Terence Crawford could be getting his next title defense in the form of Amir Khan.
According to reports, both sides are in talks to have the two fight for Crawford's WBO welterweight title on March 23, 2019. The fight would be shown on ESPN pay-per-view and it would take place at Madison Square Garden. Top Rank CEO Bob Arum, who promotes Crawford, reportedly sent an offer to Khan with a $5 million guarantee for the title fight.
Prior to the report, there had been talks of Crawford potentially fighting former world champion Luis Collazo. Collazo has reportedly agreed to terms on the fight, but Crawford has yet to sign the contract. If Crawford vs. Collazo does ultimately end up being made, it would be shown on ESPN television instead of pay-per-view.
If the report of Khan fighting Crawford are true and the fight does take place next for each fighter, then it would mean the further delay of a long-awaited British grudge match between Khan and Kell Brook. Khan signed with Matchroom Boxing with the plan that the two former British champions would fight. This would be Khan's first world title fight since getting knocked out by Canelo Alvarez with the WBC middleweight title on the line since 2016.
Khan spoke to the Daily Mail about the potential title fight, saying that he isn't worried about not getting to fight Brook next if that is the case. Khan added that the idea of getting to fight for a world title against a pound-for-pound superstar is too good to pass up.
“Fighting for a pound-for-pound title would be amazing,” Khan said. “To win it would be even better, so I think I’m in a position where I can get that fight with the pound-for-pound champion at the moment. … The Brook fight is always going to be there. It’s for no title, whereas I’m getting offered a world title and the pound-for-pound title. So why not?”
Crawford won the WBO title earlier this year when he defeated Jeff Horn in Las Vegas. Crawford would go on to defend his title against Jose Benavidez Jr. on ESPN in the first fight of a lucrative contract extension with Top Rank Boxing.
