Terence Crawford’s teammate, Steven Nelson, says IBF junior middleweight champion Bakhram Murtazaliev brings nothing greater than his previous opponents, and he charges former WBA 154-lb champ Israil Madrimov above him.
Nelson sees Murtazaliev (23-0, 17 KOs) has a “Primary model,” and he feels he’s simply “robust.” He says Tim Tszyu misplaced as a result of he “couldn’t climate the storm” in opposition to Murtazaliev final Saturday evening in his third-round knockout loss in Orlando, Florida.
Nelson feels the 37-year-old Crawford (41-0, 31 KOs) is a “completely different beast” than Murtazaliev. He explains why Crawford struggled so badly in opposition to the 11-fight professional Madrimov on August third due to his “Herky-jerky” model. Crawford got here near dropping to Madrimov. He was given a slim 12-round unanimous resolution in a struggle that seemed to be both a draw or a win for Madrimov.
The truth that Crawford doesn’t need to struggle Murtazaliev suggests to followers that he’s not assured that he may win the struggle. It’s nice that Nelson is prepared to hold the water for Crawford, however the actuality is he’s not prepared to struggle Murtazaliev. That’s an computerized loss for Crawford.
Followers really feel that Crawford is afraid of Murtazaliev, and would lose to him if he had the braveness to struggle him in a unification contest.
“He doesn’t present something completely different from the opponent’s Bud fought,” stated Steven Nelson to Fighthype, speaking about Bakhram Murtazaliev not bringing something completely different than Terence Crawford’s previous opponent.
Murtazaliev is solely completely different than anybody Crawford has fought throughout his profession. His model was nothing like Madrimov, who used plenty of feints in opposition to Crawford and solely threw proper arms. Murtazaliev punches with each arms and has a strong left hook. The opposite Japanese European fighter Crawford fought throughout his 16-year profession was Viktor Postol in 2016, however his model was completely different, too. Postol was skinny and tall, and extra of a quantity puncher than a slugger.
“The man that Bud simply fought, [Israil] Madrimov, he was a troublesome opponent becasue he offered one thing completely different, that herky-jerky model. It’s onerous to select that up as a result of it’s so unpredictable. The man that simply fought Tim Tszyu has a fundamental model. He’s simply robust,” stated Nelson about Murtazaliev.
Madrimov was a really robust opponent for Crawford. He by no means found out Madrimov, and was hit so much in that struggle. You possibly can see age in Crawford, as he’d gotten outdated since his struggle in opposition to Errol Spence in 2023. Furthermore, his punching energy didn’t carry up from the welterweight division to junior middleweight.
“Tszyu couldn’t climate that storm, however Bud’s a distinct beast. Bud is a distinct sort of dude from being in camp with him,” stated Nelson. “Not simply in boxing. That’s how he’s with every thing. He’s tremendous aggressive, and he’s going to push it to the restrict it doesn’t matter what it’s.”
Crawford is completely different than Tszyu, however he would nonetheless have many issues in opposition to Murtazaliev and would seemingly lose. He lacks the dimensions, energy, and aggressiveness to win in opposition to a fighter like Murtazaliev. Crawford’s greatest hope could be enjoying it secure, going the 12-round distance, and hoping the judges worth his motion over the offense and energy of Murtazaliev.
“I feel Bud beat one of the best guys at 154,” stated Nelson about Crawford’s win over Madrimov on August third. “He [Madrimov] solely had 11 fights. Individuals use that to speak down on Bud. That dude had expertise, and he was robust. Fighters from abroad are completely different and have extra expertise than a fighter from America that’s 10-0.
“What motivates him is making historical past and stamping himself within the Corridor of Fame ceaselessly. Why is he apprehensive about what the followers need? Proper now, it’s about legacy,” stated Nelson about Crawford.
