DALLAS — On Saturday, we might finally get details about The Fight.
The Fight is not Gervonta Davis-Ryan Garcia, a 12-round non-title fight at a contractually agreed to weight of 136 pounds Saturday night in Las Vegas. Oscar De La Hoya, Garcia’s promoter, told Boxing Scene this fight will save boxing. The pay-per-view price is an enormous $84.99. De La Hoya expects two million people to buy the fight.
It’s an outstanding fight. But it’s not The Fight.
The big fight is Errol Spence-Terence Crawford for the undisputed welterweight title. Spence-Crawford is on track to be announced Saturday before the Davis-Garcia bout. Spence, a DeSoto, Texas, native and holder of three belts, was supposed to meet Crawford, the WBO champ, last year. Crawford backed out of it.
Talks between the sides have been contentious for over a year, with each side blaming the other for the delays. Everything appears fine now with Spence-Crawford tentatively scheduled for June 17.
Maybe.
People in Spence’s camp are wary of whether Crawford really wants this fight. Last year, he pulled out of meeting Spence, electing to fight Danny Avanesyan in Crawford’s hometown of Omaha, Neb. It wasn’t a good look for Crawford to skip Spence to face Avanesyan, a man of lesser skill and resume.
Over the last two months, the sides quietly negotiated a contract to salvage the situation. If Crawford doesn’t meet Spence, he can’t claim he’s the best in the division or at the top of some pound-for-pound lists.
It’s hard to imagine why Crawford would bypass meeting Spence again. Crawford isn’t the most marketable fighter in the world, and not because of anything away from the ring. His quiet demeanor doesn’t allow the causal boxing fan to push the button to invest financially on a high pay-per-view event.
His main event fight against Avanesyan on BLK Prime told you everything about his marketability. If Crawford is one of the best in the sport, he should have reached a deal with Showtime or ESPN to get a pay-per-view show. Crawford’s bout, priced at $39.99, reportedly drew more than 150,000 pay per view buys.
Spence doesn’t have a marketing problem. He’s not boastful, yet he is marketable because some of his biggest fights (three of the last five) have come inside AT&T Stadium. He’s got the Cowboys star behind his name, and that helps in any marketing.
Is Spence a better fighter than Crawford? That’s debatable on many levels.
You only solve these questions by getting into the ring. Spence seems more willing.
Here’s the thing though: If Crawford pulls out again due to a contractual issue, then Spence needs to move on.
After Crawford decided to meet Avanesyan, Spence elected to fight Keith Thurman at 147 pounds. That would be a good fight between two elite fighters. Spence-Thurman was scheduled for June 17, but once Crawford decided to get serious about contract talks, everything with Thurman was put on hold.
The money is in Spence-Crawford. It decides which fighter is the best in his division and maybe on the pound-for-pound lists.
Crawford is an outstanding fighter, but you can’t maintain that claim unless you fight Spence.
Spence has hinted about moving up to junior middleweight (154 pounds). That killer division just saw rising star Sebastian Fundora get knocked out by hard-hitting Brian Mendoza on April 8.
There are big financial paydays and fights to be made in this division.
First, Spence must surpass Crawford. He needs that fight almost as badly the man from Omaha.
Spence-Crawford is close to being finalized. Both sides agreed to terms. This whole thing is headed in a positive direction, but we’ve seen this in the past with Crawford pulling out.
He can’t do it this time because his reputation would take a tremendous hit. If he doesn’t want the fight, Spence should keep it moving with Thurman then to the 154-pound division.
It’s what’s best for him.
What is best for boxing is Crawford-Spence. We’re close to it happening.
