Comments Thread For: Crawford Vacates IBF Title, Lipinets To Fight For Vacant Belt

[theface07]

At least 2 belts per division. Boxing would be so boring without unifications.

I don't see the difference between having 1 belt or 3 or 4 per division other than causing confusion. Most boxing fans know who the best in each division is so the titles don't really mean much unless you are the top dog. The title holders who aren't the true champ are the #1, 2 and 3 contenders.
Perfect example is the Crawford/Indongo unification. They both had titles but Crawford was (and still is) the true champ, Indongo was the #1 contender.
You can have 10 belts if you want but only one of those guys is #1.

[sammybee]

Thinking aloud... Why cant Crawford move up two weights to challenge Cotto at 154?..it will be exciting to watch.

[cally93]

Seriously? Crawford just won all of the belts, and the governing bodies (WBA/WBC/IBF anyway) had finally made sense of the mandatory rotation; Lipinets was the only mandatory currently due and that fight could be scheduled for as late as Christmas 2017. The WBC apparently has Amir Imam next, but it's not like they were pressing that immediately after either (WBO and WBA don't have current mandatories due).

He's got to want to defend the belts, though.

Indongo in August, IBF mandatory against Lipinets in December, voluntary defense in Spring 2018, WBC mandatory against Imam by Summer 2018, a WBO mandatory at some point, and the next WBA mandatory owed Jan/Feb 2019.

Fair points but imo though...What's the point?What do those mandatories do for him, are they big fights? Do they enchance his profile or legacy? No....put it this way he makes more money fighting someone like Peterson at 147 (nice first warm up fight) then he does against any of the fighters you mentioned.

He's not going to get credit for those defences and I think his team and him realise that, hence why it seems they will slowly begin vacating the belts.

[Scipio2009]

You mean 12% per sanctioning body or for all 4? Isn't it around 3% per sanctioning body (with some room for negotiation)?

For all 4 belts it would be 12% total (with space to negotiate that down).

The argument that it would've been impossible for Crawford to hold onto the belts is mistaken.

It's clear as day that Arum didn't want the fight, and Crawford is happy enough with the money he's getting (and the possible Pacquiao fight) to not say ****.

[Scipio2009]

Fair points but imo though...What's the point?What do those mandatories do for him, are they big fights? Do they enchance his profile or legacy? No....put it this way he makes more money fighting someone like Peterson at 147 (nice first warm up fight) then he does against any of the fighters you mentioned.

He's not going to get credit for those defences and I think his team and him realise that, hence why it seems they will slowly begin vacating the belts.

He's signed to Top Rank, and Top Rank doesn't do business with anyone who can stand on equal footing with them; Crawford's not looking at Lamont Peterson as an option for the simple fact that Lamont and his camp aren't just going to show up and accept whatever Arum is willing to offer.

With Pacquiao on his way out, Bradley and Marquez retired, and Jessie Vargas in a contract dispute with Top Rank, Crawford is looking at Jeff Horn, Mike Alvarado, or Bradley Skeete as viable options.

At 140lbs, Terrence Crawford is king, with an ESPN platform looking to build something. Lipinets is a good fight and Crawford-Lipinets is a good fight; if Terrence got the December date, the fans who tuned in to see him fight in August, will get another chance to see him in the ring with a legit opponent.

String together good wins, against good opponents, with the ESPN push behind him, and his legacy and public profile will grow in a real way (without the stink of folks not even being sure you can fight, like what Golovkin picked up from his can crushing).

Adrien Broner is likely eyeing a big fight, as will Omar Figueroa Jr, Rances Barthelemy, and Jack Catteral in the UK.

All talented fighters, with different skills, who can fight.

Keep Crawford fighting 3-4 times a year, with a legit opponent each time out (Mikey Garcia, withstanding), and let ESPN do their job.

[GhostofDempsey]

Didn't he just say that "belts matter" in the post fight interview of the Indongo fight? I understand there is no money to be made fighting Lipinets, but now he either has to fight Mikey Garcia at 140 or move to 147. Not sure who else is going to earn him a payday at 140, I doubt Broner will generate much interest or if Broner would be wiling to take that beating.

[The Hammer]

Crawford wanted to fight old faded Pacquiao, but he doesn't want to go near tough prime Lipinets.

via *****

[cally93]

He's signed to Top Rank, and Top Rank doesn't do business with anyone who can stand on equal footing with them; Crawford's not looking at Lamont Peterson as an option for the simple fact that Lamont and his camp aren't just going to show up and accept whatever Arum is willing to offer.

