like 5x what they got against Vargas? I don’t blame Pacquiao’s team for wanting a lot of money to fight an outstanding young talent in Crawford, especially when you consider nearly all the PPV sales would have been carried by Pacquiao. Pacquiao wanted 20M, the same he is getting now to fight the likes of Thurman and Broner. Now Pacquiao is going to fight Garcia and Crawford will be left out again.

5y ago

RJJ9402GOAT

Arum did his very best for Arum. It was never about Crawford. Took an unknown kid, turned him into an undisputed champion, 3-weight champion and a multimillionaire. He’s done great things for Crawford, nobody can deny that.

5y ago

joseph5620

Yeah I agree. Arum has done his very best for Crawford IMO. Arum did his very best for Arum. It was never about Crawford.

5y ago

RJJ9402GOAT

I think the very best would have been getting him the Pacquiao fight when both were at TR. He couldn't deliver there and didn't want to pay Pacquiao 20M for the fight. Big miss on his part there. I always got the impression Arum wanted to make Pacquiao-Crawford, I felt it just wasn’t all that realistic financially based on what Team Pacquiao was demanding. Didn’t they want like 5x what they got against Vargas? I don’t blame Pacquiao’s team for wanting a lot of money to fight an outstanding young talent in Crawford, especially when you consider nearly all the PPV sales would have been carried by Pacquiao.

5y ago

uppercut510

Is it not Arums job to promote and get him those fights?? how is Crawford to blame? LOL man they dont stop

5y ago

RoyJonesJrp4pno1

I like Top Rank and I think they've been doing the best shows since the pandemic. Bud wants the big fights and Bob can't deliver. Time to move on... To make the money that Crawford wants he needs to fight the PBC guys. So it's win win for everyone if Crawford signs with PBC.

5y ago

sicko

Arum doing his Job! :dunno: A Promoter Promoting his fighter but then when he doesn't promote him people complain Arum likely losing more money than he is making off of Crawford lets be honest but he did not say anything wrong he is right actually Bud is just as excellent Boxer but no he is never going to be a Mega Star, Mega Draw or Crossover Superstar that is just not what he is

5y ago

KTFOKING

Yeah I agree. Arum has done his very best for Crawford IMO. I think the very best would have been getting him the Pacquiao fight when both were at TR. He couldn't deliver there and didn't want to pay Pacquiao 20M for the fight. Big miss on his part there.

5y ago

RJJ9402GOAT

TR has been paying Crawford 3.5-4M to fight the likes of Mean Machine, Brook, Benavidez etc. They paid Crawford more money this fight than they nearly paid Lomachenko/Lopez combined to fight in a undisputed match up. I don't think TR should get as much hate but at the same time they just can't deliver the fights Crawford wants. Just make the split happen NOW and don't waste time dragging out another fight where we get the same BS from both sides. Yeah I agree. Arum has done his very best for Crawford IMO.

5y ago

RHETO1071IC

The Arum formula has always been to cause his golden calf to lose before allowing the fighter to sign somewhere else.

5y ago

KTFOKING

Say Bud signs with PBC. Would Haymon allow a Bud Spence fight? Spence is by far the more popular fighter and if he loses there goes his earning potential. I mean a loss doesn't kill a fighter's earning potential, especially if it's a great fight against another great fighter. And besides, Haymon will have Crawford signed to him in this scenario so it's a win-win.

5y ago

Mammoth

Crawford needs to go to the PBC. It makes logical sense all the way around. I like Top Rank and I think they've been doing the best shows since the pandemic. Bud wants the big fights and Bob can't deliver. Time to move on...

5y ago

hectari

Is it not Arums job to promote and get him those fights?? how is Crawford to blame? No Arum said it clearly, that Crawford doesnt like to promote. He basically means he doesnt like doing promotional work and that is why its hard to market him. Arum tried to ger Bud on several talkshows only for him to say no. Kimmel, conan, fallon etc. Spence does the work on pbc he does heavy promotion . Crawford doesnt and he just cant expect to be a draw without being out there. Like the other guys.

5y ago