ERROL SPENCE JR and Terence Crawford have moved a step closer to confirming their undisputed super-fight.
The pair of welterweight rivals have circled each other ever since Crawford jumped to the 147lb division in 2018 and won the WBO belt.
Promotional and TV network alliances kept the unbeaten Americans apart, much to the anger of boxing fans.
But after Crawford left Top Rank and ESPN as a free agent, it allowed him to begin negotiating with Spence's Premier Boxing Champions stable.
Following months of speculation, the pound-for-pound stars have agreed in principle to fight, according to ESPN.
Although the deal, eyed for November 19 in Las Vegas, is not yet signed as their lawyers clean up some loose ends.
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The bout is nearly half a decade in the making and will finally settle who is the No1 in the division.
Crawford, 34, is a three-division champ having won belts from lightweight to welterweight.
And he has long competed with Canelo Alvarez, 32, Oleksandr Usyk, 35, and Vasiliy Lomachenko, 34, for boxing's top spot.
Meanwhile Spence, 32, is the current unified boss, with the WBC, WBA and IBF belts to his name.
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He first won the IBF version in 2017, travelling to Sheffield and dethroning Kell Brook, 35, in 11 rounds.
Spence then took the WBC crown from Shawn Porter, 34, in a 2019 thriller but a car crash a month later left him lucky to survive.
The Texan returned in December 2020, beating Danny Garcia, 34, and then won the WBA belt from Yordenis Ugas, 36, in April.
Crawford has been out the ring since November, when he sent Porter into retirement in the tenth round of their scheduled 12.
And is now sets the scene for an almighty undisputed title decider with Spence, after the pair managed to retain all four belts.
Crawford, having began his career at lightweight, is the smaller of the two but much more versatile.
Arguably the best switch-hitter in the sport, he can box in both stance, offering all styles.
But Spence knows he holds the physical advantage and despite having 22 knockouts to Crawford's 29, he will feel the bigger puncher.
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And the 2012 Olympian will also be confident in having shared the ring with the higher calibre opponents, especially at welterweight.
The duo are a similar height and not far off in reach, meaning the best technician will come out on top.
All that is left now is an official announcement, which would provide a rare undisputed title bout between two P4P stars in their prime.
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