Terence Crawford Takes On A Dangerous Opponent On Aug 3

The ability level is there to see. All he had to do was back up the eye test with the elite names. He did it spectacularly against Spence. Israil Madrimov, the WBA super-welterweight champion, is the next guy. In connection with Saudi Arabia and Riyadh Season, this fight and event will take place in Los Angeles on August 3, headlining a stacked card that will be aired on DAZN worldwide. The interim WBO super-welterweight title will also be on the line.

It will be a huge, historic card, and as the headliner, Crawford will be no stranger to the limelight. The man has had 18 consecutive world title fights, including huge hometown fights in Omaha, headliners at Madison Square Garden, and undisputed showdowns. This will be Crawford’s first fight since that domination of Spence last year. The question of when Crawford will return to the ring has finally been answered.

In Crawford’s first fight at 154 pounds, he will be facing a tough champion, as difficult a proposition as any in the super-welterweight division right now, as the American looks to become a four-weight division champion.

Madrimov is supremely skilled, powerful, and athletic. The Uzbek is a 29-year-old career-long 154-pounder with heavy hands, great footwork, and angles, developed through a decorated amateur career. He is fresh off a one-sided demolition job of then-unbeaten Magomed Kurbanov to win the vacant WBA title, stopping the Russian in five rounds. Madrimov may be a newcomer compared to Crawford, with fewer professional fights than Crawford has had world title fights, but the Uzbek’s performances at 154 pounds have been utterly impressive. Madrimov has risen to the summit of the 154-pound division in just 11 professional fights following a glittering amateur career.

This is arguably the toughest fight of Crawford’s career. Both men must be commended for taking on this challenge. Crawford, a man who started his professional career as a lightweight, is set to take on a fully-fledged, tough super-welterweight with the IQ to match the athleticism in Crawford’s first fight at the new weight. Madrimov seems happy to embrace the challenge of arguably the most complete fighter on the planet in the first defense of his title against a generational talent who has the ability to make an elite opponent look like a novice.

For Crawford, the incentive is clear. It’s all about legacy and cementing his greatness. He has already ruled at lightweight, super-lightweight and conquered the welterweight division, and is looking to become a four-weight division champion by beating the best. For Madrimov, this is a colossal opportunity too. For such a supreme talent, he is not a household name. By upsetting Crawford, his name will certainly gain recognition.

Crawford will undoubtedly enter as the favorite, but in boxing, as we know, nothing’s ever for sure. Randy Turpin was never supposed to defeat Sugar Ray Robinson. An undefeated Leon Spinks with only seven fights under his belt was certainly never supposed to beat Muhammad Ali. James ‘Buster’ Douglas knocking out an undefeated Mike Tyson sent shockwaves through the world, because absolutely nobody expected it.

Turki Alalshaikh is reportedly looking to make Crawford vs Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez in either December or January in the United States. On the path to that potential mega fight, moving up to face Madrimov first is the right step, but a dangerous one, and certainly not one to be overlooked.