Masterclass: Experts on Crawford vs. Madrimov Fight
On August 3 at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles, USA, WBA, WBC, and WBO welterweight champion (up to 66.7 kg) Terence Crawford (40-0, 31 KOs) will move up a division to contend for the WBA title and the interim WBO super welterweight title (up to 69.9 kg) against Israil Madrimov (10-0-1, 7 KOs).
Ready To Fight presents predictions from promoters, trainers, and experts regarding the favorite for the fight in Los Angeles.
Matchroom Boxing promoter Eddie Hearn, who represents Madrimov, said that despite Israil being the underdog, he has the potential to defeat the former undisputed champion.
"We face a huge task because Terence Crawford is a fantastic fighter. I consider him the number one P4P, but he is gradually aging. He’s moving up in weight classes and now faces a fresh super welterweight fighter with a very strong punch.
That's why I think this is the toughest fight in Terence Crawford's career. I know we are the underdogs, but I really like our chances, and Madrimov is not feeling any pressure. If he wins – I always say – if you beat the number one P4P, do you become the number one P4P? The rankings say no, but it gives you a great argument to be there.
So, that's what Madrimov is fighting for, and he is more than capable of winning this fight. But he will have to show his best against the great Terence Crawford," Hearn told iFL TV.
Renowned American trainer Robert Garcia cited the reason why the representative from Uzbekistan might give Crawford trouble.
"I’m betting on Crawford’s victory, but I don’t think the fight will be easy. His opponent is eager to make a statement and prove everyone wrong. When someone like that comes to this country to fight, especially an Eastern European fighter, they are tough to beat. These guys are very hard to beat, so I know they will put on a good fight.
I’m sure Joel Diaz has an excellent game plan to create an upset. And I wouldn’t be surprised. From what I’ve seen and heard from Crawford, he is focused on a big payday. He’s already 37. He’s looking for a chance to cash in and is aiming for a fight with Canelo, which could earn him over 20 million dollars.
If he’s thinking like that, a hungry opponent will give him trouble," Garcia said in an interview with Boxing King Media.
Former world champion and current ESPN expert Timothy Bradley doesn’t rule out an early victory for Crawford, although he expects a cautious start to the fight.
"I expect the first rounds to be a tactical battle where both fighters try to minimize mistakes. Each of them has enough power to stun their opponent with a single punch. Crawford successfully carried his punching power from lightweight to welterweight. He is likely to be just as effective in the super welterweight division. I’m betting on Crawford, possibly even for a late stoppage," Bradley told ESPN.
Tony Sims, former trainer of ex-heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua, is also convinced of the American’s victory.
"This is a great fight for Crawford to transition into super welterweight. Although Madrimov is a dangerous puncher, I believe Crawford's excellent boxing skills will lead him to a dominant points victory or a late stoppage," Sims told The Ring.
Trainer of former world heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder, Malik Scott, doesn’t expect an upset and is confident in Crawford’s unequivocal victory.
"On paper, this fight doesn’t look exciting, right? In terms of styles, it’s not the best matchup. I predict that Terence Crawford will put on an incredible performance against this opponent. In my opinion, it will be a boring fight. To be honest, Crawford should win by a wide margin. But to maintain interest in the show and sales, you have to say that Madrimov has achieved significant results and defeated someone serious. But he hasn’t beaten anyone on Terence’s level. So, you can expect a big masterclass from Crawford, even if he hasn’t fought in a while. It’s hard for me to bet against someone in Terence Crawford’s position.
You see how dedicated he is to boxing. That means he doesn’t take anything for granted, regardless of the opponent. I think destiny will generously reward him for that," Scott told Boxing Social.