Skip to content
Home » Exclusive: Crawford trainer expects Pacquiao fight in 2017 at 140

Exclusive: Crawford trainer expects Pacquiao fight in 2017 at 140

Pacquiao, 37, returns from announcing his retirement back in April and is set tol challenge American Vargas for the world welterweight championship at a venue to be announced but expected to be L.A or Dubai.

Speaking from his home in the early hours of Saturday, McIntyre wasn’t too disappointed at Crawford missing out and fully believes the encounter will go ahead early next year after the two pound for pound stars finish out 2016.

“I think they are trying to make a super-fight in 2017,” McIntyre exclusively told World Boxing News.

“It was down to Terence and Vargas in the end but I think they want to wait a little longer. I think they saw what Terence did to Viktor Postol two weeks ago and want to keep that fight for early next year.

“Once Pacquiao gets done with Jessie Vargas, I think a fight with Terence happens in February or March of 2017. It’s a super-fight that everyone wants and It will happen.

“We have no word from Bob Arum on it but I believe the fight will take place next year.”

Asked how he sees the fight between Pacquiao and Vargas taking shape, McIntyre added: “Vargas is a come forward fighter and that suits Pacquiao’s style. He walks forward and that should be good for Pacquiao to get the victory.”

‘Bomac’ also stated that Crawford would be continuing his spell at the super-lightweight limit having recently unified the belts against Viktor Postol and any Pacquiao fight would have to be at the lower limit.

“Right now Terence can easily make 140. He fights again on November 12 and that will be a defense of his titles.

“If Pacquiao wants to fight Terence, he will have to come down to 140 pounds. That’s where Terence is at and staying because we can make 140 no problem,” said McIntyre.