By Declan Taylor
Terence Crawford is the challenger on Saturday night as he attempts to win a world title in a fourth weight class against WBA light-middleweight king Israil Madrimov. But despite a debut in a new division against a dangerous and undisputed champion, it is Crawford who is a wide odds-on favourite to win. We take a look at what both men need to do to emerge victorious in Los Angeles.
TERENCE CRAWFORD – KEYS TO VICTORY
TIMING
Madrimov is the bigger man in this fight and the biggest puncher Crawford has faced and he will likely be out to get the American’s respect early on. Madrimov often leaps into his attacks, particularly with the left hook, and is adept at covering ground quickly on the offensive.
Such a tactic can be risky but nobody has been able to take advantage of that against Madrimov as of yet. However, Crawford’s timing is second-to-none and he has the ability to use the champion’s attacks against him by countering when Madrimov comes forward.
FINISHING
Crawford is arguably the most lethal finisher in the sport and looks inherently nasty once he gets an opponent hurt. If he can fashion an opening against Madrimov there is no doubt he will take it. Crawford had eight fights at welterweight and none of them went the distance, most recently the nine-round beatdown of Errol Spence, but his 2021 stoppage of Shawn Porter also stands out.
That was because in the break between the ninth and 10th rounds, Crawford is told by his corner that he might be down on the cards so, within 15 seconds of the restart, the champion drops Porter with an uppercut. The fight is over at 1:21 of the 10th.
EXPERIENCE
Madrimov had an extensive and decorated amateur career but there is no getting away from the fact this is only his 12th outing as a professional and only his fifth over the full 12. He has simply never mixed with anyone near Crawford’s calibre in the paid ranks, nor has he ever performed on a stage like this one, a show at a stadium which has been billed, rightly or wrongly, as maybe the best card ever with a bigger promotion than he has ever seen before.
For Crawford, however, this is nothing new. He has seen it all as a professional and marked one of the most anticipated fights of the generation by outclassing Spence from start to finish. It will be another day at the office for Spence, and he will be waiting if Madrimov freezes.
Terence Crawford lands his right hook on Errol Spence (Getty Images)
ISRAIL MADRIMOV – KEYS TO VICTORY
SIZE
The one factor, according to Eddie Hearn, which means his man will pull off the upset and change his life profoundly forever. The truth is, Madrimov is not the tallest 154lber out there and is only marginally taller than Crawford but there is no disputing he is simply the bigger man. He used to box at 165lb as an amateur and has been a career super-welterweight in the pros.
Crawford, meanwhile, started as a lightweight. With this increase in size, of course, comes added power and if Madrimov can land cleanly he has the pop to sleep anyone in the division. As the old saying goes – a good biggun beats a good littlun, but how good is he?
BODY PUNCHING
Madrimov’s ability to switch attack from head to body is one of his strongest assets. His left hook to the body was a destructive weapon when he won the world title against Magomed Kurbanov in has last outing while against Michel Soro he used the jab to the body to get water in the basement and slow down his opponent.
Switch-hitting Crawford can be hard to nail down but Madrimov will no doubt look to chip away at the body, especially given he is capable in both stances too. But it is not just about the work to the body itself, but what comes after it. His left hook to the head is perhaps his most dangerous shot and it can be doubly dangerous when he fires it in from low after a straight right hand to the body.
ACTIVITY
During an interview with Boxing News, Madrimov insisted he will not be counting on Crawford’s inactivity being a factor but maybe it is. The former undisputed welterweight and light-welterweight champion has not boxed since that win over Spence a year ago and has only boxed three times since beating Kell Brook in a Covid bubble way back in 2020.
Those three fights have also only totalled a combined number of 25 rounds under the lights. In the same period of time, Madrimov has boxed six times and, maybe crucially, was out as recently as March meaning he goes into this fight with the momentum gleaned from an excellent performance and the confidence that comes from becoming world champion for the first time. It’s a big if, but if Crawford has lost a step over the course of the last 12 months, Madrimov is well placed to take advantage.
Madrimov (L) in action against Magomed Kurbanov (R). Picture By Mark Robinson Matchroom Boxing.