Israil Madrimov will defend his WBA junior middleweight strap in opposition to the formidable Terence Crawford on August third in Los Angeles, California.
Followers unfamiliar with Madrimov (10-0-1, 7 KOs) view this as a mismatch in Crawford’s favor, however they may very well be in for a giant shock when this seems to be the hardest battle of the 36-year-old Nebraska native’s profession.
Crawford may lose for the primary time in his 16-year profession in opposition to the Matchroom-promoted Madrimov, which might spoil the plans for him to battle Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis and Canelo Alvarez in mega-fights that His Excellency Turki Alalshikh is fascinated by placing collectively.
If Crawford loses to Madrimov, they’ll possible arrange a fast rematch to try to salvage issues for the previous three-division world champion to see if he can nonetheless get the mega-fights in opposition to Boots and Canelo.
With Crawford, you simply don’t understand how he’ll react preventing a giant puncher like Madrimov, as a result of he’s not been energetic, preventing simply 3 times within the final 4 years in opposition to these fighters:
Errol Spence: Submit automotive crash
David Avanesyan
Shawn Porter: On the finish of the highway
Kell Brook: Identical as above
The August third undercard is arguably the most effective this 12 months and loaded with fights that may very well be headliners on their very own.
August third Undercard
– Isaac ‘Pitbull’ Cruz vs. Jose ‘Rayo’ Valenzuela
– Vergil Ortiz Jr. vs. Tim Tszyu
– Andy Ruiz Jr. vs. Jarrell ‘Large Child’ Miller
– David Morrell vs. Radivoje Kalajdzic
– Andy Cruz vs. Antonio Moran
You can also make a robust argument that the Ortiz vs. Tszyu and Pitbull Cruz vs. Rayo Valenzuela fights are higher match-ups than the primary occasion between Crawford and Madrimov. I believe both of these fights is extra fascinating for informal and hardcore boxing followers.
Crawford has by no means been an enormous draw, and I don’t suppose his win over the depleted Spence Jr. has modified that. If it had been as much as me, I might put the fights on this order:
1. Isaac Cruz vs. Jose ‘Rayo’ Valenzuela: Foremost occasion
2. Vergil Ortiz Jr. vs. Tim Tszyu: Co-feature
3. Andy Ruiz Jr. vs. Jarrell ‘Large Child’ Cruz
4. David Morrell vs. Radivoje Kalajdzic
5. Terence Crawford vs. Israil Madrimov
6. Andy Cruz vs. Antonio Moran
Crawford is a superb fighter, however he’s not in style and his potential to draw curiosity in his fights is sorely missing. If the thought is to get followers within the August third card, Pitbull Cruz must be the primary occasion.
