Terence Crawford looks to become a world champion in a fourth division on August 3 when he steps up to Israil Madrimov.
Crawford has won honours at 135, 140 and 147, and will challenge Madrimov for the WBA 154 World Title in Los Angeles as part of Riyadh Season’s first promotional offering in the US. The fight is also for the WBO and WBC Interim titles, meaning ‘Bud’, should he be victorious, could look to unify and eventually become undisputed in a third weight-class.
The muscular Madrimov, a career long super-welter, is 10-0 with seven early finishes and won the belt last time out by stopping Magomed Kurbanov.
He will step through the ropes a considerable underdog with bookmakers, but is younger, fresher and bulkier than the pound-for-pound star.
The size difference was analysed by fans recently when an in-gym picture of Uzbekistan’s Madrimov did the rounds on social media, leading the poster to brand him ‘The Incredible Hulk.’
Whilst some fans said Crawford was in for a real challenge based on the picture, ‘massive, ‘he gonna beat Crawford, ‘it’s over if he hits him’, many also said the muscular frame could work to the American’s advantage.
‘His punches are too slow and wide to trouble Bud,’ said one, whilst another said his bulk could lead to gassing early – a crucial factor against the elite Crawford who has been known to expose any mistakes or openings from both the orthodox and southpaw stances. Madrimov did tend to leap in and drop his guard on occasion in his title-winning effort, something the 36-year-old from Omaha will have spotted.
Madrimov does have the clear upper-hand in activity having fought in March of this year whereas Crawford was last out in the career-defining Errol Spence Jr win in July.
The fight doesn’t just represent a legacy-building opportunity for ‘Bud’ but also a measuring stick for his ultimate goal of facing Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez. Intriguingly, Madrimov was used as a sparring partner by light-heayvweight champion Dmitry Bivol when he became just the second man to beat Canelo.
