Current pound for pound star Terence Crawford at one time was very close to fighting former pound for pound number one Manny Pacquiao.
The two were former fighters under the same promotional banner under Bob Arum’s Top Rank.
Efforts were made to try to make the fight but for whatever reason it never came to fruition.
Pacquiao since left Top Rank earlier this year and went out alone leading to his first stoppage win over Lucas Matthysse last time out and now linking up with powerful adviser Al Haymon.
Pacquiao was reported to have said Crawford turned the fight down because he was scared to fight him however Crawford has a different version of events.
Speaking in a national TV interview on Fox Crawford responded to Pacquiao by saying:
“Listen we’ve been calling for that fight since 2015. Everybody knows. Bob Arum wanted to make that fight. Pacquiao and Fredie Roach — they didn’t want the fight. They said if they fight me they wanted 20 million dollars. Basically, they out priced themselves.”
Pacquiao faces Adrien Broner next up on January 19th at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.
Crawford has yet to secure an opponent for 2019 at this time.
