Promoter Eddie Hearn nonetheless views Israil Madrimov because the #1 fighter at 154 after what he feels was a controversial loss to well-known pound-for-pound star Terence Crawford on August third in Los Angeles.
Hearn says that individuals who view Crawford as the most effective nonetheless think about Madrimov (10-0-1, 7 KOs) #2 as a result of he got here inside a whisker of beating him on the scorecards for his or her headliner on the BMO Stadium in Las Vegas.
Sadly, there received’t be a rematch to clear up the controversy, however maybe down the street if Crawford stays at 154 lengthy sufficient to expire of viable opponents.
“I feel folks nonetheless don’t give Israil Madrimov sufficient credit score. He’s the most effective 154-pounder on the planet. Should you assume he misplaced the struggle, then he’s the second 154-pounder on the planet,” stated promoter Eddie Hearn to the Stomping Grounds YouTube channel, about his view that Israil Madrimov remains to be the most effective fighter within the 154-lb divisions regardless of his controversial loss to Terence Crawford on August third.
Crawford is anticipated to struggle for the WBC interim title towards Vergil Ortiz Jr. quite than for a full belt, however that struggle is extra about enterprise. If Crawford had the chance to struggle for a world title towards WBC/WBO 154-lb champion Sebastian Funfora, he’d take
Crawford at 168? ‘The Weight is Too A lot’
“I feel the load is an excessive amount of for Crawford, however it’s irrelevant as a result of it ain’t occurring,” Hearn stated about the opportunity of Crawford shifting as much as 168 for a struggle towards Canelo Alvarez. “We’ll see what occurs with Crawford.”
We noticed towards Madrimov that Crawford doesn’t have the dimensions or energy to go additional than 154 as a result of he was the weaker fighter and appears afraid of combating aggressively as he had previously.
“He’s a really inactive fighter. He’s getting on a bit [in age]. He’s made some huge cash,” stated Hearn about Crawford. “What are the starvation ranges like? Does he wish to undergo one other division to grow to be undisputed? Good luck if he does.”
Crawford fights as soon as and has been doing that since 2020. He’s performed for the remainder of 2024 after having fought as soon as, and doesn’t plan on combating till February 2025. He turns 37 in September, and he’ll be turning 38 subsequent 12 months.
“He’s a generational nice, however I do really feel like the load positively at 168 could be an excessive amount of,” stated Hearn.
Making Large Fights
“There are a great deal of fights His Excellency Turki has needed to occur however didn’t occur, however this occurs to be a high-profile one,” stated Hearn a couple of struggle between Canelo Alvarez and Crawford. “That is somebody who does what he desires, which is Saul, and somebody who has his personal plans and concepts, which is His Excellency.”
Canelo could be curious about combating Crawford if His Excellency waited till after his struggle with Edgar Berlanga on September 14th to speak about it. The cash would clearly nonetheless should be proper for Canelo to conform to it as a result of he’ll need much more than what he’s been getting for a very long time.
“I’ve stated earlier than; all His Excellency desires to do is make the most important fights within the sport, and possibly like quite a lot of followers, will get pissed off that they’ll’t occur,” stated Hearn. “He needed to make Crawford towards Canelo, and he needed to make Benavidez towards Canelo.
“It’s not doable for the time being. So we restrategized, refocused and we take a look at what fights will be made. I feel it was somewhat little bit of frustration for His Excellency. ‘Why can’t we speak about it? Come on.’ The way in which he does enterprise, ‘Let’s make it occur.’
“One of the simplest ways to explain His Excellency is he’s a struggle fan with a giant price range,” stated Hearn.
