Reasonable Doubt Behind Crawford-Porter

Late Wednesday night, news hit the boxing world with that Terence Crawford and Shawn Porter was a match up the World Boxing Organization ordered. While the proposed fight announcement seems excellent on all fronts, the boxing skeptic in me can see this fight (like so many) become nothing more than a fleeting thought.

With that in mind, I present to you all why I have reasonable doubt that this fight happens.

This seriously can’t go to a purse bid, if anyone really wants to happen.

The never, and I mean NEVER ENDING conversation about Crawford, is that he couldn’t get the big fights he wanted while at Welterweight under the Top Rank promotional banner. It’s been going on so long it’s been made fodder and a talking point for those who point at fight resumes.

But, the reason this can’t go to a purse bid is that honestly, these two fighting can’t wait for any outside investors (i.e., Matchroom, Triller, or the other promotional outlets) to swoop in for what looks to be Crawford’s last fight with Top Rank under his current deal. Besides, you send it to a purse bid when the negotiations break down, so I think they get a deal done before it does.

Make sure to hear me discussing Crawford possible fight with Porter on our “Big Fight Weekend” podcast by clicking below:

Can you imagine out of the woodwork Golden Boy outbidding Top Rank and PBC for this fight? How unrealistic does that sound?

Very. Very unrealistic and not likely.

Top Rank CEO Bob Arum spoke with Keith Idec of Boxingsecene and relayed that he was ‘optimistic’ Crawford-Porter gets done:

“The way we left it was that [Top Rank president] Todd [duBoef] would talk to the PBC people, who we’re working with now, to see what could be done on a cooperative basis,” Arum said. “In 30 days, we’ll either get it done, or it’ll go to a purse bid. But I’m optimistic that we can get it done. It’s a terrific fight, and I think people will be interested. And I think it’ll make some decent money.”

Why is Crawford getting Porter now instead of sooner?

Well, we’re getting it now cause Porter is squashing the friendly pact they both had. “Showtime Shawn” has been talking this fight legitimately into existence and told TJ Rives about it when he was out in Las Vegas. We’re also potentially getting this fight, because both guys need a dance partner.

Porter is coming off a stay busy points win over Sebastian Formella. This would be a chance to get a championship fight while waiting on the results of Manny Pacquiao-Errol Spence.

You know what?’ After boxing, we gotta a whole lot of life to live…I want to resolve that. We can be enemies in the ring for 12 rounds. But, we can be friends for a long time,” Porter said back in June on the TC Martin Radio Program.

Crawford is coming off a fight with Kell Brook, where he was dispatched in three rounds. If you believe any of the names rumored surrounding Crawford’s other options not named Porter, it just reminded me of that cartoon by Lunatoon Boxing.

Lunatoon Reupload: Blame Bob or Blame Bud? 🥊 #boxing #PacquiaoSpence pic.twitter.com/G2GoE4Jo0p

— Lunatoon Boxing (@lunatoonboxing) May 24, 2021

But why are we really getting this fight?

I believe that this is a make-good for Crawford, who was promised a Manny Pacquiao fight that fell through with hopes of resigning with Top Rank. I just find it interesting they bumped up Porter in the rankings of the ever-shifting WBO. We’ve seen fighters on PBC in this situation before, and the story usually comes down to they won’t cross over cause the money isn’t right.

That story is as recent as Keith Thurman, who was greeted with rejection over financial demands. I really find that to be interesting now more as this fight is all but set for a pay-per-view on ESPN or Fox once and if they agree to terms. If this fight happens, it will show that the big fights can happen with Crawford not having to “cross the street” (I’m so tired of hearing that in boxing, by the way).

“F— his legacy,” Arum said to Boxingscene. “F— any of that. He has to fight this fight to keep his title, and I’ll leave his legacy or lack of legacy up to you. Terence is a terrific fighter. He’s fought everybody that we can get for him, and, obviously, Porter is the biggest name that he will have fought recently.”

They have Porter in front of them courtesy of sanctioning body arrangement. Let’s see if anything comes of it or if we get one step closer to the fight? I think that was slated in the #4 ranked Michael McKinson.

McKinson is known as “The Problem,” but it won’t be the solution to this one if this Crawford-Porter doesn’t happen.