Crawford vs. Indongo: Can you recall the last undisputed 140 Champion?

By Gerardo Granados: Next Saturday, on August 19 at the Pinnacle Bank Arena, Lincoln, Nebraska, two boxers – Terence Crawford and Julius Indongo – will fight to earn the distinction to be called undefeated, undisputed Champion of the World. It’s disappointing that the circus exhibition bout keeps on getting that much attention from the major sports media puppets and instead this solid boxing bout it’s been quite overlooked.

In one corner WBC – WBO light welter Champion, American boxer Terence Bud Crawford, who has an undefeated record of 31 wins 22 by the way of knockout no loses no draws; on the other corner, also undefeated titlist with 22 wins and 11 knockouts Julius Blue Machine Indongo. The lion from Namibia has upset the odds two times in a row to become the IBF – WBA light welter titlist, first by a devastating knockout and then by putting a great boxing exhibition.

Not only Indongo has been able to win World titles at his 34 years of age but also has done it as the visitor beating the local fighter twice in year lapse. First Julius beat local Eduard Troyanovsky in Moscow, Russia; then he beat another local Ricky Burns in Glasgow, Scotland. Now the Blue Machine attempts to do it for the third time in a row when he fights Terence in Nebraska.

I see Indongo as a balanced skilled boxer who knows how to use his reach advantage and long jab to box smartly on the long distance. It’s odd but I think that so far, he might be the most difficult foe that Crawford has faced, because Indongo isn’t only a good boxer but also has the chance of a life time to change his life if he beats the favorite Crawford.

Terence boxing style is pure poison for the one dimensional or aggressive pressure fighters; but against Indongo, Crawford faces a foe that could use his height and reach advantage to try to outbox him to a point’s victory.

Styles make fights they say, so in this case I believe that the boxing purist should not miss this bout. A boxing chess fight that the more experienced Crawford should get the edge over Indongo. But they better not make a mistake because for sure his opponent will take advantage of it.

The last undisputed light welterweight Champion of the World was the “Thunder from down under” Kostya Tszyu. He defended his WBC – WBA – IBF titles back in January of 2003 against Jessie James Leija, so it has been fourteen years since the last time we saw this happen at the 140 pounds division.

Next Saturday, on August 19, we won’t only have the chance to see if the lion from Namibia, veteran Julius Indongo can become undisputed champion, but also, we could witness boxing history after the final bell. As for Bud, this win could set him apart from the rest of current the American Champions.
Last time I recall that a World Champion from Omaha, Nebraska faced a hungry determined veteran lion, being also the huge favorite 10 to 1, he lost. Can you guess the name of the fighters?

Hopefully we won’t need another fourteen years gap to see an undisputed light welter champion again. I bet that there are fight fans that didn’t recall the last 140 pounds undisputed king, but does the reader knows who will become the next one?