Pacquiao could take on Crawford, but …
Manny Pacquiao during the final press conference at the David Copperfield Theater inside MGM Hotel in Las Vegas, April 6, 2016. PHOTO BY REM ZAMORA
IF PLANS pitting Manny Pacquiao and Terence Crawford on Nov. 5 pushes through, the Filipino legend will have to shed more weight than he’s used to.
After beating Ukrainian Viktor Postol by unanimous decision in Las Vegas Saturday night (Sunday in Manila), Crawford announced that he intends to stay as king of the light welterweight division.
Pacquiao has fought as a welterweight (147 lb) since 2012, including his “farewell victory” over Timothy Bradley on April 9.
The last time the Pacquiao fought at 140 was when he beat Bradley for the International Boxing Organization crown.
Even promoter Bob Arum, who had anointed the winner between Crawford and Postol, along with WBO welterweight titlist Jessie Vargas, as Pacquiao’s likely foe in his comeback fight, turned silent on the likelihood of a Pacquiao-Crawford, confounding American boxing analysts.
Pacquiao, a bloated welterweight, claims that he can still make 135 lb if he wants to.
Postol served as Pacquiao’s chief sparring partner in the course of his preparations for American Chris Algieri in 2014 in Macau. Pacquiao sent Algieri to the canvas six times.
If Roach deems it unwise for 37-year-old Pacquiao to fight 28-year-old Crawford at 140, there’s still a chance for a catch weight at 144 (Pacquiao-Juan Manuel Marquez 3).
The lure of making at least $6 million against Pacquiao, which is way beyond the $1.3M he made against Postol, may yet prove to be irresistible for Crawford.
