Having become undisputed welterweight world champion this time twelve months ago after dismantling Errol Spence Jr, three-division titlist Terence Crawford has some newfound shine behind him. He looks to make it a fantastic fourth next weekend at Los Angeles’ BMO Stadium against a new titleholder – by no means an easy task – in the form of heavy-handed Uzbek Israil Madrimov.
Crawford the competitor, has another challenge to conquer
Israil Madrimov (c) vs. Terence Crawford
WBA world light-middleweight title, vacant WBO world interim 154lb strap
August 3, LA’s BMO Stadium — Bakole-Anderson and Morrell-Kalajdzic among featured bouts on the undercard as new 140lb champ Isaac Cruz returns
TERENCE Crawford insists he’s always been fiercely competitive and trying to conquer the world from when he was a headstrong child growing up.
Talk to anyone in his support team, from coaches and physio to sparring partners, nutritionists and more besides, a pattern emerges.
He may be the wrong side of 30 in an unrelenting sport, where many of the world’s best suddenly age overnight – father time waits for no man – but relative inactivity since his career-best achievement last summer cannot be attributed to him this time.
Whether pricing himself out of a return fight or unhappy with making numerous WBO world title defences against the next mandatory challenger, rather than a unification, Bud has known his worth and the adoration for his talents was long overdue.
There’s always a young, hungry lion eager to unseat the top dog and in this case? IBF world champion Jaron Ennis at 147lbs with the newly-inserted promotional machine fronted by Eddie Hearn generating hype behind the Philadelphia boxer.
Crawford has already outlined a desire to face now-former undisputed super-middleweight champion Canelo Alvarez in an intriguing battle between future Hall of Famers, something Saudi chief Turki Alalshikh echoed and will be hopeful to broker.
First though, Israil Madrimov. Everything falls apart if he doesn’t get the job done in a new weight division – two below Canelo’s current 168lb class – against a man seven years his junior and with an extensive amateur career he’s wise not to overlook.
Sparring with a friend and Hall of Fame inductee in Andre Ward helps, while the Omaha boxer said new WBO world light-middleweight champion Sebastian Fundora rejected an approach to fight him next – an in-house matchup with fellow PBC boxer Spence is expected later this year after his surprise Tim Tszyu win on March 30.
Speaking of Spence, Crawford’s inability to explore other options was written into the contract for a lucrative undisputed fight six years in the making. A bilateral rematch clause, which Spence said he’d activate, didn’t materialise and left the champion waiting in the wings for months – something he’s unfortunately used to, by now.
“Everything kind of went cold turkey. I was a little frustrated at first but at the same time there’s nothing I can do. I was contracted to the rematch.”
Picture source: Getty Images, quotes hyperlinked
Mo and Sports 