HBO Boxing Crawford vs Postol PPV live results, discussion, round by round coverage

Tonight is a big fight for boxing as Terence Crawford meets Viktor Postol live on PPV. Like the Thurman vs. Porter fight from last month, this is the kind of fight you want to see in boxing. It's two undefeated fighters, both in their prime, and both standing at the very top of the division. One man will claim supremacy at 140 pounds tonight, and it should be a great fight that determines who. The one downside is that, due to some budgetary concerns at HBO, it's on PPV, which means probably fewer fans will tune in to see it. And that's a shame, as this could be one of the year's best fights.

Also on the card is Oscar Valdez vs. Matias Rueda in a showcase fight for Valdez that is now for the vacant WBO Featherweight title; Jose Benavidez vs. Francisco Santana; and a look at rising Light Heavyweight Oleksandr Gvozdyk.

HBO Boxing Crawford vs. Postol airs live on PPV tonight, Saturday July 23 with a fight time of 9:00 p.m. ET / 6:00 p.m. PT. For more on the card, check out our Bloody Elbow fight preview, and also follow our colleagues at Bad Left Hook.

Terence Crawford vs. Viktor Postol

R1: Very tentative, feeling out round here with few punches landed or thrown. Postol using his reach well though - that looks like it will be a factor in this fight, as he never allowed Crawford to get past it and get inside. 10-9 Postol

R2: The majority of the round was similar to round 2 - slow, tentative, and favoring Postol thanks to his reach. Crawford got inside a few times, but it ended up in both men tied up. Late in the round, Crawford landed a solid left hand, best punch of the fight so far for either man. 10-9 Crawford

R3: Both men looking for the counters here, but both are also aware that the other man is looking to counter, so are tentative to throw. The result is a very technical, but so far not tremendously exciting fight. Postol finds a home for his right hand a few times here, though not enough to make a significant impact. 10-9 Postol

R4: Crawford lands a hard shot early in the round, Psotol bites down and comes back angry, Crawford responds and it is on. Pace picks up here, but that faster pace and more wild style favors Crawford, who lands better shots here, inc.luing some stiff inside shots as Postol tried to tie him up. Most dominant round of the fight so far. 10-9 Crawford

R5: First punch of the round drops Viktor Postol - the first time he has been down in his career. He pops right back up, but that's a down. From there, Crawford is feeling it as he is loose and in control. A minute later, Crawford flurries, Postol is staggered, his glove touches the mat, and he's counted down again. Postol is not badly hurt here, but Crawford's power is superior, and it's obviously making a difference. 10-7 Crawford

R6: Postol clearly has lost a little bit of steam here, as his footwork is not as crisp and he is now struggling to either land on Crawford or keep him off. Crawford uses his movement well and is able to land more effectively - nothing as dramatic as last round, but this has become Terence Crawford's fight. 10-9 Crawford

R7: Before the round, Freddie Roach implored Postol to cut off the ring, but that's not happening, and it's an issue. Crawford continues to circle on the outside, forcing Postol to chase him, and Postol doesn't have an answer for that. Crawford evades well, and at times finds the right angle to land clean, leaving Postol confused and somewhat visibly flustered at times. 10-9 Crawford

R8: Twice in the round, Crawford lands hard shots that stagger Postol and very nearly send him to the mat. Crawford continues to move, often without throwing, but even when he's not throwing a lot, Postol can't find him. At this point, it doesn't seem like Postol has a plan that will lead him to victory as after an interesting opening few rounds, Crawford is now completely dominating. 10-9 Crawford

R9: Halfway through the round, Crawford jumps inside, lands a stiff 1-2, and hurts Postol badly. Postol goes into full retreat mode, Crawford tries for the kill, but Postol quickly recovers and things get back into their now established groove. CompuBox had Postol as landing just 1 punch in the round. 10-9 Crawford

R10: Biggest drama in this round comes from Harold Lederman suggesting Crawford could get the KO if he wasn't so complacent, only for Lampley and Kellerman to shred him for that comment for two minutes straight. As for Crawford and Postol - Postol continues to paw with the right and not catch much, while Crawford lands enough to get things done. 10-9 Crawford

R11: To his credit, Postol comes in to this round clearly knowing something has to change, and works to push the pressure on Crawford. He lands some decent punches, but gets a bit too wild, hits the back of the head, and referee Tony Weeks docks him a point. Crawford lands a clean combo at the end of the round to take what was otherwise the closest round since the 3rd. 10-8 Crawford

R12: Postol comes out hard, looking for the Hail Mary KO win. He throws hard and wild in the beginning and manages to land, but every time he does, Crawford lands as well - and Crawford has the power. By the last minute, Postol has given his last gasp, and Crawford closes the fight dancing and showboating. 10-9 Crawford; 118-107 Crawford at the end of the fight

• Terence Crawford def. Viktor Postol by unanimous decision (118-107, 118-107, 117-108)

Oscar Valdez vs. Matias Rueda

Valdez came out firing with an aggressive start and never let Rueda in it. He won round 1, and in round 2 landed a stiff left to the liver that forced Rueda to take a knee. He got back up, Valdez swarmed, landed that same punch, and Rueda went down again. This time, referee Russell Mora waves it off.

• Oscar Valdez def. Matias Rueda by KO (liver shot) R2 2:18

Jose Benavidez vs. Francisco Santana

Close, hard to call fight, with both fighters having success at times. Benavidez came out strong in the first two rounds, but starting in round 3, he was overly willing to lay against the ropes and let Santana unload, costing him the rounds. In the back half, Santana showed a ton of fire, but Benavidez seemed to have the superior technique. Hard fight to call, but a very good fight overall. The right man won, but judge Adalaide Byrd turned in a truly terrible 100-90 scorecard.

• Jose Benavidez def. Francisco Santana by unanimous decision (100-90, 96-94, 98-92)

Oleksandr Gvozdyk vs. Tommy Karpency

Heavy favorite Gvozdyk was knocked down in round 1 from a Karpency right hook. He got to his feet, and pretty quickly took control, showing strong boxing and movement to outland Karpency, winning every round. In round 5, Karpency is cut - he comes back with a flurry, but Gvozdyk deals with it. In round 6, Karpency takes a knee off a Gvozdyk body shot. His corner urges him to get up, but he's decided he's had enough and stays down.

• Oleksandr Gvozdyk def. Tommy Karpency by KO (body shot) R6 2:21