It’s official. WBO welterweight world champion Terence “Bud” Crawford will defend his title against former welterweight world champion Kell Brook on November 14.
In the world championship co-feature, Joshua “El Profesor” Franco will defend his WBA super flyweight title against former world champion Andrew “The Monster” Moloney in a rematch of their June bout, won by Franco via decision.
ESPN and ESPN Deportes will televise Crawford-Brook and Franco-Moloney 2, while undercard bouts will stream live on ESPN+. Venue information for Crawford-Brook will be announced soon.
“Kell Brook is one of the elite fighters in the world. He has faced so many of the top boxers,” said Top Rank chairman Bob Arum. “He is a real test for pound-for-pound great Terence Crawford. This is another premium fight that will be available to boxing fans for no extra charge live on ESPN.”
Crawford (36-0, 27 KOs), the pride of Omaha, Neb., has reigned as WBO welterweight world champion since June 9, 2018, when he stopped Jeff “The Hornet” Horn in nine one-sided rounds. He has since defended that world title three times, including a sixth-round demolition over former unified junior welterweight champion Amir “King” Khan in April 2019. Crawford has not fought since last December’s ninth-round TKO over Egidijus “Mean Machine” Kavaliauskas and will enter the ring against Brook coming off a career-long 11-month layoff. He has won seven straight bouts by knockout since a one-sided decision over Viktor Postol in a July 2016 junior welterweight unification bout. Prior to his welterweight world title campaign, Crawford was the lineal lightweight and undisputed junior welterweight world champion.
Brook (39-2, 27 KOs), from Sheffield, England, is a former welterweight world champion who made three successful defenses of the IBF title he won from Shawn Porter in 2014. His only defeat at welterweight came to Errol Spence Jr. in May 2017, a competitive fight that ended in the 11th round after he suffered a broken orbital bone. Since the Spence defeat, “The Special One” has won three bouts at junior middleweight, including February’s seventh-round stoppage over Mark DeLuca. Brook has long campaigned for the Crawford bout, and earlier this year, he ran into Crawford at the Deontay Wilder-Tyson Fury II weigh-in.
“You gonna make weight?” Crawford asked Brook.
“You’re running out of opponents,” Brook responded. “I’m here.”
Brook said, “I would just like to say a big thank you to Bob Arum and his team at Top Rank and to Baz Kandiara and my management team for getting the fight made. Thank you also to Terence Crawford and his team. It’s a fantastic fight, a proper fight for the fans to get excited about. I’m sure it’s one that will have viewers on the edge of their seats, whichever side of the pond they’re from.
“I’ve been told there are people writing off my chances, questioning my age, and my ability to make the weight. Well, let them talk. Some people focus on reading headlines, I focus on making headlines. Those people writing me off as a big underdog? No problem. I guess this big dog will be making a few people richer during a difficult time.
“Terence isn’t too much younger than me. They know that I’ve never ducked a challenge, and they should know that I’ve never failed to make 147 on the scales. With age comes experience. My knowledge and experience make me a different fighter, a more mature fighter. Couple that with a happy fighter, and you’ve got yourself a dangerous fighter.”
Moloney (21-1, 14 KOs), from Melbourne, Australia, won the interim world title with a knockout over Elton Dharry last November and was subsequently elevated to world champion. In his first world title defense, June 23 from the MGM Grand Las Vegas Bubble, he was upset via unanimous decision at the hands of Franco (17-1-2, 8 KOs), a native of San Antonio, Texas, who was previously best known for his action-packed trilogy with Oscar Negrete.
Said Moloney, “I am extremely excited and motivated for my rematch with Franco. I’m very grateful that Top Rank has given me the opportunity to get my revenge and reclaim my world title. I have been working extremely hard every day to make sure that world title is strapped back around my waist on Nov. 14.”
Brook has not been the same since his defeat to GGG. Crawford will slowly dissect Brook each subsequent round like he always does with fighters. Crawford will take the victory.
Idk about that. He had an absolute war with Spence who is in the top 3 p4p after the GGG fight. Crawford is a small welterweight who has nice skills but really hasn’t fought anyone at 147.He got rocked by Gamboa and the last guy he fought. Brook is a huge welter. He’s a little over the hill but he might surprise some people. He’s a 10-1 underdog and is definitely worth a play.
He got rocked by Gamboa….in 2014. Mr Current Events you are not.
Jerome, Mr. Proofreader you are not. “He got rocked by Gamboa and the last guy he fought.” Key read “AND the last guy he fought.”
Everyone gets “rocked”. Pernell Whitaker got put down many times but came back and blitzed his opponents. Whitaker was also a small welterweight not saying Crawford is Whitaker.
One thing is for sure, Brook has more heart than Amir Khan, and even though his better days are long gone, he will present an stern test for Crawford, at least the first half of the fight. Seems silly, but even though Crawford is undefeated and never beat up, he is getting old and this factor might show up in a not that distant day .
Mike, you are correct. Crawford is slowly aging in the sport. Sooner or later, some number may change on his record in a bad way.
I’d rather slowly age….than the alternative. And some number may change on his record, in a bad way? Where do you come up with this stuff? I guess working in the overrun with covid hospitals is getting to you Scooby.
Jerome, thank you for the response. I meant that sooner or later, Crawford may meet a young lion with decent skills that may give him a defeat on his record as he ages. As this point in time, not the case and Crawford is still an undefeated king. Yes, where I live, the COVID cases are spiking again and it’s frustrating. A close friend of mind caught COVID (with no symptoms and was tested positive) and accidentally exposed his grandfather to it who is now on life support in the same unit I am working today. The whole family is in a state of grief and shock.
hes slowly aging because he fights once a year, some of these champs, IDK, they just dont fight enough, should fight minimum of twice a year
Brook is a good fighter but once again, Crawford is fighting beneath where he should be. I like Brook but he simply isn’t relevant at 147 anymore, same as when Brook fought Khan. 4 years too late imo. He should be fighting the top dogs by now to cement his claim as #1 – Porter, Spence, Thurman, Pacquiao, Garcia. I know they’re all PBC but still. TR continues to kill his career with the horrible matchmaking. Talent going to waste. So frustrating.
This reminds me… Did you ever get around to eating Crow for the last prediction you made for Lomo-Lopez? Right back on that horse I see 🙂
LOL, I luv ya NJ! Yes, I admitted my wrong guess. You are right! I am back on the band wagon again! LOL, I am a sucker for more punishment. My grammar and misspellings are bad today. Sorry! I am exhausted and my brain is barely chugging today. Glad to hear from you! LOL
Likewise… The Scooby name rings bells around here. We all know to tune into Scooby when a good article is posted.
You got that. No quit in me. Nice to see your paying attention
Got that right no quit in me. Pay attention.
Brook does not have adequate time to prepare for this contest. That stated his punch will be there for the early rounds . It is a matter of “he who hesitates is lost.” Give it all you got till the gas runs out.
Crawford is a top fighter, but this is his first big test.
Brook on the other hand has had 2 losses from injuries and has been not very active, these are 2 big things going against him, however, he is a much bigger and experienced welterweight than Crawford.
Will be an exciting fight, dont be surprised if Brook pulls it off, but he will have to KO Crawford to win, as they wont be giving him a decision over there.