Crawford’s Trainer on Mistakes Against Madrimov and Israil’s Success

The trainer of the newly crowned American WBA champion and interim WBO junior middleweight champion (up to 69.9 kg), Terence Crawford (41-0, 31 KOs), Brian McIntyre, commented on his protégé’s victory.

– Crawford is 36. Do you think age finally played a role, or was it just Madrimov's style?

– I think it was the style, the style and his quick feet, quick right hand. So, I think the rounds he won were because of that right hand.

– Some people feel the fight was much closer. Did you feel during the bout that Terence was behind and needed a push?

– No, I never thought he was behind. In the last three rounds, all instructions were just, "Come on, man, we need to work a bit harder, we need to push more." So, I knew he won some rounds, but I wanted him to solidify it, to leave no doubt.

– What was the plan for the fight?

– Just box. He landed some good shots, but the opponent had a strong chin, he could take a punch. Terence showed his chin too because he took some good shots. He said the guy was strong, but not strong enough to knock him out. Just physically strong.

– Regarding fights in the junior middleweight division, the opponent showed he could take Terence’s power for 12 rounds. Do you see yourself in this division?

– Well, we'll see. We’ll just get back to the gym in a few weeks and try to figure it out.

– Is there anything Terence could have done better or something he didn’t do that you would have liked to see?

– I would have liked to see him move his head a bit more in the southpaw stance. He shouldn’t have taken those right hands, and I told him in the corner, even if it doesn’t hurt, it still looks good to the judges. You know what I mean. But he has that fighting spirit, so he stepped it up at the end.

In the early hours of August 4 in Los Angeles, USA, Terence Crawford defeated Israil Madrimov (10-1-1, 7 KOs) by unanimous decision.