Unified junior welterweight champion Terence Crawford is set to defend his titles in May, according to Top Rank Promoter Bob Arum.
Arum confirmed to ESPN the news that Crawford, one of boxing’s top fighters, would be fighting on HBO on May 20. An opponent and venue has yet to be announced, but according to Arum, there are two candidates: Felix Diaz and undefeated Antonio Orozco.
"I want to do the fight with Felix Diaz. That's the best fight for us to make," Arum said. "Lou DiBella (Diaz's promoter) calls me every day about it. That's the fight I want to make."
Promoter Lou DiBella said he wants Diaz to fight for the unified titles and said he is willing to have the fight contested in Omaha, Nebraska, Crawford’s hometown where he is a big draw.
"I'm about to call him again today," DiBella said. "My guy is ready, willing and able to go May 20 and Omaha would be fine with us. I know there are people within Top Rank that like the fight very much and also I know there are people within Top Rank that don't. That's the way it usually is with a really good, competitive fight. I've been in this business a long time and I gave Bob a number that's fair and he didn't balk. I'm going to continue calling him every day until we hopefully close the deal."
Crawford last fought on December 10, 2016, defeating John Molina Jr. in a non-title fight after Molina missed weight the night before the fight. Orozco has not fought since July and had a fight scheduled for December 16, but that bout had to be canceled because he was hospitalized due to dehydration trying to make weight.
Since losing to Lamont Peterson on October 2015, Diaz won both of his fights in 2016. He defeated Sammy Vazquez via unanimous decision in July and stopped Levis Morales in the sixth round on December 16.
