Pacquiao-Crawford fight in Bahrain? Arum says its likely

Manny Pacquiao (left) and Terrence Crawford could fight outside the US, if talks go on as planned. AP FILE PHOTOS

MANILA, Philippines—A welterweight super fight could very well happen in Bahrain amid the COVID-19 pandemic, if Top Rank CEO Bob Arum gets his way.

Arum is using his connections with MTK Global to stage possible fight cards in Bahrain including a potential unification match between WBA champion Manny Pacquiao and WBO titleholder Terence Crawford.

“We hope we can get Crawford and Pacquiao in action this year and through our friends at MTK, we are in serious talks with Bahrain for doing major fights there,” said Arum in an interview with iFL TV h/t BoxingScene.com.  “I would love to do some big, big events in Bahrain.”

MTK Global has a working relationship with KHK Sports, a Bahrain-based sports media project under the leadership of Sheikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa.

Pacquiao, whom Arum once promoted, and Crawford had previously expressed a willingness to fight each other, but Arum believes a closed-door showdown between the two stars would only be possible if the money’s right.

Despite getting the clearance to hold fight cards, Top Rank will only be able to stage events without a live audience due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Let’s see what happens. Everything is likely, everyone wants to do these big events until it comes time to put up the money! But I think with Bahrain we’ve got a good shot at getting it done.”

Pacquiao (62-7-2) has been out of the ring since his split decision win over Keith Thurman for the WBA Super World welterweight title but is still considered as one of the top boxers despite being 41-years-old.

Crawford (36-0), meanwhile, has been the WBO World welterweight champion since June 2018 when he beat Jeff Horn, the same man who beat Pacquiao for the strap in 2017.