Reigning WBO light welterweight titlist Terence Crawford (26-0, 18 KOs) is reportedly given an opportunity by his boss, Top Rank chief Bob Arum, to improve his stock by facing eight-division world champion Manny Pacquiao (57-6-2, 38 KOs) for the latter's return fight next year.

Boxing News 24 reported that Crawford's breakthrough fight with Pacquiao could be held in February or March 2016, and negotiations are said to be already ongoing between the two fighters' camps.

Like Us on Facebook

Meanwhile, Crawford's trainer and manager Brian McIntyre told RingTV's Michael Woods in a phone interview that the PacMan-Bud fight would possibly be in March or April next year.  

Arum had been vocal about his plan to get together two of his stable's best fighters since the "Fight of the Century" week between Pacquiao and fellow pound-for-pound great Floyd Mayweather Jr., only that the timelines were never mentioned until just recently.

Woods said in his article that while rumors were out that Crawford would be Pacquiao's swan song opponent, chances are Manny would continue to fight beyond it, most probably a "prove 'em wrong" rematch with Mayweather, who himself asserted that the match with Andre Berto in September would also be his last.

A bout with Pacquiao would clearly boost Crawford's brand among global fight fans and a win, which is a real possibility, would lift the Omaha native instantly to the elite level in the light welterweight and welterweight divisions.

If the fight indeed pushes through, then it should be a no-lose situation for the former WBO lightweight champ whatever the result may be.

There were also speculations that Arum is planning on making Crawford his next cash cow after Pacquiao retires, and so it makes sense that the 83-year-old promoter is doing everything he can to push the 27-year-old's name in the mainstream market.

As of the moment, Crawford is not yet popular to casual boxing fans even though he is undefeated in his first 26 bouts.

While the Pacquiao-Crawford match would really bring total excitement to fans, for the meantime the light welterweight champ is set to defend his WBO belt to Canadian pugilist Dierry Jean at the CenturyLink Center in Omaha on October 24, as per Boxing Scene.

McIntyre assured that his fighter would not get ahead of himself and would focus on Jean before thinking about the potential mega-fight with Pacquiao.

TagsBoxing, Boxing 2015, Boxing News, Boxing News 2015, Boxing Rumors, Boxing Rumors 2015, Terence Crawford, manny pacquiao, Bob Arum