Viktor Postol has a very good chance of beating Terence Crawford Saturday night at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. But even if he pulls off the upset, it is doubtful if the unbeaten Ukrainian would face Manny Pacquiao next as planned
There are two compelling reasons why Postol may decline Bob Arum’s offer for him to face Pacquiao should he win over Crawford. Pacquiao, Crawford and Postol are all under contract with Arum’s Top Rank Promotions. First, Pacquiao and Postol are being trained by common trainer Freddie Roach. Secondly, Postol has served as one of Pacquiao’s sparring partners in his previous fight. While there is nothing wrong with having two fighters who are promoted by a common promoter face each other in the ring, it won’t be the same in the case of the trainer because he won’t be in the corner of both fighters at the same time. Roach has previously said that he will be at Pacquiao’s corner if Arum prevails in matching Pacquiao and Postol in the event that Postol pulls off the upset against Crawford. “It?s not a bad situation to be in,? Roach said about a possible Pacquiao-Postol fight. ?I would like for them not to fight each other, of course, but it could happen. Pacquiao I?ve been with for a long time, and we?re like father-son. So I would definitely be in Pacquiao?s corner if that happens,” he added. Roach’s loyalty to Pacquiao is beyond question. Their union dates back to some 15 years ago and it is no secret that he made a fortune out of Pacquiao’s lucrative fights especially the Mayweather-Pacquiao bout which grossed over $500 million in revenues. ?It?s not easy for a trainer to keep his job,? Roach said. ?That?s another reason why I?m loyal to Manny. He?s been with me for 15 years,? he added. Roach is expected to oppose the match because he trains both fighters and he considers them as part of his family of boxers in his Wild Card Boxing Club. Still, boxing is business and Arum, who is known for his business acumen may just insist on the match despite Roach’s opposition. If that happens, Roach’s assistant trainer Marvin Somodio may be tapped to work the corner of Postol. The set-up may be workable but it would make it harder for Arum to sell the fight because of the closeness and friendship that exist among the opposing fighters and trainers.
