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Bernie Davis criticizes Bob Arum for Crawford’s defeat

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9 months ago

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Image: Does a Canelo-Crawford Rematch Benefit Anyone Besides Their Bank Accounts?

Terence Crawford’s trainer Bernie “Tha Boxer” Davis dredged up the past today, chiding Bud’s former promoter Bob Arum of Top Rank for not promoting Terence more aggressively than what he did to turn him into a star while he was still with him.

Why Arum gave up too soon

Arum tried for years to make Crawford a star, but to no avail. It wasn’t marketable and it wasn’t economically worth keeping it. Crawford had no charisma outside the ring to make up for what he missed in the ring.

Terence’s performance against Canelo Alvarez on September 13 was a perfect example of why he failed to gain popularity. It’s uninteresting to watch. Winning isn’t enough when you’re a uninteresting fighter and the larger U.S. audience doesn’t want to watch you. Errol Spence was more popular for a reason. He was aggressive.

Turki’s formula versus the highest rank

Arum didn’t have the money to destroy Crawford’s career like Turki Alalshikh. His hit-and-move fighting style did not appeal to the boxing audience, which prefers aggressive, attacking fighters. Turki is in a great position where it can afford to lose money. Arum couldn’t do it, and why would he?

There aren’t enough fans in the US who enjoy watching Tom and Jerry Crawfrord style. His close friend Shakur Stevenson has the same problem. Fans don’t like seeing his uninteresting, safety-first style.

The top position couldn’t monetize Crawford’s wins

“The question is, ‘Do we want to keep him?’ I could build a house in Beverly Hills with the money I lost on it in my last three fights. Attractive house,” Bob Arum said of Crawford.

Bernie’s whole argument is that Crawford wins. Therefore, its promoters should promote it everywhere. The problem is that it’s not just about winning. Organizers want to monetize their events to get a return on their investment.

Bob Arum and Top Rank promoted Crawford for many years, but he failed to make money until he fought Errol Spence in 2023. By then, Crawford was no longer in Arum. This was the only successful PPV fight that Crawford was involved in, and that was because of Spence, not him.

“There are more players ready to take your place, like Shakur Stevenson. He’s ready to take your place,” said coach Bernie Davis MillCity Boxing about his belief that Shakur Stevenson is ready to take Gervonta Davis’ place in the No. 1 spot at 135 when he retires.

“I would still shove Crawford down their throats.”

“Why wouldn’t you double down on Bud Crawford if you’re Bob Arum? I’m going to shove him down their throats. I put Crawford in a fishing commercial. I’m going to keep putting Crawford on because he screams when he gets up under the lights. So I’m putting Crawford everywhere I can put him.”

Arum was right not to double down

If Bernie was losing money on Crawford’s fights, he would think differently. He would pull the plug, just like Arum did when he started losing money repeatedly.

– I bet they do [Top Rank] now they’re biting them in the ass, stupid. Regards, Turki Alalshikh,” Bernie said.

Crawford’s two fights at Turki Alalshikh did not produce the results we saw from Jake Paul. His headliner appearance against Israil Madrimov last year on August 3, 2024 only generated 75,000-100,000 pay-per-view buys on DAZN. Moreover, he failed to sell out BMO Stadium in Los Angeles, even with an entry card.

Crawford cannot sell and Bob Arum did the right thing by not “doubling down” and re-signing him. Despite the massive amounts of money Turki poured into the Canelo Alvarez vs. Crawford, it drew just 41 million viewers on the Netflix streaming platform compared to 108 million viewers for Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson.

Last update: 18/10/2025

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Boxing

Usyk Analyzes Anthony Joshuas Performance Against Kristian Prenga After Overcoming Two Knockdowns

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1 day ago

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July 25, 2026

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"Usyk Analyzes Anthony Joshua's Performance Against Kristian Prenga After Overcoming Two Knockdowns"

Oleksandr Usyk has shared his reaction to Anthony Joshua‘s dramatic knockout victory against Kristian Prenga.

Usyk nearly suffered his own shock defeat in May when he was pushed to the limit by kickboxing star Rico Verhoevenand two months on it was nrw teammate Joshua’s turn to come close to a massive upset loss that would have stunned the heavyweight division.

