Promoter Eddie Hearn says Israil Madrimov is “ice cold” ahead of tonight’s fight against Terence Crawford on DAZN PPV.
Hearn states that WBA junior middleweight champion Madrimov (10-0-1, 7 KOs) is able to send Crawford all the way down to his first profession defeat, then move on towards a unification fight against the opposite belt holders at 154.
Unlike Crawford, Madrimov isn’t greedy and won’t look to maneuver as much as 168 to fight Canelo Alvarez. He’s content to remain at junior middleweight and face the opposite champions to gather the belts.
Crawford’s Canelo Aspirations May Survive Defeat
Crawford will likely still get the Canelo fight, even after losing tonight. His Excellency Turki Alalshikh is a fan of Crawford and desires to see him fight Canelo, nevertheless it may not matter if he backs into the match after a defeat.
At Friday’s weigh-in, you can see how powerful Madrimov looked in comparison with Crawford. His physique had Artur Beterbiev-type muscles, and he may very well be a nightmare for Crawford if he lands on him often enough.
Madrimov’s last opponent, Magomed Kurbanov had more power than Crawford, and he was stopped in five rounds. That was a formidable performance from Madrimov.
“He looks great. He looks like me with my pants on,” said Eddie Hearn to Fighthype when asked how Terence Crawford looks at 154 for his fight against Israil Madrimov. “It’s going to be an incredible fight.
“Madrimov is a tank, he’s a machine, and he’s ready. Now we have an enormous challenge, but we’re ready. Madrimov is ice cold. He’s not nervous within the slightest. No fear or nothing, but he’s up against a pound-for-pound great.”
Tonight, Madrimov may very well be 175 lbs by the point he enters the ring, and that’s lots of weight that Crawford will probably be coping with. He’s never fought anyone with that form of size or power before, and he may not be ready.
“We’re comfortable to remain at 154. Fight [Vergil] Ortiz, fight Tim Tszyu, or fight the opposite champions, but we got an enormous job to do,” said Hearn when asked if Madrimov would love to maneuver as much as 168 to fight Canelo Alvarez if he’s victorious against Crawford.
It’s higher that Madrimov not try and go as much as 168 because there are weight classes for a reason, and there’s no point in him going up unless the Mexican star invites him.
If Canelo desires to fight Madrimov next, he can invite him, and he’ll likely oblige him. However the worst thing Madrimov could do is start begging or campaigning for the fight against Alvarez, which some boxing fans imagine Crawford has shamelessly been doing.
“Bud may conserve a few of that energy which may work against him against this young, hungry fighter in front of him,” said Shawn Porter to DAZN Boxing about Crawford potentially having problems if he conserves his strength against Madrimov.
Madrimov’s Physical Superiority Evident
Crawford will likely box Madrimov, holding and keeping the motion on the skin all night to maintain from getting taken out.
“Madrimov looks strong,” said Ade Oladipo.
“You would tell his body has muscle,” said Porter about Madrimov.
“You would tell from their size, Madrimov is the larger fighter, and the fuller fighter,” said Sergio Mora.
