“When they stepped in the ring with me, they already knew the deal: It was going to be a tough fight. They had to use their skills, their brain, their physical and mental attitude against me because I was very unorthodox. I could fight on the left-hand side and right-hand side. So they had to probably train harder to adapt to my style. But every fighter I fought, I never fought the same way. Each fight I had, I was always in better condition than I was before.” – Marvelous Marvin Hagler
Terence Crawford is made from that same ilk as the great Hagler. He is a multi-dimensional fighter who can box or slug it out, in either stance, with power in both hands. He has great ring IQ and is adaptable. Crawford is able to use all his physical attributes with a fluid fighting style to match his unbreakable mental fortitude.
Crawford spent his whole career dispatching world-class opponents in conclusively exciting fashion, in a manner only an elite fighter would, but doubts remained. He had to take on fellow elite, pound-for-pound rival Errol Spence Jr. to prove his elite status and build the resume his talent deserves. In July 2023, Crawford dealt with Spence in devastating fashion, dropping him three times and becoming the undisputed welterweight champion as he made it look easier than against some of his perceived weaker touches earlier in his career.
The ability level is there to see. All he had to do was back up the eye test with the elite names. He did it spectacularly against Spence. Israil Madrimov, the WBA super-welterweight champion, is the next guy. In connection with Saudi Arabia and Riyadh Season, this fight and event will take place in Los Angeles on August 3, headlining a stacked card that will be aired on DAZN worldwide. The interim WBO super-welterweight title will also be on the line.
It will be a huge, historic card, and as the headliner, Crawford will be no stranger to the limelight. The man has had 18 consecutive world title fights, including huge hometown fights in Omaha, headliners at Madison Square Garden, and undisputed showdowns. This will be Crawford’s first fight since that domination of Spence last year. The question of when Crawford will return to the ring has finally been answered.
In Crawford’s first fight at 154 pounds, he will be facing a tough champion, as difficult a proposition as any in the super-welterweight division right now, as the American looks to become a four-weight division champion.
Madrimov is supremely skilled, powerful, and athletic. The Uzbek is a 29-year-old career-long 154-pounder with heavy hands, great footwork, and angles, developed through a decorated amateur career. He is fresh off a one-sided demolition job of then-unbeaten Magomed Kurbanov to win the vacant WBA title, stopping the Russian in five rounds. Madrimov may be a newcomer compared to Crawford, with fewer professional fights than Crawford has had world title fights, but the Uzbek’s performances at 154 pounds have been utterly impressive. Madrimov has risen to the summit of the 154-pound division in just 11 professional fights following a glittering amateur career.
