Terence Crawford, a pound-for-pound entrant and the junior welterweight champion, will take on the toughest test of his career this Saturday when he meets fellow champion Viktor Postol this Saturday. It’s a fight that could finally prove just how good Crawford is, and oddsmakers are predicting that he comes through.
Also on the card is a featherweight bout between Oscar Valdez and Matias Ruedas for the vacant WBO featherweight championship. A previously scheduled matchup between Gilberto Ramirez and Dominik Britsch has been pulled due to an injury to Ramirez.
Bet on boxing odds at BookMaker.eu
Viktor Postol +400
Terence Crawford -500
Please note, the boxing odds at BookMaker are updated on daily basis. The lines listed here may have changed since this article was posted.
ODDS ANALYSIS
Crawford is a big favorite at -500, and that number climbs to -600 in other sportsbooks. We’ve got Postol at +350, but he’s fluctuated up to +400 at times. A winning bet on Postol offers a great payout, but there’s a reason why Crawford is so heavily favored.
FIGHT LEAD-IN
Crawford - 28-0, 20 KOs - is the former lightweight champion and the 2014 fighter of the year. In 2015, he moved up to junior welterweight to win the vacant world title with a sixth-round knockout of Thomas Dulorme. He notched two more KOs in his first title defenses, stopping Dierry Jean last October and Hank Lundy this past February.
In the cases of Jean and Lundy, Crawford was the noticeably bigger man. Fighting undersized competition has long been a criticism of the champion, but that could change with this matchup against Postol. Crawford certainly has the technique, style and spirit to be a star -- he just needs a signature fight to capture a mainstream audience.
Enter Postol - 28-0, 12 KOs, who has haunted the division since 2014, when then-champion Danny Garcia literally paid him to step aside so Garcia could fight Lamont Peterson. He is three inches taller than Postol and knows how to utilize his range, which should provide Crawford a stern test.
And despite Postol’s seeming lack of knockout power, the Ukrainian has flashed dynamite fists in the past, scoring a knockout of the year candidate with a one-punch demolition of Selcuk Aydin in May 2014. He also scored a sensational upset of veteran Lucas Matthysse in October 2015 to win the WBC title - also by knockout.
FIGHT BREAKDOWN AND PREDICTION
Crawford is widely regarded as the top 140-pounder in the world, and he was on a short list of fighters considered for Manny Pacquiao’s retirement fight before the superstar ultimately chose Timothy Bradley.
The difference here is Crawford’s power. From the southpaw stance, he throws a stinging jab that can do real damage from the onset. Considering how Lucas Matthysse was able to buckle Postol a few times, it’s plausible to see a more powerful fighter like Crawford really hurting the WBC champ. While Postol will have his moments, Crawford is the pick.
BOXING ODDS: Crawford TKO Postol, Round 11
CO-MAIN EVENT
Oscar Valdez vs. Matias Carlos Adrian Rueda
FIGHT BREAKDOWN AND PREDICTION
With Vasyl Lomachenko moving to super featherweight and vacating his WBO featherweight title, #1 WBO Oscar Valdez - 19-0, 17 KOs - will now meet #2 WBO Matias Carlos Adrian Rueda - 26-0, 23 KOs - for the vacant title.
Valdez is a fast-rising Mexican star with stunning power, but Argentina’s Rueda is a fearsome puncher as well. Expect the action to be fast and furious in this one, with a finish to end the fight on a high note. While Rueda has an impressive record, he hasn’t faced anyone on Valdez’ level, and will likely succumb to hard punches within eight rounds.
BOXING ODDS: Valdez TKO Rueda, Round 7
HOW TO BET
With BookMaker Sportsbook, you can bet on boxing all year, from regional cards to pay-per-view events. Access live betting lines from your mobile device at BookMaker Sportsbook. You can even wager on sporting events as they unfold on television with BookMaker’s live betting platform. Crawford vs. Postol takes place Saturday, July 23, 2016 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nevada. The HBO card will be televised on PPV card starting 10 p.m. ET.
