This Saturday, the two
best light-welterweights in the world will go head to head as WBO champion,
Terence Crawford, takes on WBC champion, Viktor Postol. The unification fight will
confirm who reigns supreme of the 140 lb division, something which has not been
done since the days of Danny Garcia.
Although this may not
be the most star-studded of events, boxing fans will know the high skill levels
that will be on show on Saturday and something is occurring that is becoming
increasingly rarer in our beloved sport; the best is fighting the best.
Terence ‘Bud’ Crawford
burst onto the global scene back in 2014 when he dismantled Scotland’s, Ricky
Burns, over 12 rounds, winning the WBO, 135 lb strap in the process. After this
more than impressive performance, Crawford then took apart Cuba’s, Yuriorkis
Gamboa and then Ring and Lineal
champion, Raymundo Beltran, to further increase the flashy American’s stock.
Although the two-weight
world champion is yet to have that truly elite level win to propel him onto
boxing’s top exhalant of fighters, it is clear that he has the potential to be
an All-Time-Great. His ability to make quick adjustments highlights his
unbelievable ring IQ, switch from orthodox to southpaw whilst possessing that
mean streak make him one of boxing’s most exciting fighters to watch.
Viktor Postol, on the
other hand, is yet to fully convince experts of his ability. Having been on the
fringes of world level for the majority of his career, the Ukranian’s big break
came when he dismantled the heavily favoured Argentinean warrior, Lucas Matthysse.
The then 27-0 fighter, controlled the range and pace of the fight throughout
using his jab to keep the game Matthysse at bay and eventually scoring a tenth
round KO to win the WBC title.
The way Crawford is
going to deal with the Postol jab is the key to the fight for me. If Postol can
control the range and keep the fight on the outside then he will win and
comfortably. However this is Terence Crawford, the fighter has an unbelievable
knack of making adjustments to whatever style is put in front of him.
Establishing his jab
early and the way Postol deals with the different angles that Crawford shows
him is the key to him winning the fight. Expect Postol to dominate the early
round as Crawford is a notoriously slow starter however he should come on strong
as the fight continues. It is an intriguing match-up with no-one fully
confident one way or another (except for the fighters themselves) and it should
be tactically fascinating throughout the 12 rounds.
With both fighters yet
to fully prove themselves, this fight is going to have huge consequences for
their careers. Crawford has been tipped for stardom by the media and it is
predicted that he will move up to the more glamorous 147 lb division in the
near future in search of bigger fights. It is up to Postol and trainer, Freddie
Roach, to stop the American in his quest for greatness however Crawford’s
ability to make adjustments will be the difference in the fight as he will find
a way, as he always does, to get inside the Postol jab.
Prediction:
Terence Crawford points
Tom Eckett
@boxingguru44
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