The Brit was dropped twice by massive underdog Prenga in the opening round of their clash in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia on Saturday, but ‘AJ’ managed to recover and record a big knockdown of his own in the second round that resulted in the stoppage victory.

Joshua and Usyk now train together, having famously had two battles for the unified world heavyweight title in 2021 and 2022, and the Ukrainian has had his say on his stablemate’s victory over Prenga.

Speaking to TalkSporttwo-time undisputed champion Usyk praised Joshua, insisting ‘AJ is back’ before predicting that Joshua will now claim a knockout win over long-term rival Tyson Fury in his next bout.

“Anthony Joshua is next undisputed champion. First round it’s a test but AJ is back.

It’s boxing, [the] big upper cut is good, it’s a knockdown. AJ [come] back and win.

“Greedy Belly [Fury] will speak now and say weak chin, Greedy Belly get out. AJ wins [against Fury], [he will] knock him out.”

Fury was victorious on Friday as he earned a seventh round retirement win against Mariusz Wach in Thailand, paving the way for the showdown against Joshua later this year.

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Boxing

Jake Paul Reacts to Anthony Joshuas Stunning Victory Over Kristian Prenga After Two Early Knockdowns

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1 day ago

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July 25, 2026

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"Jake Paul Reacts to Anthony Joshua's Stunning Victory Over Kristian Prenga After Two Early Knockdowns"

Jake Paul was the last man to fight Anthony Joshua and he has now revealed his verdict on AJ’s chaotic victory over Kristian Prenga.

Joshua went up against Prenga in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia on Saturdayin a clash that was expected to be a comfortable win for the former world heavyweight champion in order to set up the long overdue battle against Tyson Fury.

Any hopes of seeing that clash were nearly ended after AJ was dropped twice in the opening round of the bout, though he was able to recover and claim the second round knockout to come out on top and prevent a stunning shock upset from taking place.

Saturday’s outing saw Joshua back in the ring for the first time since his sixth round triumph over YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul back in Decemberand now ‘The Problem Child’ himself has shared his reaction to his former rival’s victory over Prenga.

Posting on social mediaPaul praised AJ for earning the win, after returning to action following the tragic car crash he was involved in at the end of last year which took the lives of his two close friends.

“Happy for Joshua with that win after all he’s been through. Remembering Sina and Latz with this one.”

The win for Joshua should now tee up for meeting with Fury later this year, after ‘The Gypsy King’ held up his end of the bargain by also securing a win in his warm-up bout on Friday, securing a seventh round retirement win against Mariusz Wach.

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Boxing

Tony Bellew Reviews Anthony Joshuas Comeback Victory Over Kristian Prenga After Knockdown Drama

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1 day ago

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July 25, 2026

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Tony Bellew Reviews Anthony Joshua's Comeback Victory Over Kristian Prenga After Knockdown Drama

Anthony Joshua may have earned a knockout win over Kristian Prenga but the fight certainly didn’t unfold as most people expected.

Joshua was facing the Albanian in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia on Saturday, and it looked like a massive upset could be on the cards when he was dropped twice in the opening round.

‘AJ’ was able to recover and went on to secure a second round knockout victory to prevent the shock lossseemingly paving the way for the battle against Tyson Fury later this year.

One man who was ringside to witness the battle was former cruiserweight world champion Tony Bellewand he praised Joshua’s ability to turn things around in the fight after describing it as ‘chaos’.

“We predicted round two but I don’t think we foresaw that. That was chaos. He doesn’t see the uppercut coming and finds himself on the floor without knowing how he got there.

“The second one he did see it coming and he was able to clench down on the jaw. He got up and then the experience that he has he used tonight because he tied him up. Against Andy Ruiz he didn’t know what he was doing and didn’t know how to do that, but tonight he did.

“He showed once again there is no quit. To be that hurt in the first round and get up, that’s the recoveries of power. People talk about your chin, but it’s not, it’s the level of fitness that gets you up from the floor.

“When Joshua gets a fighter hurt he’s the best finisher in the division. Whenever he hurts someone they’re gone. I haven’t seen him drop anybody and they survive, only Andy Ruiz. He’s a ruthless finisher.”

The clash between Joshua and Fury is now expected to be announced soon for later this year, after Fury won his own interim fight on Friday by defeating Mariusz Wach.

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