Terence Crawford signs contract for July 23 fight with Viktor Postol

[Jimanuel Boogustus]

Terence Crawford signs contract to fight Viktor Postol on July 23

Dan Rafael
ESPN Senior Writer

Slowly but surely, a junior welterweight title unification fight between Terence Crawford and Viktor Postol is nearing reality.

Top Rank promoter Bob Arum told ESPN.com on Wednesday night that Crawford signed his contract earlier in the day for the July 23 HBO PPV headliner, which will take place at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.

"Crawford had signed, and everything is virtually resolved with Postol," Arum said. "There are a couple of little issues we have to iron out, but the big stuff is done. The money is done.

"The reason these little issues are not resolved yet is because [manager] Vadim [Kornilov] has to get our take on things and then go back to Elite Promotions and get their take," Arum said, referring to Postol's Ukrainian co-promoter. "It takes some times. There's a language barrier. But it's nothing of any serious consequence. All the major terms have been agreed to."

Arum said one of the issues on the Postol side is about the judging panel. Postol wants two neutral judges from Europe, although who is assigned to judge any fight is not up to the promoter. Judges are assigned by the local athletic commission.

"I told them they can go to the Nevada commission and ask for two neutral judges, but we can't tell the commission who to appoint," Arum said. "They'll understand that. It will get worked out. We want fair judging."

A former lightweight champion and the 2014 fighter of the year, Crawford (28-0, 20 KOs), 28, of Omaha, Nebraska, will be making his third 140-pound title defense. Postol (28-0, 12 KOs), 32, of Ukraine, will be making the first defense of the world title belt he won in upset fashion by knocking out Lucas Matthysse in the 10th round on Oct. 3 in Carson, California. Cameron Dunkin, Crawford's co-manager, confirmed to ESPN.com that Crawford signed the contract.

"He signed, and it's a terrific fight," Dunkin said. "I'm glad he is fighting. Postol is the toughest guy out there in the division, and not only do you get Postol, but you also have to go up against his trainer, Freddie Roach, one of the best in the business. But I believe in my guy. I believe he's the best fighter in the world right now, and we win this fight and move on to bigger and better things."

Arum said he is planning a news conference to announce the fight on May 24 in Los Angeles and might do a second one in Omaha, where Crawford is enormously popular.

"We expect a few thousand people to make the trip from Omaha to Las Vegas for the fight," Arum said.

Arum said the card would probably include another world title fight, perhaps the first defense of super middleweight titleholder Gilberto Ramirez (34-0, 24 KOs), the rising Mexican star who shut out Arthur Abraham to win the 158-pound belt April 9 on the Manny Pacquiao-Timothy Bradley Jr. III undercard at the MGM Grand.

Arum also said one of the other pay-per-view bouts would include 2012 Japanese Olympic gold medalist Ryota Murata (9-0, 6 KOs) as long as he defeats Brazil's Felipe Santos Pedroso (13-1, 11 KOs) in a scheduled 10-round fight on May 14 in Hong Kong and comes out of the bout healthy. The July 23 appearance would be Murata's second in the United States. He also fought in Las Vegas in November on the Bradley-Brandon Rios undercard.

[Primo Carnera]

can't help liking everything about Crawford, and props to Postol too. None of this "marinating" and Fighting easier defences. On current form, possibly the 2 best guys in the division, should be a cracker.

[Hulk]

Good fight.
That Postol is s tall awkward spoiler.

Gotta think that Crawford will figure him out though.

Crawford vs. Spence Jr somewhere down the line.

[J_Undisputed]

Anyone else get the feeling that it it will be a race to gain weight and come in as big possible after weighing to negate the other ones punches?

[Master]

How can this be ppv?

[Rantcatrat]

Terrific fight. Credit to both guys for making it. Best two guys in the division.

[armin]

Will be surprised if this does even golovkin lemieux numbers...great fight tho for us purists but have to favor crawford slightly but hell if postol wins again then im done picking against the dude

[J_Undisputed]

How can this be ppv?

Arums flipped his bonnet and is trying to recoup money by making the same mistake over and over.

[Primo Carnera]

How can this be ppv?

After all, it's not something as amazing as Bellew/Cleverley is it?
Joking aside, in the States you have to go some to be PPV.

[powerpuncher]

I'm glad that they are fighting. It's weird that postol hasn't fought since the matthysse fight. I'm picking Crawford since he is so good but postol is definitely a live underdog.

And I think having this as a PPV is dumb. I thought they were getting away from the PPVs after mayweather and pac but they seem to lowering the standards for PPV. Great fight, but not PPV worthy.

[Jimanuel Boogustus]

It's great that this has been made. Easily the two best fighters in the division. Postol seems like the guy you avoid if you know what is good for you - unless Crawford's camp know something about Postol, that we don't. It has taken a while to get a fight for Postol. His a big guy, is hanging around a bad idea for him. I bet he'll be tight at the weight.
Also, Postol has been fed a reasonable diet of brawlers but is faced with a very sharp athlete with a fair amount of spite. I think Crawford wins this. Something tells me this fight has been made for him. Even with the Lundy win; it just seems that even psychologically the fight is in his favour.

Having said that though, Postol's on the same promotional camp as Provodnikov both of whom Matthyse fought in succession. Was that clever on part of Postols team or is that just convenient for Crawford? I don't know yet but I'm using Postols weight as a guide lol.

The fight itself is a great one. This will be Crawford at his best.

[Spicoli]

This is good. Too bad it's ppv as it would be a great unification on a free channel like the old Saturday afternoon match ups. Nothing better to make new fans than that exposure. Then again I'd honestly pay for this before I dropped a dime for some other ppv farces we'll be seeing soon. Crawford already looks like he can carry 147 weight with ease so good on both for sorting out the division before making the jump. Postol is a style nightmare and a different look for Crawford but I see Crawford working him out. The guys growth and maturity is refreshing! Undercard better be fookin stacked!

[Sleepwalker]

I think it's a smart move to put this on PPV. The fact that it is PPV will give the fighters more appeal, especially Crawford and will make him stand out above the rest as a star (outside of hardcore fans). Otherwise, it would be looked at as just another HBO fight. This reminds me of Mayweather/El Diablo

[Ron Swanson]

Some boxing fans minds have been raped so much they don't understand what's right anymore. This fight won't do well on PPV but it is exactly the type of fight that is deserving of PPV. This is not a name Vs a no hoper. This is the 2 best fighters in a division squaring off for supremacy. That is so damn rare anymore.

Props to both fighters for doing what nobody else does, fighting the best their division has to offer.

[SlimTrae]

Count me in, great fight!