Terence Crawford identifies three opponents who were ‘tougher’ than Israil Madrimov

Terence Crawford believes that he’s had tougher fights than Israil Madrimov after edging past the Uzbek to claim a junior middleweight belt.

Crawford took on Madrimov at the BMO Stadium in Los Angeles (August 3) in an attempt to conquer a fourth weight division after previously holding titles from lightweight up to welterweight. Crawford was successful in dethroning Madrimov, with the judges making him a narrow winner (115-113 twice and 116-112).

Madrimov, 29, stayed disciplined throughout the contest, picking his moments to land his right hand on the 36-year-old. He frustrated Crawford who seemed unable to counter as effectively as he normally would do. However, the favourite claimed to be happy with his performance and, after some doubted that he was big enough to compete at 154 pounds, insisted it was no different from welterweight.

“I feel great,” said Crawford. “It was one of those missions that we were on, and I wasn’t going to let nobody, or nothing take it away from us. I felt great, it was no different from 147, to be honest, Israil [Madrimov] was just a strong opponent.

“The right hand wasn’t bothering me; I wasn’t worried too much about the right hand. He landed it a couple of times at the end of the round when he was trying to steal the round. I was trying to counter but at the same time he had a good game plan, had a lot of feints, and I was just trying to dictate when he was going to come – a lot of times I was wrong.

At the sound of the final bell, there was an uncertainness around ringside about who would be awarded the decision. The judges ultimately favored Crawford but another round to Madrimov would have seen the fight end a draw. Regardless, Crawford insisted he’d been in more difficult fights.

“I wouldn’t say it was my toughest fight,” Crawford said. “I think Mean Machine [Kavaliauskas] was a tougher fight than that, I think Gamboa was a tougher fight, I think Benavidez was a tougher fight. I may have got the knockout, but they were tough fights in their own right.

“I was touching him up with the jab, I think my jab was beating him up all through the fight. He landed a couple of right hands that were telling for the judges or the fans, but it was nothing that I had never seen before.”

Madrimov had impressed fans who had doubted his skills and abilities because he’d only had 11 prior professional contests. However, Crawford  was well aware of his opponent’s pedigree after he competed in over 300 amateur fights.

“We knew he had good movement, we knew he was strong, we knew he was durable,” he continued. “If I was to say anything that surprised me it would be his patience, he was real patient in there. I wouldn’t say he surprised me with 10 fights because you’ve got to understand he’s got over 300 amateur fights.

“He knows how to fight, he knows how to move around in the ring, he knows how to capitalize on peoples’ mistakes, and he’s been around the game a minute now. Just because he’s got 10 fights that doesn’t mean nothing, look at Lomachenko and all these other fighters that are getting title shots with 15 fights, two fights, because they are on a fast track because of their amateur pedigree.”

When the scorecards were read out Madrimov’s promoter Eddie Hearn initiated protests in the ring that the wrong man had his hand raised. 

“You’ve got to understand that’s his fighter, he’s going to say anything he can to hype it up,” Crawford observed. “He knows that guy lost, and so does his team, and so does [Madrimov].”

The 36-year-old has openly stated his desire to face Canelo Alvarez up at super middleweight but joked, “I don’t know, we’ll see,” when asked if the Mexican is next.

One man it seems Crawford won’t be facing is his old welterweight rival, Errol Spence. He quickly put an end to speculation with one word when he was asked if he would entertain a rematch. He answered, “Nah.”