Preparing for his first world title defence this weekend against a pound-for-pound star in Terence Crawford, WBA light-middleweight champion Israil Madrimov warns the formerly-undisputed welterweight king – you’re entering a new division at championship level. At 36 and inactive, are you ready for this?
Madrimov always been a Crawford fan – not on Saturday
- Fan-turned-foe: Madrimov reveals he’s always been fond of Terence Crawford, but is equally very happy and wants to be the first to beat the 40-0 boxer: “He doesn’t have any weaknesses, I haven’t seen any but will try to discover some. I’m very excited to get this opportunity to make a statement… I’m not Errol Spence Jr, this is my division.”
- Crawford, who began his professional career at 137lbs in 2008 before winning titles at lightweight, light-welter and welterweight, looks to make it a fantastic four this weekend against a new champion making his first world championship defence after Magomed Kurbanov stoppage win
MAGOMED Kurbanov was stopped in five rounds, and now Israil Madrimov gets an opportunity to enhance his legacy tenfold just five months later against pound-for-pound star Terence Crawford this weekend. Few expect him to beat an unbeaten champion with bigger future ambitions, but stranger things have happened.
While the Canelo Álvarez noise has only intensified, rather than died down, a prospective matchup against IBF world champion Jaron Ennis has also been on the lips of most observers as Crawford looks to finish his illustrious career with more legacy-enhancing opposition on the resume. That future planning can all wait, mind.
California resident Madrimov, seven years his junior, had boxed almost exclusively in the US and his native Uzbekistan before an unintentional head clash on his south London debut saw a blemish on the hard-hitting champion’s record – a third-round technical decision draw, after Soro was cut above his left eye and couldn’t continue.
Madrimov had already stopped the well-seasoned Frenchman eight months prior and much like Crawford, has been fairly inactive with almost a year between bouts. Kurbanov was 25-0 before their Saudi showdown on the Joshua-Ngannou undercard and he stopped the Russian without appearing to exit second gear that night.
Eddie Hearn declared him a new version of two-time middleweight world champion Gennadiy Golovkin and their ambitious undisputed plan begins this weekend against a man who knows a thing or two about being the top dog at a weight division.
Mental gymnastics aside, Crawford is the favourite given Madrimov’s comparative inexperience boxing at the elite level but as a new champion with something to prove and a title to defend, the younger man has all the tools in his arsenal for an upset. Whether he can blend them together and execute on fight night, who knows?
Riyadh Season: LA card, in full
12 rounds
Israil Madrimov (c) vs. Terence Crawford for WBA world, WBO interim world light-middleweight titles
David Morrell vs. Radivoje Kalajdzic for vacant WBA world light-heavyweight title
Isaac Cruz (c) vs. Jose Valenzuela for WBA world light-welterweight title
10 rounds
Heavyweight: Jared Anderson vs. Martin Bakole
Heavy: Andy Ruiz vs. Jarrell Miller
Lightweight: Andy Cruz (c) vs. Antonio Moran for IBF International title
Super-middleweight: Steven Nelson vs. Marcos Vazquez Rodriguez
Welterweight: Ziyad Almaayouf vs. Michal Bulik, 6 rounds
Picture source: Getty Images
Mo and Sports 