Brook v Pacquiao? Special K handed extra incentive ahead of Terence Crawford clash

Sheffield’s Kell Brook could land a shot at Manny Pacquiao in Qatar – if he upsets the odds and beats Terence Crawford this weekend.
By Staff Reporter
Published 12th Nov 2020, 15:20 BST
Kell Brook, pictured after beating Mark DeLuca earlier this year. Photo: Richard Heathcote/Getty ImagesKell Brook, pictured after beating Mark DeLuca earlier this year. Photo: Richard Heathcote/Getty Images
Kell Brook, pictured after beating Mark DeLuca earlier this year. Photo: Richard Heathcote/Getty Images

Unbeaten American Crawford puts his WBO welterweight crown on the line against Brook in Las Vegas on Saturday night.

Crawford’s scheduled clash with WBA champion Pacquiao was cancelled due to coronavirus.

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Victory over Brook would pave the way for that match-up to take place next Spring.

But promoter Bob Arum has revealed that, should Crawford suffer a surprise defeat, Brook would be in line to face Pacquiao.

“We tried to match Terence with Manny Pacquiao , that fight was going to be held in Qatar in November,” said Arum.

“But then the minister of health there said we couldn’t get a gate because of Covid and it was too dangerous, so that fight disappeared.

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“We were then in touch with Brook’s people, and I was reluctant to some extent to make the match because Brook is a really big welterweight and Terence is a small welterweight.

“He came up from lightweight, then light-welterweight and Terence will give away a big, big, size advantage and Brook is a very accomplished fighter.

“I think this is a really competitive fight and if Terence doesn’t watch out, Brook is going to roll right over him, as Brook is very confident going into this.

“And if he’s successful with Terence, maybe I’ll make Brook with Manny.”

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Brook, meanwhile, says should he defeat Crawford it would rank as the one of the best-ever wins by a Brit.

The 34-year-old lost his IBF belt to Errol Spence Junior, and suffered a fractured eye socket, when he last fought at welterweight in 2017.

“You’d have to put this up there if I won,” said Brook.

“This guy is arguably the best fighter in the world, I’ve not made welterweight for so many years, I’ve had my eye injuries and my losses, everybody is saying I’m washed up.

“Everybody is writing me off, so for me to go out there and put on the performance needed to capture that world title, I think you’d have to put that right up there, you’d have to.”

Crawford v Brook is on Premier Sports 1 via Sky and Virgin TV. See www.premiersports.com for more details.

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