Terence Crawford locks in on Israil Madrimov throughout their Aug. 3 WBA 154-pound title combat at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles (Picture credit score: Mark Robinson, Matchroom Boxing)
LOS ANGELES – Terence Crawford likes to problem himself and doesn’t prefer to lose.
Few fighters like him have that mindset, however that mixture has labored to this point.
The unbeaten Crawford outboxed and defeated Israil Madrimov by shut unanimous determination atop Saturday’s DAZN Pay-Per-View occasion from BMO Stadium. Crawford (41-0, 31 knockouts) received by scores of 115-113, 115-113, and 116-112, and claimed the WBA junior middleweight title.
With that feat, Crawford is now a four-division titlist.
Boxing followers can debate how the combat performed out.
Uzbekistan’s Madrimov (10-1-1, 7 KOs) supplied a difficult-to-solve fashion and validated his No. 3 Ring ranking at 154 kilos. He fought a disciplined combat put forth by coach Joel Diaz and relied on a skillset he honed within the beginner ranks.
With the Madrimov combat now within the rearview mirror, the query requested of Crawford is who the Ring’s No. 3 pound-for-pound fighter will face subsequent.
The belief headed into combat week was a mega-fight versus Ring and unified tremendous middleweight champion Canelo Alvarez (61-2-2, 39 KOs). Curiosity within the combat appears to lean extra on the Crawford aspect. Extra so, with the backing of Turki Alalshikh whose Riyadh Season group introduced Saturday’s present.
In earlier interviews, together with one through the PPV occasion, Alalshikh acknowledged he would once more supply Canelo a combat towards Crawford. Las Vegas’ Allegiant Stadium and Riyadh, Saudi Arabia are prompt locations for the tremendous combat.
“As I’ve mentioned earlier than on ESPN, I’ve made (Alvarez) a suggestion,” mentioned Alalshikh. “If he’s sensible, he’ll settle for it.”
After the win over Madrimov, Crawford was nonetheless open to a combat towards Alvarez.
“You realize what I’ve mentioned, ‘If the cash is correct, we acquired a combat,” mentioned Crawford in an interview after the combat with Chris Mannix. “(Canelo) has a combat to deal with. I’ve a household to deal with (now that Madrimov combat is over).”
Crawford will flip 37 on September 28. Did his efficiency towards Madrimov sway Alvarez’s opinion about now desirous to combat Crawford?
Alvarez will defend his 168-pound championship versus Brooklyn’s Edgar Berlanga (22-0, 17 KOs), No. 9 at 168, on September 14 in Las Vegas.
Followers have clamored for Alvarez to face David Benavidez (29-0, 24 KOs) during the last couple of years. Alvarez has been critiqued for his disinterest within the combat. That may possible stay the case ought to he face Crawford earlier than—or as a substitute of—Benavidez.
Alalshikh additionally revealed a contingency plan ought to Alvarez proceed to disregard his pleas. Vergil Ortiz (21-0, 21 KOs) has emerged as the brand new frontrunner, ought to he dethrone interim WBC interim 154-pound titlist Serhii Bohachuk (24-1, 23 KOs).
That combat takes place this Saturday at Michelob ULTRA Enviornment in Las Vegas. The DAZN occasion will mark the primary sponsorship enterprise between Riyadh Season and Golden Boy Promotions, Ortiz’s promoter.
The suggestion of Crawford-Ortiz has already caught buzz, in addition to the eye of this weekend’s unbeaten challenger.
“@Turki_alalshikh put me in,” Ortiz posted on X upon listening to the on-air callout.
@Turki_alalshikh put me in!!
— Vergil Ortiz Jr. (@VergilOrtiz) August 4, 2024
There are different profitable and compelling fights at 154 kilos.
Chief amongst them could be former WBO titlist Tim Tszyu (24-1, 17 KOs). A combat in his native Australia—the place he fights on September 22—would do large enterprise.
Saturday’s win additionally noticed Crawford declare the interim WBO title and turn out to be the WBC obligatory challenger. Each choices places him on a direct path in the direction of unified WBC/WBO titleholder Sebastian Fundora (21-1-1, 13 KOs). The WBO has already declared that the combat should happen earlier than the top of the 12 months.
Fundora was teased to subsequent face former unified welterweight titlist Errol Spence (28-1, 22 KOs), however the combat or a prompt date has but to be introduced. Crawford dominated and stopped Spence within the 9th spherical to completely unify the 147-pound division final July.
Additionally within the combine is just lately topped WBA beltholder Bakhram Murtalaziev (22-0, 16 KOs). Given Crawford’s ties to Alalshikh, a unification bout versus Murtazaliev—a religious Muslim—could be an ideal slot in Riyadh.
The aggressive nature of Saturday’s win has given some followers pause over his potential to dominate on the new weight. Crawford’s eleven-fight knockout streak ended versus the defensively savvy Madrimov.
It ought to in no way take away from his cemented standing as a generational expertise. The truth is, the hassle so as to add to that legacy is much more compelling.
Crawford can stay put at 154 and try to turn out to be the first-ever three-division undisputed champion within the multi-belt period. Solely 4 fighters in historical past have achieved the feat when the game solely acknowledged one champion per division.
The final to take action was the legendary Henry Armstrong, who concurrently held the 126, 135 and 147-pound championships in 1938.
Crawford may additional problem himself at his new weight earlier than a proposed combat versus Alvarez. The percentages of him shedding towards any of the world titleholders at this weight class could possibly be fascinating.
Fortuitously for the game, it’s a threat that Crawford is all the time prepared to take.
Francisco A. Salazar has written for The Ring since October 2013 and has coated boxing in Southern California and overseas since 2000. Francisco additionally covers boxing for the Ventura County (California) Star newspaper. He could be reached at [email protected]
