Crawford vs. Postol: Not the best fight at 140

By Boxing News - 07/22/2016 - Comments

YouTube video

By Jaime Ortega: A few boxing fans have called Viktor Postol versus Terrence Crawford the fight of the year and the best fight currently lining the 140 division. Some even claim that the winner of the two should be crowned the best pound for pound, which in essence seems utterly ridiculous –neither claim holds truth –so rest assure the winner of Sergey Kovalev versus Andre Ward will be crowned best pound for pound boxer in the world.

I am telling you right now, Crawford vs. Postol is not the best fight on the lightweight division. A few commentators and boxing managers have also agreed with me. The fight on Saturday is a hype job born out the marketing genius of Top Rank. Both fighters, took the easiest way out to unify the division, and the winner plans to jump right ahead 147 and not unify the rest of available belts – there is a big reason why!

I have a lot of respect for WBC champ Viktor Postol, I think he is definitely a good boxer with a good chin and decent power. After the Lucas Matthyse fight, Postol’s boxing career suddenly blew in popularity on the United States. However, Matthyse was in decline and looked shot —- a shadow of himself —a worn out boxer who should retire. That fight is Postol’s greatest achievement, beating the old Argentinian machine.

Crawford’s greatest personal achievement was defeating Ricky Burns in Scotland. Yet unlike Postol he beat a high prospect, young lion and feared boxer Yuriokis Gamboa, who couldn’t cope nor stop the husker from Omaha. Beating Gamboa was Crawford’s greatest achievement in boxing; nevertheless, Gamboa is a 125-130 division boxer who fought a bigger welterweight in Crawford – that has to be taken into consideration. Gamboa like Amir Khan took an unnecessary risk and paid for it, which ultimately crippled their careers.

Postol is under the command of Freddy Roach, who despite his mentorship already knows the true outcome of facing Crawford. Roach has taken the task to manage Postol to earn an easy paycheck. Eight weeks of training in America, will not repair Postol’s bad habits the night of the fight. Postol has fully embraced the soviet boxing style, and it would take many years for him to develop the American way.

Is Postol going to beat Crawford? The answer is a dry ‘no way Jose’. He has a chance because his best asset is his jab, and like Floyd Mayweather Jr. halted Manny Pacquiao, Postol will try to use his length to keep Crawford at bay from rushing inside; Postol will then hold Crawford and will try to cut his pace and box in the outside all night –that’s about it — Postol is not Mayweather Jr.

Crawford is too skilled and crafty for Postol, he is a complete adaptable boxer with a wide arsenal on his disposal. Crawford will get inside and punish the Ukranian’s body, who will be reluctant to receive body punches. Postol has a decent chin, but his body is suspect and will be exposed the 23rd. Crawford will slowly impose his game and walk the Ukrainian down. Crawford should knockout Postol, or at the very least win via unanimous decision. But I am not going to lie, when this fight finally came to fruition unlike most of my colleagues, I was disappointed and unimpressed. Crawford will school the Ukrainian, that is almost a law. If Crawford lost, it would be unprecedented.

In 2006 after watching tape, I warned that Vassyl Lomachenko would dominate his division. In 2007, I warned that Andre Ward had the skill level of Mayweather. In 2008, I saw the rise of Roman Gonzalez and how he deemed to become a great. That same year I spoke of Mickey Garcia, and how he was the upcoming best Mexican boxer; I watched earlier tape and saw pure masterclass. In 2013, I saw the rise of Crawford, and foresaw he would upset 50 Cent’s golden goose, Gamboa. In 2014, I spoke of Felix Verdejo, a remarkable kid that looks like a future Hall of Famer!

What does Anthony Joshua, Denis Lebedev, Sergey Kovalev, James De Gale, Jermall Charlo, Lee Shelby and Gennady Golovkin have in common? What does Joseph Parker, Andre Ward, Arthur Beterbiev, Errol Spence Jr. have in common? The IBF tittle. Everyone knows the boxers mentioned above, but there is an IBF champion that does not get the credit he deserves and is possibly the most underrated of all. He had a monstrous amateur record, even greater than Lomachenko.

Postol never mentions his name. Adrien Broner never mentions his name. Ricky Burns never mentions his name, and Crawford never mentions his name. No one likes to swim with sharks. They all know who he is, but he is not popular and possesses a high risk low reward fight for any boxer; the undefeated Russian boxer Eduard Troyanovsky. He is a very crafty boxer with a flash pop and dangerous uppercut. None of the fighters mentioned above want a piece of him, he will be ducked and avoided.

Crawford vs Postol is not the best fight at 140 that is TR propaganda, Troyanovsky versus Crawford is the best fight without a doubt! The Russian will give Crawford a lot of problems and unlike Postol and other Eastern European boxers, Troyanovsky has mobility and knows how to fight backwards. He has a great reach, perfect timing and he can use his jab with combinations using both hands. The Russian unlike Postol is unpredictable and bursts explosive aggression. He is half Keith Thurman, half Juan Manuel Marquez.

Eduard is 36, but his body is in great condition and hasn’t slowed down a bit. I am telling everyone right now, Crawford loses via KO. Crawford will not be the aggressor and will be on the ropes and get counter as he counters. The Russian is a masterclass and elite boxer who will use his reach at the fullest, and unlike Postol, he will switch it up with Crawford and adapt. Crawford’s defense will be in jeopardy.

If we don’t see Crawford vs Troyanovsky soon, it will be criminal. I will be very disappointed if Crawford vacates his division and moves to 147, without unifying the IBF tittle. It will be an act of coward-ness on his behalf. Broner, Ricky and Postol have avoided Troyanovsky because they know he will sink their rankings even further. The quiet killer eagle floats around 140, and everyone is focused on Postol and Crawford instead; the Russian is rarely mentioned in boxing media networks, but he is popular in Russia.

The best fight is yet to come at 140. Troyanovsky and Crawford are hands down the most complete boxers in that division —Postol is one dimensional. Hopefully the fight gets made, and my prediction comes true. Outside sparring with Timothy Bradley, Crawford hasn’t fought anyone with the pedigree of Troyanovsky, no one in the 140 division has his skillset. Mark my words, such fight will be more entertaining than Postol vs Crawford, don’t get that twisted. I am looking forward to it.