Crawford cornerman sees danger ahead against fighter with the awkward stance

TERENCE Crawford’s trainer doesn’t think that the unbeaten 140-pound champion Crawford will face August 19 is as good as the undefeated super-lightweight title-holder Crawford dominated last summer.

When asked over the weekend in Los Angeles if Julius Indongo is better than Viktor Postol, Brian McIntyre told BoxingScene.com, “No, no. F***, no. Hell, no. F***, no. Postol beat some good guys. You know what I’m saying? But we ready, though.”

Crawford completely outclassed Ukraine’s Postol (28-1, 12 KOs), who hasn’t fought since Crawford floored him twice and won a 12-round unanimous decision in their 12-round partial unification fight in July 2016 at MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.

Crawford is listed by most internet sports books as an 11-1 favourite over Indongo.

Despite that, Indongo has won world titles in his opponents’ home countries in each of his past two fights.

The 29-year-old Crawford (31-0, 22 KOs), the WBC-WBO super-lightweight champion, and the 34-year-old Indongo (22-0, 11 KOs), the IBF-WBA champion, are set to square off in a rare full title unification fight a week from Saturday night in Lincoln, Nebraska.

ESPN will televise their 12-round, 140-pound fight from Pinnacle Bank Arena, a short drive from Crawford’s hometown of Omaha.

McIntyre, Crawford’s trainer and co-manager, doesn’t expect this fight to be any more difficult than when Crawford comfortably outboxed the previously unbeaten Postol. He sees it the way handicappers did when establishing the odds.

“I’m looking at it like that because I see Terence every day,” said McIntyre, “I see what he needs to improve on, I see what he needs to do. I’m looking at it like that.

“You know, Terence gets stronger going into the fight, as the fight progresses. You know, Indongo don’t have a lot of power. So if the fight go longer, it’s trouble for him.”

McIntyre has noticed, however, that the lefthanded Indongo’s unusual style presents a challenge.

“I’m gonna be honest with you – he’s awkward as hell,” said McIntyre.

“But after finding out his background, I understand why he’s awkward as hell, because he doesn’t have a long, extensive amateur record.” — BoxingScene.com