Manny Pacquiao has placed the blame for the collapse of a potential superfight with Terence Crawford squarely on the shoulders of promoter Bob Arum, alleging the Top Rank chief actively 'preserved' Crawford to prevent the showdown. The eight-division world champion, who held the WBA welterweight title at the time, claims the fight was a genuine possibility given both men were champions in the same division, but Arum's intervention kept it from materializing. This accusation revives one of boxing's most tantalizing 'what-if' scenarios, a clash between the legendary Filipino icon and the undefeated, multi-division champion Crawford that fans and pundits have long debated.
fell through. The narrative suggests a pivotal moment where promoter influence may have overridden competitive logic, denying the sport a legacy-defining matchup between two of its premier talents during their shared peak at welterweight. Pacquiao's assertion implies Arum, who promoted both fighters at different points, made a strategic choice to protect Crawford's marketability and undefeated record from the high-risk challenge Pacquiao represented.
Pacquiao’s accusation also underscores the structural fragility of boxing’s promotional ecosystem, where a single promoter’s decisions can dictate the trajectory of careers and the sport’s history. By framing Crawford as a protected asset, Pacquiao suggests Arum prioritized long-term revenue streams over immediate competitive stakes, a dynamic that has repeatedly frustrated fans seeking unification fights. The absence of a direct response from Arum or Crawford—despite the gravity of the claim—further entrenches the perception that promoter gatekeeping shapes boxing’s most lucrative matchups, often at the expense of its most compelling narratives.
The timing of Pacquiao’s remarks, decades into his retirement from active competition, suggests a calculated effort to reframe his legacy beyond the ring. By casting himself as a victim of promotional obstruction, Pacquiao shifts focus from his own late-career struggles to the structural forces that govern the sport. This narrative pivot not only absolves him of any responsibility for the fight’s failure but also positions him as a critic of the system that failed to deliver the Crawford fight—a fight many analysts believed would have been the definitive welterweight contest of the era.
While neither Arum nor Crawford has issued an immediate public response to the specific allegation, the claim fits a longstanding pattern of promoter politics influencing boxing's biggest fights. Pacquiao's comments, delivered in a recent interview, frame his departure from Top Rank and subsequent fights under other banners as a consequence of such matchmaking roadblocks. The boxing community has often criticized the fragmented promotional landscape for preventing the best from fighting the best, and Pacquiao's story offers a high-profile, personal example of that dynamic in action.
The broader implications of Pacquiao’s claim extend beyond his own career, spotlighting the recurring issue of promoter-driven fight avoidance in boxing. This pattern has historically sidelined potential superfights, such as Floyd Mayweather vs. Pacquiao itself, which took years to materialize due to promotional and financial disputes.
Pacquiao’s accusation against Arum serves as a case study in how these conflicts deprive the sport of its most anticipated matchups, leaving fans and historians to speculate on what might have been. In this context, the Crawford fight becomes another entry in boxing’s long list of missed opportunities, emblematic of a system that often prioritizes control over competition. to become the undisputed welterweight champion, adds another layer to Pacquiao’s allegations.
Had the fight with Pacquiao occurred during their overlapping title reigns, it would have offered a unique test for Crawford against a proven legend, potentially altering the trajectory of both fighters’ legacies. Instead, Crawford’s resume remains unblemished but now carries the asterisk of Pacquiao’s claim, which questions whether his path was deliberately cleared of the toughest challenges. This dynamic underscores the enduring tension between a fighter’s record and the circumstances that shape it, a tension that continues to define boxing’s narrative landscape.
What's next: The allegation is unlikely to lead to a revived negotiation, as Pacquiao is retired from professional boxing, but it permanently stains the historical record of the welterweight division's recent era. It fuels ongoing debates about promoter power and adds a bitter footnote to Crawford's otherwise pristine resume, which now includes a dominant victory over Errol Spence Jr. The 'what-if' of Pacquiao-Crawford will now forever be accompanied by Pacquiao's pointed accusation, ensuring the fight's ghost continues to haunt discussions about boxing's missed opportunities. Read at Boxing News (UK)
Why this matters
Pacquiao's accusation isn't just historical gossip; it's a direct indictment of the power promoters wield in boxing. By claiming Bob Arum 'preserved' Terence Crawford, Pacquiao highlights how business interests can supersede sporting merit, robbing fans of definitive answers to legacy-defining questions. This specific 'what-if' between two all-time great welterweights symbolizes a broader, systemic issue that continues to plague the sport, where the best fights are often the hardest to make. The claim also forces a reckoning with how promotional monopolies distort competitive fairness, leaving a trail of unfulfilled potential in their wake.
Frequently asked
When did Manny Pacquiao and Terence Crawford both hold welterweight titles?
Pacquiao held the WBA (Super) welterweight title from 2019 to 2021. Crawford held the WBO welterweight title from 2018 onward. Their reigns overlapped, creating the window for a potential unification fight.
What was Bob Arum's relationship to both fighters?
Bob Arum's promotion, Top Rank, represented Manny Pacquiao for much of his prime career. Top Rank also promoted Terence Crawford for the majority of his career up until 2021. Arum was the promoter for both men during the period Pacquiao references.
Who did Manny Pacquiao fight instead during this period?
After the Crawford fight didn't materialize, Pacquiao's final professional bout was a loss to Yordenis Ugas in August 2021. That fight was made on short notice after a planned bout with Errol Spence Jr. fell through due to an eye injury.
Has Terence Crawford commented on this claim?
As of this reporting, Terence Crawford has not issued a public response to Manny Pacquiao's specific allegation that Bob Arum blocked a fight between them.
Did Pacquiao and Crawford ever share a promoter?
Yes. Both Manny Pacquiao and Terence Crawford were promoted by Bob Arum's Top Rank during the timeframe when a fight between them was most viable, making Arum the central figure in any potential negotiation.
