Crawford vs. Madrimov Preview
For the first time ever BMO stadium in Los Angeles, California will host a boxing event on Saturday, August 3rd. The main event will feature the best pound for pound boxer in the world Terence Crawford as he challenges Israil Madrimov for the WBA “super” junior middleweight title and for the vacant WBO interim junior middleweight title.
Crawford (40-0, 31 KO) has held multiple world championships in three weight classes and is one of only three boxers in history to become an undisputed champion in two weight classes during the four-belt era. He most recently defeated Errol Spence Jr. by ninth round TKO to retain the WBO welterweight title and win the WBA “super”, WBC and IBF titles.
Despite being the favorite in this fight, many pundits are commenting on how much bigger Madrimov is than Crawford. The challenger commented, “He bigger than me. Everybody bigger than me, but come fight time I always had the ability to show that I was stronger. Bigger don’t mean stronger. It’s just his body type. I’m very lean, my muscle is very compact. That don’t have nothing to do with the ability and skills come fight time,” said Crawford.
At 36 years old, Crawford has continued to silence his critics. How does he feel heading into this fight? “I’m feeling great. I’m ready to fight but all my people always try to remind me to enjoy the moment because one day it’s all going to be gone, so embrace it while you can,” Crawford said.
He continued, “Like I always say everything happens for a reason,” Crawford continues, “and for that reason God didn’t bless me then, but he blessed me now when I’m more mature and can handle everything that comes my way. Who knows where I would have been had I got everything that I wanted when he was younger and immature.”
In his career, Crawford has had 15 title defenses and he has not had a fight go to a decision since 2016. Aside from Spence, he has had key victories over Shawn Porter, Kell Brook, Amir Khan, Jose Benavidez Jr, Julius Indongo, Felix Diaz, Viktor Postol, Thomas Dulorme, Ray Beltran, Yuriorkis Gamboa and Ricky Burns. There is a reported super-fight in the works with all-time great Canelo Alvarez, but Crawford will need to stay focused on Madrimov and not look ahead to a seven-figure payday.
Madrimov (10-0-1, 7 KO) is coming off a fifth round TKO in March over Magomed Kurbanov to win the vacant WBA “super” junior middleweight title. The 29-year-old has ignored the hype about size heading into this fight and knows he has to be at the top of his game against Crawford.
“Our training has been good and I’m feeling great,” Madrimov said. “I want to make a good game plan and it will be a great fight on Saturday. I don’t think this fight is about the size, it’s about the experience and knowledge he can use. This division is my division and I’m the champion, I have to defend the belt.”
The champion he has prepared well to defend a title in this weight class, even if it is against an all-timer like Crawford. "This is my weight and I was fighting at an even higher weight class than 154 pounds as an amateur, so I feel comfortable and strong at this weight," Madrimov said. "People can say whatever they want [about experience], but I'm not paying too much attention to it. I've had good fights against the right opponents to prepare me for this fight versus Crawford. Also, with all the international experience as an amateur, along with the professional fights, I'm well prepared for this moment. I'm at my peak."]
He concluded, "In one moment I can change my life and my family's life, and my friends' lives," Madrimov said. "I will be ready because it is an opportunity for me, my family and my country."
The main event can be seen on ESPN+ PPV
