Top Rank founder Bob Arum admitted that a Manny Pacquiao-Terence Crawford welterweight title unification showdown won’t be happening this year in the Middle East because of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
The 88-year-old international promoter, however, insisted that it might happen next year.
“We are on our way to have him fight Manny Pacquiao in the Middle East,” Arum told radio reporter Peter Maniatis during his KO boxing radio program in Australia last Wednesday. “Everything had been approved, but the ministry of health in that country said no, not this year.”
Arum didn’t reveal the name of the Middle East country, though.
“It has to be next year because of the coronavirus. They didn’t guarantee that they will open the arena,” added Arum, who only assured that Crawford (36-0 win-loss record with 27 knockouts) will be fighting in November this year in a “bubble setup” at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nevada.
The fight between the 32-year-old Crawford, the reigning World Boxing Organization welterweight champion, and ex-International Boxing Federation welterweight titleholder Kell Brook (39-2 record with 27 knockouts), is now being discussed for that venue.
So far, the camp of Senator Pacquiao (62-7-2 record with 39 knockouts) is not entertaining any fight negotiation for now, not in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Pacquiao said before that no negotiation for a fight is happening now as he is busy helping fellow Filipinos affected by the pandemic.