A widely-held view is that the welterweight division is filled with more gifted fighters than any other weight class, but it’s been a rough year at 147lbs. The Covid-19 Pandemic has hit the division especially hard with a number of leading boxers placed on pause due to the financial restrictions that are necessary with no fans in attendance and no lucrative live gate.
One of the few significant bouts that will take place appears to be WBO welterweight king Terence Crawford against former IBF champion Kell Brook, who has successfully shed weight after lockdown and plans to move back down from 154lbs. That fight now looks increasingly likely for November 14 at ‘The Bubble’ in Las Vegas where Crawford’s promoters Top Rank reintroduced top flight boxing in June.
“We’re having advanced conversations with Brook. It makes sense for both fighters. We’re eyeing a November date if it can get done,” Top Rank president Todd duBoef toldSky Sports. “November 14 is earmarked as the date. The location, as of now, is Las Vegas in a studio-type environment.
“There was talk of going to Omaha, where Crawford is from, in an intimate setting with some fans. We’re weighing it up. First, we’ve got to see if we can put the match together. Then the venue.”
With WBA Super champion Manny Pacquiao sidelined, the other meaningful fight at 147lbs in 2020 features Errol Spence defending his WBC and IBF crowns against former champion Danny Garcia on November 21.
Spence will be returning to action after recovering from injuries sustained in a high speed car crash last year, with a unification clash with Crawford still no closer to happening.
“Spence Jr’s accident put [the Crawford] fight on the side,” added duBoef. “It should have happened this year. The welterweight division is going through these [two] guys.”
Hopefully, 2021 brings better fortunes to the division.