By Steve Kim
The potential unification match-up between IBF welterweight champion, Errol Spence (24-0, 21 KOs) and WBO titlist Terence Crawford (33-0, 24 KOs) is one of the very best that can be made in the sport of boxing.
After both scored emphatic victories the past couple of weeks, there is now a clamoring for the two to collide.
Two weeks ago, Crawford dominated and stopped Jeff Horn to capture the WBO title at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. And last weekend, Spence demolished mandatory challenger Carlos Ocampo in one round to retain his belt in Frisco, Texas.
There are some hurdles in the way, namely that Spence is aligned with Premier Boxing Champions and Showtime, while Crawford is promoted by Top Rank, which has an exclusive content deal with ESPN.
But with pay-per-view those hurdles could be cleared as both sides could share in the distribution of the event and the economic proceeds that come from it.
"That is absolutely correct," stated Crawford's promoter, Bob Arum of Top Rank, to BoxingScene.com.
"I mean, it is impossible in my opinion to do this fight Crawford against Spence either on ESPN or Showtime without pay-per-view because the legitimate demands for both fighters, and considering what they are both paid in the past, would just make it prohibitive. It would blow Showtime's budget, it would have a big dent in our budget."
Crawford, in his last outing versus Horn on June 9th, was reportedly paid in the neighborhood of $3 million. To satisfy the financial demands of both boxers and involve both networks the pay-per-view platform is the only way to go says Arum.
"So I really think that I would love to sit with [Spence's manager Al] Haymon and with [Showtime Sports head Stephen] Espinoza and really work this out so it isn't just idle conversation," Arum said.
Steve Kim is the news editor for BoxingScene.com.