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Home » EXCLUSIVE: Bob Arum seeks Wilder v Fury II / Crawford v Spence talks

EXCLUSIVE: Bob Arum seeks Wilder v Fury II / Crawford v Spence talks

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Top Rank promoter Bob Arum is hoping to schedule a meeting with Al Haymon to discuss making Deontay Wilder v Tyson Fury and Terence Crawford v Errol Spence.

Speaking to WBN, the Hall of Famer sees the two divisional super-fights as central to his TV deal with ESPN.

Wilder v Fury fell apart recently directly as a result of ESPN striking promotional deal with the Briton to showcase his talents stateside on a permanent basis.

ESPN offered Wilder a spot alongside Fury but wanted the rematch delayed. The pair shared a twelve round battle in December, leaving fans and boxing personnel alike wanting more.

It looks destined not to happen in 2019 as Wilder and Fury continue on separate paths.

Arum would like to sit down with Premier Boxing Champions head honcho Haymon to discuss, not only Wilder v Fury but a welterweight unification between Crawford and Spence.

“The truth is I would love nothing more (than to see Wilder and Fury fight again),” Arum exclusively told World Boxing News.

“And hopefully, as we work together with Haymon to bring this Fury v Wilder fight to tuition, we will be able to broach with him the subject of Crawford fighting Spence – assuming he gets by Amir Khan.

“I know from talking to Spence in the social setting and talking to Crawford, that these guys both want to fight each other.

“It’s a question of convincing Haymon that it’s the way to go with Spence but as far as we’re concerned, we’re all in (on both fights).”

TV RIGHTS

Laying down his demands, Wilder wants a straight split of any future pot for a Fury return. After signing an extension with his TV network at Showtime, there’s no doubting Executive Stephen Espinoza will want the channel involved in broadcast rights.

ESPN and Showtime would have to come to a Pay-Per-View arrangement to share rights to beam the fight live on American soil.

Yet another barrier in the way, but as with Lennox Lewis v Mike Tyson and Floyd Mayweather v Manny Pacquiao before them, there’s no reason why ESPN and Showtime cannot share custody.

The same goes for Crawford v Spence. It’s good to see one promoter at least trying to find a solution to the TV problem blighting some of the bigger encounters on offer.

Hopefully, Haymon and Arum will be able to find an amicable solution, if only for Wilder v Fury.

The heavyweight collision is important to the landscape of the division after the first contest was such a success.

Phil Jay is Editor of World Boxing News. Follow on Twitter @PhilDJay