By Keith Idec

Freddie Roach hopes Terence Crawford’s pre-fight requests to referee Tony Weeks regarding Viktor Postol’s clinching and elbowing don’t affect the way their fight is officiated Saturday night.

Crawford refrained from calling Postol a dirty fighter, but the unbeaten WBO super lightweight champion has expressed concerns regarding Postol’s use of his elbows and what Crawford considers excessive holding.

“Tony Weeks is one of the best referees in the world and he’ll call the fight the way it needs to be called,” Roach, Postol’s trainer, said during a recent conference call. “All we’re asking for is a fair shake from the referees and judges in this fight.”

In addition to Weeks, the Nevada State Athletic Commission has assigned Italy’s Guido Cavalleri, Nevada’s Dave Moretti and Connecticut’s Don Trella to judge the 12-round, 140-pound championship unification fight between Omaha’s Crawford (28-0, 20 KOs) and Ukraine’s Postol (28-0, 12 KOs) at MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas (HBO Pay-Per-View; 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT; $59.99 in HD; $54.95 in SD).

Postol, who seemingly heeded referee Jack Reiss’ warnings for holding during his 10th-round knockout of Lucas Matthysse (37-4, 34 KOs) on October 3, is confident Weeks will let him fight the way he normally performs.

“I think that with the experience and respect level of Tony Weeks,” Postol said, “and the type of fights he’s been in, I think that Tony Weeks will know very well what’s legal and not legal in the fight. And he will make sure that no illegal activity happens. I think he’s a professional and doesn’t need to be told what needs to be done.”

Keith Idec covers boxing for The Record and Herald News, of Woodland Park, N.J., and BoxingScene.com. He can be reached on Twitter @Idecboxing.