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by David P. Greisman - What backlash there was over last week’s announcement regarding the postponement of a potential fight between Danny “Swift” Garcia and Viktor Postol had less to do with the mandatory challenger and far more to do with the junior-welterweight champion.
Postol is a 30-year-old contender from Ukraine who is 26-0 with 11 KOs. Until earlier this year, all but the most hardcore of boxing fans probably knew little to nothing of him. His record showed decision victories over a pair of recognizable American names: one over the aged DeMarcus “Chop Chop” Corley in late 2012, and another over Henry Lundy in early 2013.
He had his second fight in the United States this past May, and his first on major American television, when he faced Selcuk Aydin on HBO on the undercard of Juan Manuel Marquez vs. Mike Alvarado. If Aydin’s name seems familiar, it’s probably because he appeared on “Showtime Championship Boxing” twice, losing on the scorecards against Robert Guerrero in 2012 and Jesus Soto Karass in 2013.
Postol, a rangy 140-pounder at 5-foot-11, boxed expertly against Aydin before scoring a beautiful one-punch uppercut knockout in the 11th round. That win made him mandatory challenger to one of Garcia’s two sanctioning body belts.
For some reason, some people thought that Garcia vs. Postol might actually happen.
Then came multiple announcements that the deadline for the two sides to reach a deal had been postponed. That potentially allowed for more time to negotiate rather than bringing the bout to a purse bid in which promoters would vie for the right to stage the fight.
Rather, the negotiations apparently turned to Postol getting paid to step aside for the moment, allowing Garcia to take another fight without losing his World Boxing Council belt. It was a good deal for Postol. He gets extra cash. Beyond that, if Garcia doesn’t subsequently face Postol, then Garcia would presumably lose his title and Postol would still be one of two men fighting for it. [Click Here To Read More]
Postol is a 30-year-old contender from Ukraine who is 26-0 with 11 KOs. Until earlier this year, all but the most hardcore of boxing fans probably knew little to nothing of him. His record showed decision victories over a pair of recognizable American names: one over the aged DeMarcus “Chop Chop” Corley in late 2012, and another over Henry Lundy in early 2013.
He had his second fight in the United States this past May, and his first on major American television, when he faced Selcuk Aydin on HBO on the undercard of Juan Manuel Marquez vs. Mike Alvarado. If Aydin’s name seems familiar, it’s probably because he appeared on “Showtime Championship Boxing” twice, losing on the scorecards against Robert Guerrero in 2012 and Jesus Soto Karass in 2013.
Postol, a rangy 140-pounder at 5-foot-11, boxed expertly against Aydin before scoring a beautiful one-punch uppercut knockout in the 11th round. That win made him mandatory challenger to one of Garcia’s two sanctioning body belts.
For some reason, some people thought that Garcia vs. Postol might actually happen.
Then came multiple announcements that the deadline for the two sides to reach a deal had been postponed. That potentially allowed for more time to negotiate rather than bringing the bout to a purse bid in which promoters would vie for the right to stage the fight.
Rather, the negotiations apparently turned to Postol getting paid to step aside for the moment, allowing Garcia to take another fight without losing his World Boxing Council belt. It was a good deal for Postol. He gets extra cash. Beyond that, if Garcia doesn’t subsequently face Postol, then Garcia would presumably lose his title and Postol would still be one of two men fighting for it. [Click Here To Read More]
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