By Keith Idec

More than any current champion that typically fights right-handed, Terence Crawford has had sustained success switching to a southpaw stance.

The undefeated Crawford is completely comfortable fighting left-handed and his ability to switch back and forth has regularly presented problems his opponents couldn’t overcome. Sometimes southpaws have difficulty fighting one another, but Crawford can’t envision any such issues prohibiting from defeating Felix Diaz on Saturday night at Madison Square Garden.

The 33-year-old Diaz (19-1, 9 KOs) the first true southpaw Crawford will have fought since his career-changing victory over Breidis Prescott four years ago.

You need not look any further than how Crawford reacted when Hank Lundy switched to a southpaw stance last year to understand why Crawford’s confidence is so high. Crawford (30-0, 21 KOs) hurt Lundy multiple times when Lundy went southpaw and stopped Lundy in the fifth round last February 27 in The Theater at Madison Square Garden.

“I’m prepared for whatever,” Crawford said during a recent conference call. “I’ve fought left-handers before in the amateurs and pro, and it won’t be no different come Saturday night.”

Red Spikes, Crawford’s assistant trainer, seconded Crawford’s sentiments.

“He was No. 1 in the amateurs for three years in a row,” Spikes said. “Done fought all over the world and fought Cubans, Canadians, Venezuelans, left-hand, right-hand, tall, short. I mean, he’s one of the best in the game at adapting, so he’ll be OK Saturday night.”

Diaz isn’t sure how much Crawford will turn southpaw against him, but the Dominican contender is ready for anything.

“It all depends on Crawford,” Diaz said. “When he sees what I’m bringing in, he’s gonna try to adjust to me. I really can’t answer that question until I get in that ring and see. I don’t anticipate what he’s gonna do until I get in the ring.”

The Dominican Republic’s Diaz believes it is Crawford who will have trouble adjusting once the bell rings to star their HBO “World Championship Boxing” main event.

“With my style, I feel like I can beat Terence Crawford,” Diaz said. “Crawford hasn’t ever fought anyone like me. I just feel like, stylistically, I can beat him.”

Keith Idec is a senior writer/columnist for BoxingScene.com. He can be reached on Twitter @Idecboxing.