By Huck Allen
February 23, 2022
Source: Boxing 24
Photo Source: Mikey Williams, Top Rank
Terence Crawford says if he can’t get the winner of the Errol Spence Jr. vs. Yordenis Ugas fight, he’ll move up to 154 and challenge the Jermell Charlo vs. Brian Castano winner for the undisputed championship. As the WBO welterweight champion, Crawford (38-0, 29 KOs) can use that title to move up to junior middleweight to force a fight against the winner of the Charlo-Castano rematch, which will be taking place in May or June.
Crawford says he’s been trying to get a fight with IBF/WBC welterweight champion Spence, but it just hasn’t happened.
If Spence (27-0, 21 KOs) chooses not to fight Crawford should he come out victorious in his April 16th unification fight against WBA 147-lb champion Ugas, it would be clear at that point that he’ll never fight him. Spence would have three titles after beating Ugas, and the next logical move for him would be to fight Crawford for the undisputed championship. Assuming Spence chooses to fight Keith Thurman instead, Crawford would see the writing on the wall. Spence would be sending Crawford a message that he’s not desired.
Crawford’s WBO 147lb title is his ace in the hole, the key to forcing the Charlo vs. Castano 2 winner to face him.
If they choose to vacate the WBO 154, it’s going to make them look bad, but perhaps not as bad as Spence will look if he elects not to face Crawford if defeats Ugas on April 16th. Ugas has always come out and said that he’s going to face Crawford next for the undisputed championship if he comes out victorious against Spence.
“The fight fans must be the ones that push for it. They have to be the ones that demand it. I did my part. I’ve done my part by being professional by going through everybody they put in front of me. I don’t know what I can do any different,” said Terence Crawford to Behind The Gloves on him wanting a fight with Errol Spence Jr. The fans have already been pushing Spence to fight Crawford, but it hasn’t worked. Spence is fighting the opposition his management has put in front of him, and that likely means we won’t see Crawford as part of his future no matter what the fans say.
“I want that fight. If it happens, it happens,” Crawford continued about his desire to fight Errol Spence Jr. I’ve been calling for it for years now. If it doesn’t, it doesn’t.
“If I can’t get the Spence-Ugas winner, I’d love to get the Jermell [Charlo] vs. [Brian] Castano winner. I can have that fight and be undisputed at 154,” said Crawford.
Crawford needs to be ready to use his WBO title to be installed as the mandatory at 154 against the winner of the Charlo vs. Castano 2 fight.
Commentaires