Israil Madrimov, WBA junior middleweight champion, is a real threat to superstar Terence Crawford in his move to a fourth weight class on August 3rd at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles.
Crawford’s Past Success and Overconfidence
Crawford (40-0, 31 KOs) wants to show that he’s a credible threat to Canelo Alvarez by picking off a world title at 154 first against what many believe to be the most dangerous fighter at the weight, Madrimov (10-0-1, 7 KOs).
The success that the 36-year-old Crawford has enjoyed in three weight divisions has boosted self-confidence to the point where he feels infallible, believing that he’ll do to Madrimov what he did to these fighters to gather up his world titles:
– Errol Spence: IBF, WBA & WBC 147
– Jeff Horn: WBO 147
– Julius Indongo: IBF & WBA 140
– Viktor Postol: WBC & Ring 140
– Thomas Dulorme: WBO 140
– Ray Beltron: Ring 135
– Ricky Burns: WBO 135
These are the fighters against whom Crawford captured all his world titles during his 16-year professional career. None of them are on the level of Madrimov, and Crawford could find out that what he did in the lower weight classes doesn’t translate to what he will be dealing with on August 3rd against Madrimov.
In boxing, fighters who look like 24k gold when matched against fighters at a certain level get found out when they’re finally put in with someone with actual talent. That could be Crawford’s fate.
Spence was an excellent fighter years ago, but by the time Crawford got to him, he was null and void. Skills eroded from two car crashes, rich foods, inactivity, and ring wars.
Madrimov: A Real and Present Danger
“I think it’s a big threat. He doesn’t have that much pro experience, but he’s got a tremendous amateur background,” said boxing expert Chris Algieri to Probox TV, talking about Israil Madrimov ahead of the title defense of his WBA junior middleweight belt against Terence Crawford on August 3rd.
Madrimov is a tremendous threat to Crawford, who has been lapping up the praise from his win over Spence for a solid year, sitting around enjoying himself.
Now, Crawford is moving up to 154 to face the killer Madrimov, who would easily wipe every opponent Terence has on his 40-fight resume and have a better-looking record.
Crawford’s Inactivity and Age
Terence’s inactivity and lack of preparation are two things going against him in this dangerous fight against Madrimov. But the clincher is Crawford’s advanced age.
Terence turns 37 on September 28th, one month after his August 3rd fight against Madrimov. No matter how you want to spin it, 37 isn’t young for a fighter moving up from 147, especially when they’ve been on a winning lap for 13 months.
Like any job, it won’t be as easy if you stop working for a year and return after sitting on your duff. Crawford is begging for trouble going into this match against Madrimov, and he will get it unless he’s found the fountain of youth troth to drink from.
“He’s physically strong and a good-sized junior middleweight. He’s super athletic. He’s one of those guys who does backflips after his fights. I’ve seen him do things in the ring that speaks to his athleticism, his strength, his physical power, and obviously, he has the boxing skill,” said Algieri.
Madrimov’s ability to change angles on his attacks and the power he can generate when he’s seemingly not set on his feet is uncanny. He has natural power that doesn’t rely on him needing to load up. The way he does it is comparable to Artur Beterbiev, who throws power with short punches without loading up.
“He’s very confident. As he said, ‘He’s coming up to my weight class,’” Algieri continued about Madrimov. “This is Crawford’s fourth attempt at a different weight class, fighting for a world title, and he’s got a guy there who wants to defend what he’s got.”
Madrimov’s Home Turf
154 is Madrimov’s weight class, and Crawford is entering his territory, a newcomer having to change his body structure through added weight from hitting the iron. That weight is going to slow Crawford down, and it’s not going to give him the power of the naturally bigger and stronger Madrimov.
Tying a rocket to a skateboard isn’t going to turn Crawford into something he wasn’t designed to be. His natural weight class as closer to 140, although he’s bulked up to 147 and picked off a handful of older, weaker fighters at the end of the line.
“I think Israil Madrimov has the right idea. The Joel Diaz aspect is really important. If he brings his best version of himself, he’s very much a threat to even the great Terence Crawford,” said Algieri.
“You talk about inexperience. Stop. Everybody is saying, ‘He only has ten fights. Crawford is fighting somebody with ten fights.’ This dude had 300 amateur fights,” said Tim Bradley about Israil Madrimov. “He’s a pro.”
Madrimov has more experience than Crawford, and he’s done it against better opposition in the amateurs. The guys that Crawford has fought in the pro ranks haven’t been stellar. When he did step up against well-known fighters who were once great talents, they were old and depleted.
Crawford’s Past Victories Against Older Fighters
– Errol Spence
– Shawn Porter
– Yuriorkis Gamboa
– Ricky Burns
– Viktor Postol
– Kell Brook
Those are the best names that Crawford has on his resume, and in each case, they were old and past it when he fought them.
“He’s a world champion,” said Paulie Malignaggi about Madrimov.
“The Cubans, Uzbekistans, and Russians, they stay in the amateur game for a very long time. They’re pretty much pros,” said Bradley. “This guy’s first professional fight, he went ten rounds. Who does that? Nobody.” said Bradley, talking about Madrimov’s pro debut against Vladimir Hernandez on November 24, 2018, which he won by a sixth-round TKO in Atlantic City, New Jersey.
Madrimov hit the ground running when he turned pro in 2018, and he wasn’t babied by his promoters like other fighters with a long amateur background. He’s followed in the footsteps of Vasily Lomachenko by immediately stepping into longer fights and facing good opposition without being brought along for seven to ten years before fighting for a world title.
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