Bob Arum wants to make two fights between Terence Crawford and Conor McGregor
Conor McGregor continues to be the number one draw in all of combat sports. Today, ESPN reported that Top Rank promoter Bob Arum would like to see McGregor fight undefeated welterweight world boxing titleholder Terence Crawford.
Arum would like to make a two-fight deal with UFC President Dana White. The first fight would have Crawford and McGregor square off inside the octagon under MMA rules with the following fight would take under boxing rules.
“You’ve got an elite boxer in Terence Crawford fighting an elite MMA guy in Conor McGregor under MMA rules,” Arum told ESPN. “You don’t think that would be interesting and something the public would want to see? I think it’s very realistic.”
Crawford also spoke to ESPN saying he would entertain the idea.
“I just have to have the proper time to prepare myself,” said Crawford, who wrestled in middle school.
“It would be a little more than boxing training. I haven’t been in that [wrestling] environment in a long time, but most definitely I feel I can compete with anyone given the proper time to train on the MMA side, being that I have a wrestling background. McGregor would have to worry about my stand-up game as well. It would be interesting. He’s got good kicks and he’s strong. I’d have to prepare myself for those things, but I feel I would be all right.”
Crawford, 32, is having difficultly facing the other top 147-pounders and unify the world titles. Champions Errol Spence Jr. and Manny Pacquiao, along with other top challengers, all fight under Premier Boxing Champions.
McGregor, 31, is coming off a 40-second TKO win over Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone at UFC 246 last Saturday. The Dublin, Ireland native fought under boxing rules in 2017 when Floyd Mayweather finished him in the tenth round. He has talked of wanting to boxing again in the future mentioning Mayweather and Pacquiao as possible opponents.
