Viktor Postol brimming with confidence ahead of bout with Terence Crawford

Viktor Postol/Photo courtesy of Top Rank Inc.

 

Confidence is a force that can do wonders for a fighter. If Viktor Postol has as much as it sounds like he has, Terence Crawford could be in trouble Saturday night.

The two will square off in a junior welterweight title-unification bout at MGM Grand in Las Vegas (on HBO pay-per-view). Postol, of Ukraine, is 28-0 with 12 knockouts. Crawford, of Omaha, Neb., is 28-0 with 20 knockouts. It’s just the type of fight that can be won by the fighter more sure of himself during the vital moments.

Postol was asked recently to explain what’s different about Crawford compared to others he’s fought. Postol mentioned all of Crawford’s fine points, such as his technical skills and his ability to successfully change stances. Then Postol spoke in very self-assured tones.

“But that does not mean he is the best I have fought,” Postol said. “I think Lucas Matthysse is a higher-level fighter than Crawford and everyone knows how my fight with Matthysse ended, with him knocked out and the WBC belt around my waist.”

Postol won a vacant title with a 10th-round knockout of the hard-hitting Matthysse this past October at StubHub Center.

“And that is exactly where the WBC belt will remain after my fight with Crawford,” Postol said. “Just above the WBO belt (currently held by Crawford). I am looking forward to destroying Crawford, destroying his perfect record and destroying his reign as world champion.”

Wow. This dude sounds serious.

Crawford actually likes Postol’s spirit, even if he doesn’t agree with everything he said.

“He is supposed to say he is going to destroy anybody that he is going to step in the ring with,” Crawford said. “But to my knowledge, I don’t care what he says because come (Saturday) he is going to have to show me; he is not going to just be able to tell you.

“He knew who to fight. He had the option of fighting either me or Matthysse and he thought Matthysse was the easier fight because he knew if he was going to fight Terence Crawford, he knew what was going to happen.”
Oh, yeah, this could be a good one.

Although Crawford has more knockouts, Postol has knocked out two of the three fighters he’s faced under the guidance of trainer Freddie Roach. Postol is also three inches taller and has a reach advantage of 3 1/2 inches.

Since Postol has a nice left jab, that could be a big weapon for him. Roach thinks so.
“Viktor has a height advantage and a little bit of a reach advantage,” he said. “He sets things up real well with his left hand.”

Crawford scoffs.

“It’s funny how all of the people are giving Postol all of the credit for his jab, but nobody is talking about how good my jab is,” Crawford said. “So I’m loving it.  I’m loving it.”

Those in attendance and watching on TV figure to be loving this fight. It’s a tough one to pick, but the feeling here is Crawford will prevail in a tough one.

The winner could get a shot at Manny Pacquiao on Nov. 5. But it’s doubtful these two will be thinking about that during what should be a tremendous back-and-forth bout with each boxer having big moments.

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