WHEN either watching or covering this sport, far more important than learning how to analyse matchups between two boxers is an understanding of the intricacies of one matchup in particular: Expectation vs Reality.
Often, this is a mismatch – as big a mismatch as you’ll find in a sport in which mismatches are a staple. However, occasionally you will find yourself surprised to discover the reality is better than the expectation. Call it an upset of sorts. Call it an apology for all the mismatches. In the case of Naoya Inoue and Terence Crawford, call it Christmas in July. Unexpected, but most welcome, that pair last week managed to produce two of the finest performances
