LOS ANGELES – Round by round, Israil Madrimov kept coming, winging right hands with the kind of force that made even Terence Crawford’s staunchest supporters nervous. For 16 years Crawford had been mowing down opponents, collecting 40 wins, the last 11 coming by knockout. Now here was the 29-year-old Madrimov, an 11-fight veteran entering the championship rounds with a chance to end it all.
“That dude,” said Crawford’s trainer, Brian McIntyre, “is tough as s---.”
