The idea of Vasyl Lomachenko and Terence Crawford switching networks and fighting on Showtime would likely be a nightmare scenario for HBO. But promoter Bob Arum raised the possibility on Thursday, telling RingTV.com he has a scheduled meeting with officials from Showtime about finding dates for Lomachenko, Crawford and Timothy Bradley across the street at the rival network.
Whether this is a ploy by Arum to gain leverage on HBO in his constant battle to pry network dates for his fighters isn?t exactly clear. Arum met with Showtime officials in February about finding a slot for Lomachenko?s bout with Nicholas Walters that never happened because Walters reportedly priced himself out. Showtime boxing head Stephen Espinoza acknowledged Arum?s request for a meeting later this month; the get-together is scheduled for the week after Manny Pacquiao?s press conference with Jessie Vargas next Thursday in LA, according to Arum.
?We have a meeting to discuss Lomachenko with Showtime,? Arum said. ?As far as HBO is concerned, they could do (his next fight) but they got no money. It?s not only Lomachenko ? it?s Tim Bradly, it?s Terence Crawford. We?re going to bring up all of our fighters.? Lomachenko, Crawford and Bradley all want to fight before the year is up. Arum referenced all the talent that Al Haymon has at his disposal as another reason to jettison HBO in favor of Showtime, the network home of Haymon?s fighters.
?Al Haymon has a whole group of terrific fighters, welterweights that we can match with Bradley,? Arum said. ?It?s a huge fight ? Garcia, Thurman, Porter (are other options). And Crawford ? look at all the great fights we could make with Crawford.?
Arum lamented HBO?s situation and the long history he?s had providing fighters to the network. HBO didn?t immediately return a message for comment. ?HBO has been a good partner of ours, but if they don?t have money they don?t have money,? Arum went on. ?If they have a budget situation where they can?t come up with money for fights ? I understand that and we as a company can live through that. But these fighters have limited careers. You can?t tell a fighter they can?t fight because one network doesn?t have any money. They would tell you, ?Well, go see a network that does have money.??