With Pacquiao on his way out, Bradley and Marquez retired, and Jessie Vargas in a contract dispute with Top Rank, Crawford is looking at Jeff Horn, Mike Alvarado, or Bradley Skeete as viable options.

At 140lbs, Terrence Crawford is king, with an ESPN platform looking to build something. Lipinets is a good fight and Crawford-Lipinets is a good fight; if Terrence got the December date, the fans who tuned in to see him fight in August, will get another chance to see him in the ring with a legit opponent.

String together good wins, against good opponents, with the ESPN push behind him, and his legacy and public profile will grow in a real way (without the stink of folks not even being sure you can fight, like what Golovkin picked up from his can crushing).

Adrien Broner is likely eyeing a big fight, as will Omar Figueroa Jr, Rances Barthelemy, and Jack Catteral in the UK.

All talented fighters, with different skills, who can fight.

Keep Crawford fighting 3-4 times a year, with a legit opponent each time out (Mikey Garcia, withstanding), and let ESPN do their job.

Fair enough,I live in the U.K. and you obviously understand the American networks a lot better than I do.

Look I think Lipinets is a wicked fighter someone who i think will make noise at 140 as well Jack Catteral for sure too, but Crawford needs names at this point imo, and while Peterson's certainly no name am pretty sure he's more of a name than any other the other guys you mentioned, especially in America.

Also it still achieve what you said ESPN are trying to do with building Crawford up and not throwning him in with a Thurman or Spence straight away, which is exactly why I suggested someone like Peterson to begin with.

[Scipio2009]

Fair enough,I live in the U.K. and you obviously understand the American networks a lot better than I do.

Look I think Lipinets is a wicked fighter someone who i think will make noise at 140 as well Jack Catteral for sure too, but Crawford needs names at this point imo, and while Peterson's certainly no name am pretty sure he's more of a name than any other the other guys you mentioned, especially in America.

Also it still achieve what you said ESPN are trying to do with building Crawford up and not throwning him in with a Thurman or Spence straight away, which is exactly why I suggested someone like Peterson to begin with.

The point still remains that why would Lamont Peterson go over to ESPN and fight Crawford for short money, when he can stay right where he is and fight Shawn Porter or Danny Garcia or Victor Ortiz/Brandon Rios (those two have been due to fight) for the same or better money, and still be in an alright spot if he fights well, win or lose?

In the exact same way that Top Rank and Crawford are weighing risk/reward, so will every other fighter act accordingly.

You're not going to be able to entice all that many folks over to ESPN for $500k and 4 owed options to Top Rank if you actually do beat Crawford.

[cally93]

The point still remains that why would Lamont Peterson go over to ESPN and fight Crawford for short money, when he can stay right where he is and fight Shawn Porter or Danny Garcia or Victor Ortiz/Brandon Rios (those two have been due to fight) for the same or better money, and still be in an alright spot if he fights well, win or lose?

In the exact same way that Top Rank and Crawford are weighing risk/reward, so will every other fighter act accordingly.

You're not going to be able to entice all that many folks over to ESPN for $500k and 4 owed options to Top Rank if you actually do beat Crawford.

We might have to agree to disagree on this particular topic, but I still don't know how you know it will be short money...your acting like Peterson is a fighter who picks up 7 figure paychecks...he's not.

Yes the networks can be a hinder but it's been done before recent example being ggg/Jacobs...Jacobs is a showtime/Pbc fighter I think (correct me if I'm wrong) and they still fought on HBO. (Obviously there were slightly different factors at work but it proves it can be done)

But your using my example way too literally, I simply suggested Crawford fighting at 147 will earn him more money than fighting the majority of names at 140 that's nobodies fault it's just how it is.

Look at Garcia when he moved from 140-147 he didn't jump in with the monsters straight away but he still had good fights building up to the eventual big fight...and that's all I was trying to suggest.

This is a dangerous sport as we all know, you make as much money as you can and then you get out while your healthy and intact.

Like I said before mate, Lipinets is a wicked fighter but am sure a lot of people have no interest watching Crawford fight a guy that's 12-0 and as for Jack Catteral (would be a good fight, but he's fighting for the British title next) , I can't see frank Warren putting him in there with Crawford anytime soon they'll wait until he moves up.