World Boxing Organization junior welterweight champion Terence Crawford is eager to get a shot against Manny Pacquiao because he believes it will propel him to stardom.
Crawford, who has a perfect 27-0 record with 19 of his victories coming by knockout, is coming off 10th round knockout victory against Dierry Jean in October. The 28-year-old is originally planning to fight again early next year, but is willing to wait until the second quarter of 2016 if it will be against Pacquiao.
"We are waiting," Crawford told Fox Deportes. "I'm possibly going to fight again in February or March. If Pacquiao happens, it would then be in April if not earlier. The Pacquiao fight is what I want and Pacquiao would give me the momentum to become a superstar."
Pacquiao, who is a former eight-division world champion, is reportedly picking between Crawford, reigning WBO welterweight champion Timothy Bradley and former sparring mate Amir Khan. Recent reports indicated that Pacquiao was scheduled to make his announcement last week, but the Filipino boxing icon reportedly asked for more time to decide.
Top Rank Promotions CEO Bob Arum has yet to make a statement, but his spokesman Fred Sternburg confirmed that Pacquiao asked for more time a day before the scheduled announcement.
"I was asked to tell you on Bob's behalf that, unfortunately, Top Rank will not have an announcement on truTV as originally planned as Manny is not ready to make a decision on his opponent yet," Sternburg told ESPN.
Bradley is currently viewed as the frontrunner because of the "trilogy" angle, since the two welterweight stars have already faced each other twice before. Bradley escaped with a controversial split decision win during their first fight in June 2012, but Pacquiao ran away with a unanimous decision victory in April 2014.
Bradley is very interested in a third showdown with Pacquiao, but he is also willing to step aside for his good friend because he believes Crawford is capable of pulling off an upset against the 36-year-old Filipino.
"I wouldn't mind seeing a young lion get a shot at Pacquiao before Pacquiao leaves," Bradley told BoxingScene. "Terence Crawford is a good friend of mine and I would like to see him get that shot. But of course I would fight Pacquiao in a rubber match. I think Crawford has a very good chance of beating Manny Pacquiao."
