by David P. Greisman
A purse bid has been scheduled for the potential fight between World Boxing Organization lightweight titleholder Ricky Burns and mandatory challenger Terence Crawford, according to a Monday posting on the WBO website.
The purse bid will be held on the morning of Monday, Dec. 9, at the WBO’s headquarters in Puerto Rico. The minimum bid is $150,000.
Under the sanctioning body’s regulations, Burns would be entitled to 75 percent of the winning bid, while Crawford would get 25 percent.
That’s if the bout is held in the United Kingdom, where Burns is from. Under WBO rules, the split becomes 80-20 “in fights for the title held in any other country” than where the titleholder lives or is from.
Burns, 30, has had a tough year; he beat Jose Gonzalez in May in a difficult fight, and he suffered a broken jaw in a draw with Ray Beltran in September.
Burns’ promoter, Eddie Hearn of Matchroom Boxing, has spoken of his interest in seeking the WBO’s approval for a Beltran rematch. Beltran and Crawford are promoted by Top Rank.
Burns is 36-2-1 with 11 knockouts. Crawford, 26, is 22-0 (16 KOs). Beltran, 32, is 28-6-1 (17 KOs).
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