The memory is still fresh of all the highlights that Terence Crawford delivered as he built a 40-0 record and reigned as one of the top pound-for-pound fighters in the sport.
His sudden reaction when he found out he was losing on the ESPN scorecards, then his knockout of Shawn Porter. His beating of Errol Spence Jr. to become the undisputed welterweight champion a year ago. And there's plenty more to come…
But now Crawford is 36 and has taken a year off to move up a weight class, this time to face unbeaten World Boxing Association (WBA) junior middleweight champion Israil Madrimov of Uzbekistan, who has said “this is my weight class.”
“Crawford has always looked invincible. His style has so many layers to each stance (southpaw and orthodox),” Probox TV's Paulie Malignaggi said on Wednesday's “Deep Waters” as the cast broke down the Aug. 3 fight between Crawford (40-0, 31 KOs) and the 29-year-old Madrimov (10-0-1, 7 KOs). “He's great in every way, and that's why he's the best fighter in the world right now.”
“But at the age he's fighting, you have to fight fight after fight. That's what happens at this age. You wonder if, when Crawford steps in the ring, maybe he's not the same Crawford he was before.”
Malignaggi made it clear that Crawford is expected to continue as normal until there is any delay.
“But the reason I bring it up is because Madrimov is not a weak player. He's a guy who can make his opponents look bad.”
Madrimov Crawford headlines the promotion's Riyadh Season card at the LAFC Soccer Stadium in Los Angeles. Isaac “Pit Bull” Cruz will defend his 140-pound belt in the semifinals, former heavyweight champion Andy Ruiz Jr. will face veteran Jarrell “Big Baby” Miller, and talented challengers Jared Anderson, David Morrell and Andy Cruz are also on the card.
Crawford is a “big threat in the main event…. (Madrimov) is physically strong, very athletic and has the confidence to say, 'This is my weight class.' He's a guy who wants to defend what he has.”
Appearing on the show, Madrimov told Boxing Scene the story of how he helped light heavyweight Dmitry Bivol win against Canelo Alvarez in 2022 at his gym in Indio, California.
With Crawford looking to beat Alvarez, Madrimov said he's encouraged he could change the storyline in boxing.
“Gym culture is really important. It seems like Madrimov has a situation that's out of his control, but he seems to have the right answers and the right culture to prepare for that moment, be ready and be the best version of himself,” former 140-pound champion Chris Algieri said on “Deep Waters.”
“He's a big threat to the great Terence Crawford.”
Hall of Famer and former two-division champion Timothy Bradley Jr. once trained under Madrimov trainer Joel Diaz in Indio, where Crawford first started boxing and made a big impression before becoming lightweight champion.
Bradley, who knows Crawford well, said Madrimov's best opportunity is to “get on Crawford early” at a time when the three-division champion typically holds off to get information from his opponent.
“I'm curious to see how Crawford will react when he gets touched,” Bradley said. “You're going to need some explosiveness and athleticism to deal with Crawford. Madrimov is going to be reckless. You can't be reckless against Terence Crawford.”
Will Crawford look beyond Madrimov to a showdown with Canelo, as proposed by Saudi Arabia's Turki Ararcik?
“Not at all,” Algieri said. “He knows what's ahead of him and that he's at the end of his career. He's a very focused guy who works hard in the gym.”
“Crawford will figure out his offense and get the stoppage late in the game.”
