Promoter Eddie Hearn insists that former WBA junior middleweight champion Israil Madrimov deserved the win over challenger Terence Crawford on August 3rd in Los Angeles.
Hearn has found some solace in that approximately 30% of the fans believe that Madrimov (10-1-1, 7 KOs) deserved the win over Crawford (41-0, 31 KOs). The judges gave it to Crawford by a 12-round unanimous decision, with scores of 116-112, 115-113, and 115-113.
Crawford was forced to go the distance for the first time since 2016, snapping an 11-fight knockout streak. Although many fans felt afterward that Crawford could have knocked out Madrimov if he’d come into the fight guns blazing. Even when he let his hands go, he got tagged by shots that made him think twice about fighting aggressively.
“I think he probably didn’t like that I thought Madrimov edged the fight. Some did [think Madrimov deserved the win against Terence Crawford],” said Eddie Hearn to Matchroom Boxing about what led to an exchange between him and Terence Crawford on social media the week after his victory over WBA junior middleweight champion Israil Madrimov on August 3rd.
Crawford controlled the fight with his jabbing, and he took advantage of Madrimov’s lack of aggressiveness, as he needed to win rounds. He landed many hard right hands, but he spent too much time using feints instead of using his power and size to overpower the weaker, older Crawford.
“The response I’ve seen, 70-30 Crawford-Madrimov. So, I’m within my right as those other 30% were that Madrimov won the fight, and if you didn’t think Madrimov won the fight, you know it was a close fight,” said Hearn.
“Then he [Crawford] posted a picture of me looking a little upset in the ring, saying, ‘ Are you okay, Eddie Hearn,’ and I went back and reminded him that it was a very close fight, and I thought I did a good job to promote it. He said, ‘Don’t take the glory of Riyadh Season. You couldn’t do an event like that,’” said Hearn.
It wasn’t the type of victory for Crawford to boast about afterward because it was not impressive. Fans who like to watch pure boxing are happy with what they see, but most fans, especially the ones on the West Coast, are bored.
They wanted action like the undercard fight between heavyweights Jared Anderson and Martin Bakole. Those two stole the show from the main event. Crawford fought cautiously, and so did Madrimov, who looked intimidated. The event was too big for him, and he appeared afraid to fight aggressively.
“Listen, the event was amazing. I just said, ‘Check my track record. Joshua-Klitschko, Joshua-Parker, Joshua-Ruiz, Canelo-Billy Joe Saunders, Canelo-Golovkin, Canelo-Bivol and Taylor-Serrano. The list goes on over a decade.
“It was alright. It was a good bit of back and forth [with Crawford]. I think me and Terence are a good double act. Whether he wants me to be part of the act or not, I think it’s been good for both of us. I think people have seen that side of Terence Crawford,” said Hearn.
The back-and-forth that Hearn did with Crawford in the lead-up to the Madrimov fight was good for the promotion and for his career. Madrimov wasn’t doing much talking to promote the event and needed an interpreter much of the time, which took away a lot of the interest in the fight. Hearn stepped in, helped, and did an excellent job of drawing out the reserved Crawford.
“I think the promotion was incredible from us and from Riyadh Season. It was a team effort to create an incredible event. I think his profile went through the roof off the back of that, and it was a great night for Terence Crawford and a great victory.
“I’m also always going to speak my mind. I’m not going to sugarcoat what I think happened. I think Madrimov edged the fight in a very close fight. Congratulations to him, and hopefully, we can work together in the future,” said Hearn.
It’s good that Hearn speaks his mind about his fighter, Madrimov, because he was going up against the more popular fighter, Crawford, and there was little chance he would be given a fair shake regarding the judging.
When there’s that much of an imbalance in popularity, it’s almost impossible for the B-side fighter to win a decision. It doesn’t matter if they hold titles because belts mean nothing in this era.
Read the full article here
