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Espinoza Baffled by Crawford’s Transparency Demands. Stephen Espinoza, the president of Showtime Sports, recently addressed the claims made by Terence Crawford that transparency issues were the primary reason for the breakdown in negotiations for the highly anticipated bout between Crawford and Errol Spence.
According to Crawford, his concerns centered on having more oversight of the financial aspects of the event, but Espinoza has called these demands “absolutely baffling.”
Crawford’s Push for Transparency
Crawford, who had been negotiating to face Errol Spence in a super fight, publicly stated that one of the main reasons the fight fell apart was due to a lack of transparency. He explained that if he was expected to take on significant financial risk by betting on himself, he wanted more control over the expenses related to the fight.
“If I’m gonna bet on myself, and I’m going to go against all the odds, then I want a little transparency. I want to be able to write off on things that are gonna affect my cheque,” Crawford said.
Espinoza’s Response: “Baffling”
In an interview with Fight Hub TV, Espinoza expressed confusion over Crawford’s complaints, stating that the contract offered to him already provided transparency in terms of revenue, expenses, and deductions. Espinoza clarified that what Crawford was seeking went beyond standard practice, as he wanted the authority to approve individual costs related to the promotion of the fight.
“I have a problem with that,” Espinoza explained. “What’s gonna happen when I tell you, ‘this is what the TV production costs,’ and you say, ‘no, I think it’d be cheaper,’ so now I can’t produce it?”
Espinoza highlighted that Showtime has decades of experience in producing and promoting major boxing events and follows industry standards for budgeting. He expressed concern that giving Crawford the ability to veto expenses could create logistical issues that would disrupt the promotion.
Practical Concerns: Timing and Decision-Making
Another issue raised by Espinoza was the timing of Crawford’s involvement in the approval process. He suggested that Crawford’s demands could lead to delays if expenses were not signed off on in a timely manner, potentially jeopardizing the event’s production.
“We’re not going into a promotion and have the risk of someone saying to us two weeks out, ‘I don’t like that contract (for an expense), I’m not signing,’ Espinoza stated. He also argued that Crawford’s focus on training and fight preparation could make it difficult for him to manage the financial oversight he was requesting, further complicating the business side of the fight.
Espinoza: “Not a Realistic Way to Do Business”
Ultimately, Espinoza dismissed Crawford’s demands as impractical, emphasizing that Showtime’s role as a promoter involves managing event logistics and finances, with an industry-standard approach to budgeting. He concluded that Crawford’s requests were “not a realistic way to do business,” suggesting that they played a significant role in the fight falling through.
While fans continue to hope for a future showdown between Crawford and Spence, the dispute over transparency and financial control remains a sticking point. For now, both sides appear to be at an impasse, leaving the fate of one of boxing’s most anticipated fights uncertain.
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