Last week, the WBO ordered its current welterweight champion, Terence “Bud” Crawford, to face former WBC and IBF welterweight champion, “Showtime” Shawn Porter.
The request came from the WBO late Wednesday night via letter to Crawford’s promoter, Top Rank.
BoMac can’t wait for Terence Crawford to silence his doubters 🤫 pic.twitter.com/mhICWoZJmv
— ESPN Ringside (@ESPNRingside) July 26, 2021
In the letter, Top Rank chairman Bob Arum and TGB Promotions’ Tom Brown, who works with Premier Boxing Champions, were informed that they have 30 days to negotiate the fight. However, if no deal can be reached within that time frame, a purse bid will be ordered, auctioning off the rights to the title bout.
BoMac can’t wait for Terence Crawford to silence his doubters 🤫 pic.twitter.com/mhICWoZJmv
— ESPN Ringside (@ESPNRingside) July 26, 2021
This process happened with Teofimo Lopez vs. George Kambosos, which went to streaming platform Triller after an auction.
Crawford, 33 (37-0, 28 KOs), who hadn’t seen action since November 2020, delivered a fourth-round TKO to Kell Brook to retain his title in Las Vegas.
Porter (31-3-1, 17 KOs) regained the title with a win over Danny Garcia in 2018. However, he lost to Errol Spence Jr.via split decision in a title unification bout back in September 2019. Since then, he defeated Sebastian Formella in August 2020.
In shocking turn of events, a sanctioning body has done something applaudable: the WBO ordered a bout between Terence Crawford and Shawn Porter for Bud’s welterweight title. If no deal reached within 30 days, purse bid will be ordered with 60% going to Crawford. What a fight!
— Mike Coppinger (@MikeCoppinger) July 22, 2021
Many have criticized Crawford his whole career for not fighting the top athletes in their prime in his division. Since moving up to welterweight after being the undisputed light-welterweight champion, Crawford has dispatched former champions like Jeff Horn and a weird bout against Amir Khan. Still, Crawford is perceived as never fighting anyone significant.
Porter changes that, and with his go-forward style, it will indeed be a massive test for Crawford’s boogeyman status.
