Former two-time welterweight champion ‘Showtime’ Shawn Porter 31-3-1 (17) expects WBO 147-pound champion Terence ‘Bud’ Crawford 37-0 (28) to ditch his current promoter Top Rank in favour of Premier Boxing Champions (PBC).
Southpaw Crawford, 33, has largely been frozen out of big fights at welterweight due to promotional rivalries between the two companies.
PBC has the strongest roster of fighters in the 147-pound weight class, including WBC and IBF champion Errol ‘The Truth’ Spencer Jr 27-0 (21), WBA champion Manny Pacquiao 62-7-2 (39), former world champion Keith ‘One Time’ Thurman 29-1 (22) and Porter himself.
“I know [Crawford], he’s going to make a business decision based on what’s best for his career, and what’s best for his family,” Porter said on the Last Stand Podcast with Brian Custer.
“I definitely can see him making a move to PBC because this is where the money can be made, and this is where the biggest fights can be made.
“If you’re [Top Rank chairman] Bob Arum, I got a feeling Bob Arum is understanding that he’s ready to make that move and because it’s going to happen I’m going to say what I feel and I don’t think he should do that.”
The 33-year-old Porter, who bounced back from his split decision loss to Spence Jr in September last year with a shutout victory over Sebastian Formella in August, said he would welcome the opportunity to face Crawford.
“With me, it’s 100% the competitive spirit that I have and the willingness to fight someone who a lot of people feel he’s feared and a lot of people don’t want to fight him,” he said.
“A lot like me taking on Errol Spence Jr, I know what I can do and you give me an opportunity and I’m going to do it, I’m not going to let anything stop me.
“Really, the only thing preventing me from fighting Terence Crawford is the fact that he and I both haven’t said yes. If he’s willing to say yes, the fight will happen.”
The other name on Porter’s hitlist is Filipino superstar Pacquiao, who he says would make a great fight stylistically.
“I have the greatest chance out of all the guys out there at beating Manny Pacquiao,” Porter said.
“I think I have the opportunity to make the fight with Manny Pacquiao more exciting than anybody else out there in the welterweight division.
“For me, I think I have the best opportunity to beat him, and I also think I have the opportunity to make it the most exciting fight of the year. It will be the fight of the year.”
Southpaw Pacquiao, who will turn 42 later this month, has not fought since his split decision win over Thurman in July last year.
Crawford is coming off a fourth-round knockout of Kell Brook last month.
