Terence Crawford might be dealing with his second of fact this Saturday, August third, when he takes on Israil Madrimov in Los Angeles. The Crawford-Madrimov Riyadh Season occasion begins at 6:00 p.m. ET on DAZN and ESPN+ PPV and prices $79.99.
The mobility, energy, youth, and pinpoint photographs of Madrimov (10-0-1, 7 KOs) might current many issues for Crawford (40-0, 31 KOs), rising from one other certainly one of his lengthy layoffs at 36. This might be a actuality test for Crawford, dealing with a man he can’t beat.
We’ll discover out shortly on Saturday how properly Crawford can take the ability from the most important puncher within the 154-lb division. Madrimov isn’t the quickest puncher, however his GGG-esque energy makes him a nightmare for anybody he faces. I don’t see this ending properly for Crawford.
Too many issues are going in opposition to him, beginning along with his superior age. He turns 37 in September, and he’s bodily aged within the final yr from having fun with the reward from followers after his greatest profession win over Errol Spence in July 2023. The opposite issues that Crawford faces:
– Combating at 154 with no expertise
– Getting hit by the most important profession puncher
– Not completely centered: Fixated on Canelo combat
– Semi-retired
– Returning for unsuitable causes:
Crawford can’t afford to face in entrance of Madrimov and combat him like he did his current opponents at 147 with out getting damage; the clinching and wrestling that Crawford makes use of as his predominant neutralizing software in opposition to energy punchers isn’t prone to work in opposition to Madrimov as a result of he is aware of learn how to combat these guys.
Crawford’s Potential Downfall
Popping out of his den yearly could lastly come again to chew Crawford on his bottom this Saturday evening. The Omaha, Nebraska fighter Crawford could uncover that he’s reached too excessive by getting into the 154-lb weight class that he wasn’t designed bodily to compete at.
It’s a a lot completely different story for Crawford than becoming in opposition to smaller, older, past-their-prime fighters within the smaller weight courses
For the $79.99, there are a variety of wonderful fights with these matches:
- David Morrell vs. Radivoje Kalajdzic
- Isaac ‘Pitbull’ Cruz vs. Jose ‘Rayo’ Valenzuela
- Jared Anderson vs. Martin Bakole
- Andy Ruiz Jr. Vs. Jarrell Miller
- Andy Cruz vs. Antonio Moran
As soon as Crawford will get a style of Madrimov’s GGG-like energy, he might be in for an actual shock on this combat. It might make him understand that he made a giant mistake deciding on this expertise after 13 months of inactivity.
Crawford has been hit by punches in different weight courses, however they’re nothing like what Madrimov will tag him with. This may instantly change the way in which Crawford fights, making him defensive. He hopes he can win an unsightly choice by jabbing, transferring, and holding all evening.
That received’t work in opposition to Madrimov, who usually fought these slick, hit-and-not-get-hit, point-scoring fighters throughout his lengthy beginner profession.
Madrimov, 29, has fought his whole profession at 154. He seems and punches with the identical energy as Canelo Alvarez and will present that what Crawford did within the smaller weight courses at 135, 140, and 147 will probably be ineffective to him now.
A Cinderella Second for Madrimov
Promoter Eddie Hearn predicts a knockout victory for Madrimov over Crawford that may rework the Uzbek fighter right into a celebrity. That is Madrimov’s Cinderella second; sadly for Crawford, he’s the outdated lion he should tear aside to develop into the star.
All of the pre-planning that Crawford, his group, and His Excellency Turki Alalshikh are doing, speaking about desirous to do the Canelo combat or one other mega-fight subsequent, might evaporate on Saturday evening underneath the ability fists of Madrimov.
Crawford might be delivered to earth on this combat and be made to understand that he hasn’t been placing within the work in his profession the way in which he ought to by treating it like a part-time job along with his once-a-year schedule.
The Danger of Inactivity
That is how well-known fighters from the previous, like Sugar Ray Leonard and Oscar De La Hoya, got here aside. They hardly ever fought in the direction of the top of their careers, taking a very long time off between fights, solely on the lookout for the massive paydays, and getting overwhelmed.
Whereas most followers consider Crawford will win like he all the time does and make it look simple, I don’t suppose that may occur right here. Not like the fighters that Crawford has routinely overwhelmed throughout his 16-year profession, Madrimov is the true factor.
