Eddie Hearn is adamant that Israil Madrimov, the underdog, will defeat Terence Crawford in their main event on August 3rd at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles, California, which is broadcast on ESPN+ PPV next month.
Hearn’s prediction of Israil Madrimov winning is understandable given that Crawford has bulked up for the fight and is anticipated to be slower and easier to hit. Crawford is not young, has never fought at 154, and is facing a puncher with a kind of power he has never experienced.
Will Crawford play it safe and dance around for twelve rounds, mimicking Shakur Stevenson, knowing that a fight with Madrimov could go south for him?
Terence has never had to absorb a lot of big hits from a fighter with Madrimov’s striking strength in a real battle, so it may be dangerous for him if he has to endure more than six rounds of shots.
Fans see 37-year-old Crawford (40-0, 31 KOs) as a gimme for WBA junior middleweight champion Madrimov (10-0-1, 7 KOs). Crawford looked amazing in his most recent bout, which took place on July 29, 2023, against Errol Spence Jr.
Spence was a different guy, a spent, empty shell, in that bout. Madrimov is not fatigued by two vehicle collisions, ring wars, or weight problems from poor eating and drinking habits in between fights. Instead, he is younger, stronger, and bigger than before.
“I actually think Madrimov will beat Crawford. I know he’s a big underdog to do it, but I think he can do it,” said promoter Eddie Hearn in media reports.
Crawford’s victory against Spence and his explosive glove knockout victory over David Avanesyan in his previous fight may have distorted the perception of the fighter among fans.
Fans mistakenly thought Crawford was untouchable and that he could defeat Madrimov, Canelo Alvarez, or any fighter up to cruiserweight as a result of those victories.
Crawford is a fantastic boxer, but the opponents he has been eliminating were trash. By the time he faced them, they had neither grown significantly nor reached their peak.
By the time Crawford faced them, none of those fighters had reached the rank of killer at 147. Spence was already ahead of 34-year-old Shawn Porter. Khan and Brook were shot.
