Crawford Not Bothered Over Not Securing His Shot at Pacquiao

By Steve Kim

WBO junior welterweight titlist Terence Crawford (28-0, 20KOs) - who faces WBC belt-holder Viktor Postol on July 23rd at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas - was in the running to face Manny Pacquiao this past spring. Instead that assignment went to Tim Bradley (for a third time).

Pacquiao decisioned Bradley last month in their trilogy meeting, and the promised to retire as he was campaigning for a senate seat in the Philippines. A few days ago, Pacquiao was one of the twelve candidates to win a senate seat. This could end what has been a Hall-of-Fame career.

Crawford last fought in February when he knocked out Hank Lundy at The Theater in Madison Square Garden in New York City.

But Crawford says there is no real disappointment in the way things turned out.

"Like I told everybody previously, if I get the fight I get the fight. But I never got my hopes up high because nothing was signed yet," he said on Tuesday afternoon at the Beverly Hilton, where the formal announcement was made of his upcoming fight.

"Nothing was talked about so if your camp is not talking to my camp, then why get excited about it?"stated Crawford, who said of Pacquiao's performance on April 9th - "He looked good, he looked tremendous. He looked like the old Manny to me."

When asked if he hoped that 'the Pac Man' would come out of retirement and face him, Crawford answered - "That's his decision, that's not my decision. My decision is to make sure I beat this guy on the left of me ( Postol) July 23rd."

Steve Kim is the news editor for BoxingScene.com.