Namibian boxer and WBA super-lightweight Champion Julius Indongo is set to face unbeaten two-belt world champion, Terence Crawford on August 19, in a junior-welterweight title bout.
Both fighters will be looking to maintain an unbeaten run, but for Indongo, the undefeated ‘Blue Machine’, he is one win away from becoming boxing’s only active four-belt unified champion.
He became the World Super-Lightweight Champion in April after seeing off Ricky Burns and will be looking to take more than just a title-win from Crawford, a WBC and WBO titlist, at the Pinnacle Bank Arena in Nebraska.
“I’m under no pressure at all,” Indongo said.
[perfectpullquote align=”full” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]”I’m going to Nebraska, USA, to wrestle those titles away from Crawford and it does not bother me that I’m going into his own backyard.[/perfectpullquote]
“As a team, we have a strategy and perfect game plan for Crawford, so I’m really not concerned with what my opponent has in store for me or the pressure of fighting in the States,” he added.
Representing his country and Africa has given him extra motivation ahead of his fight against a boxer known as one of the best pound-for-pound fighters in the world (31-0, 22 knockouts).
Idongo’s stats, however, are not to be overlooked – 22-0, 12 KOs – despite going to fight America’s best fighter in the country’s heartland, Lincoln, Nebraska.
[perfectpullquote align=”full” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]”Fighting at this level is not only about me but it’s about my country and Africa at large. So, I have to beat Crawford for Africa and for my country. Not many African boxers get this opportunity and that’s why I have to inspire my fellow African boxers,”[/perfectpullquote]
he added.
The match will air on ESPN beginning at 10 p.m. ET, Sky Sports (UK) 3 a.m. BST.
Featured Photo: Getty Images
