Eddie Hearn says Israil Madrimov is able to knockout Terence Crawford on August third and “spoil” His Excellency Turki Alalshikh’s plans for a battle between the Nebraska native and Canelo Alvarez for early subsequent yr.
Crawford (40-0, 31 KOs) is transferring as much as 154 with the thought of utilizing WBA junior middleweight champion Madrimov (10-0-1, 7 KOs) as a launch pad to get a title shot in opposition to four-belt 168-lb champion Canelo within the first quarter of 2025, hoping to seize his third division undisputed championship.
A Movie star Match within the Making?
There’s a celebrity-level to Crawford transferring up two divisions from 154 to 168 and getting a direct title shot in opposition to undisputed tremendous middleweight champion Canelo, however that’s going to go over the pinnacle of informal boxing followers, who could be none the wiser that Terence is breaking the principles of how the game is usually carried out.
Madrimov could be doing the game a very good flip if he ruined the plans for the superstar match, and the contenders at 168 could be the primary to thank him for his good deed.
If Crawford desires to battle Canelo for his belts, he ought to earn it like different hard-working contenders at 168 by slogging by way of the salt mines in opposition to killers like David Benavidez, Christian Mbilli, David Morrell Jr, Caleb Plant, and Diego Pacheco.
Normally, fighters compete in a weight class, work exhausting to earn a title shot by climbing the rankings, and get an opportunity to battle a world champion in the event that they’re ok. Crawford received’t have to try this. He’ll simply be given the title shot in opposition to Canelo, which is completely unfair to the contenders that he’ll be leaping forward.
Once more, Canelo-Crawford is a gloried superstar match. Nevertheless, Madrimov is the roadblock that stands in entrance of the farce, and he can spoil His Excellency’s plans by knocking out Crawford, sending him again to 147 from whence he got here.
Madrimov to Spoil the Occasion
“I despatched a message to His Excellency yesterday, saying, ‘I’m actually sorry to spoil your plans for Terence Crawford as a result of all that individuals are speaking about is what occurs subsequent. Canelo Alvarez, Boots Ennis,’” stated Eddie Hearn to Matchroom Boxing about his perception that Israil Madrimov will defeat Terence Crawford on August third of their battle on ESPN+ PPV in Los Angeles.
If the 36-year-old Crawford is overwhelmed by Israil Madrimov on August third, it might be a giant comedown for him, however it might be a very good lesson for different fighters to be taught.
While you wish to battle for world titles, you don’t sit out of the ring for a whole yr after which return after 13 months to get a direct world title shot in a brand new weight class that you simply’ve by no means competed in at 36.
“Israil Madrimov is the hardest check of his [Crawford] profession up at 154 kilos,” stated Hearn. “He’s an enormous, mild middleweight, punches very exhausting, has super motion, good boxing IQ, and has an impressive beginner pedigree as properly. This can be a actual, actual battle.”
Crawford’s finest opponents had been all guys Madrimov would wax in inside 5 rounds. There’s no identify on Crawford’s 16-year resume that Madrimov wouldn’t knockout and be sitting on a gleaming 24k gold 40-0 document with 40 knockouts. That might be top-of-the-line information of all time, and Madrimov would personal it if he fought Crawford’s opposition.
“We like our spot on this battle, ignored, the underdog, however with Uzbek energy, and he’s able to knock Terence Crawford out in Los Angeles,” Hearn stated. “He must be good, however he has to make use of his belongings, his motion, his angles, and his energy as properly.”
Informal boxing followers overlook Madrimov as a menace to Crawford, not the hardcore ones who comply with the game. They know what Crawford is up in opposition to, and he and his coach, Brian ‘BoMac’ McIntyre, do too. In the event that they didn’t, they wouldn’t be coaching feverishly, attempting to show again the clock to search out sufficient youth to win this harmful battle.
“Crawford is an impressive fighter. Make no mistake, Israil Madrimov is a giant underdog on this battle, however he’s a stay underdog,” stated Hearn. “He’s somebody who could be very snug and assured in that ring, believes in himself, and believes victory is upon him. He has an excellent workforce of individuals as properly and an entire nation behind him.”
It doesn’t matter whether or not Madrimov is an underdog or not. What’s necessary to consider is the age of Crawford, inactivity, his previous degree of opposition, and the way he views Madrimov as a stepping stone to get the profitable battle in opposition to Canelo in 2025.
Hearn didn’t say whether or not it was Crawford’s concept to face Madrimov, however I imagine His Excellency selected this battle. If not, Crawford would go straight to the Canelo battle for the payday if it had been provided to him for the taking with none strings hooked up.
“Each time Madrimov goes dwelling, he’s like a prince, however that is going to show him right into a king in Uzbekistan, and the entire nation is behind him, prepared for August third. That is the one which takes him world. That is the battle that turns Israil Madrimov right into a famous person,” stated Hearn.
The Aftermath of a Crawford Loss
A victory for Madrimov over Crawford would rework him right into a king in Uzbekistan, flip him right into a star within the U.S., and open the door to a battle in opposition to Canelo. That might be a Canelo vs. prime GGG match-up, creating a lot curiosity from boxing followers.
The place Crawford would go after a knockout loss to Madrimov is unclear. The plain alternative could be for him to return to welterweight to face Boots Ennis in a battle many boxing followers would nonetheless be troubled to see.
