LAS VEGAS ? Terence Crawford showed why he is one of the top pound-for-pound fighters in the world as he made easy work of Viktor Postol Saturday night and came away with the unified junior welterweight titles with a unanimous victory before more than 7,000 fans, most of them Crawford fans, at the Grand Garden Arena.
Crawford, the No. 4 pound-for-pound fighter in the USA TODAY Sports/Boxing Junkie rankings, takes the WBO and Postol?s WBC belt back to Omaha. The bout is the main event of an HBO pay-per-view show.
?I just stuck to what I knew ? boxing,? Crawford said.
He also said he is will to fight Manny Pacquiao in November.
Here ?s the round-by-round recap.
Round 1: Fighters start cautiously, Postol lunges, standing up European style. Crawford in southpaw stance, moving around the ring.Staying away from that jab. Postol to the body and countered by Crawford. Hard right by Postol. Very close round. Gave it to Postol.
Round 2: Both fighters keeping their distance. Hard right by Postol, and then a swing and a miss. Much caution here. Left to the body by Crawford, then a big left to the head by Crawford. That wins him a round that had little action. 1-1.
Round 3: Crowd chants Omaha-Omaha! Hard right to the head by Crawford. Left uppercut lands by TC. His quickness is showing and he?s avoiding the jab. Crawford heating up, has a smile on his face as he goes after Postol. Another Crawford round. 2-1 Crawford.
Round 4: Lots of movement, not much action. Crawford dancing. Postol feinting but Crawford lands three consecutive lefts. Another left. Crawford?s quickness is proving too much for Postol who?s just not able to connect. Crawford fighting very smartly. 3-1 Crawford.
Round 5: Quick right hook by Crawford flash knocks Postol down. Another knockdown (gloves touch) as Crawford toying with Postol. Postol just can?t connect cleanly. This is a boxing lesson as the two fighters tie up and smack each other during the tie-up. Tony Weeks slow to to break it up. A 10-7 round for Crawford.
Round 6: Right by Postol followed by a counter left from Crawford, who?s still a southpaw. Nice jab by Crawford. Crawford is doing everything he needs to do. Crawford right to the top of the head. Postol is getting frustrated by being unable to get to Crawford. 10-9 Crawford.
Round 7: Couple of lefts by Crawford, neither solid. He?s looking Mayweather-esque. Postol gets him on the ropes and connects with a right. Both fighters charge at each other and both miss with rights. A counter left by Crawford at the end of the round. Crawford.
Round 8: Crawford lands a quick left that Postol barely stays on his feet for. Crowd is booing the lack of action. Hard left and a right by Crawford nearly puts Postol down again. Another left by Crawford. This is American style vs. Eastern European and American style winning big. Another big round for Crawford. Postol is going to need something big to win this fight. 79-71 Crawford.
Round 9: Lots of movement, no action as the crowd boos again. Two quick lefts by Crawford. Right and left, then attack by Crawford, looking lightning quick. Postol has no answers. His vaunted jab has been neutralized. Postol scratches his head as he walks back to his corner. A whuppin? as Ali would say. 89-80 Crawford.
Round 10: Postol is finding a lot of air but not much more. Postol connects with a right to the body but that came after two Crawford connects. Hard left by Crawford shakes Postol. Crawford moving masterfully around the ring. Not what most people want, but very effective and it will win him the fight. 99-89 Crawford.
Round 11: Crawford continues sticking and moving. with an occasional jab. Lands a hard right. Postol still has a puncher?s chance but that?s all. Lands a left to the head then Postol hits behind the head and referee Tony Weeks takes a point from him. Another 10-8 round. 109-97 with one round to go.
Round 12: Postol going for broke, lands several shots in desperation. Crowd chants Craw-ford, Craw-ford! Postol hoping for a lucky connect but Crawford is too crafty. He sticks his tongue out at Postol. And smiles. And showboats. It?s over. Crawford holds his hands to the sky. Then goes over and congratulates Postol. 119-106.
