Crawford’s showing vs Jean could make or break future Pacquiao fight, says Arum

Terence Crawford (left) against Yuriorkis Gamboa (right) during the WBO world lightweight championship boxing bout June 28, 2014. AP PHOTO

Top Rank boss Bob Arum has lined up possible opponents for Manny Pacquiao but is leaving the decision to the Filipino boxing champion.

Speaking to Los Angeles Times in a report of BoxingScene.com, Arum named WBO junior welterweight champion Terence Crawford, Viktor Postol, Kell Brook, Amir Khan, and the victor of the Timothy Bradley-Brandon Rios bout as possible candidates for Pacquiao’s 2016 match.

“It’s all up to Manny,” Arum said.

Pacquiao’s longtime promoter bared that Pacquiao will be watching the title defense of the undefeated Crawford (26-0, 18 Kos) against Dierry Jean (29-1, 20 Kos) in Omaha, Nebraska on Saturday (Sunday Manila time).

“I want to see a good performance from Crawford,” said Arum. “He’s fighting a good fighter, and Manny is the kind of proud guy who looks for the toughest opponent. So if Crawford gives a great performance, it enhances him as a Manny opponent.”

For his part, Crawford said that he won’t have second thoughts of accepting if the fight would be offered to him.

“Who wouldn’t think about it? That’s the fight we want,” he said. “That’s a big opportunity for me, and if I was ever given that opportunity, I’d do my best to seize it.”

Aside from the Crawford-Jean match, Pacquiao reportedly will also be in attendance in the Bradley-Rios bout on November 7.