Terence Crawford aims to secure a world title in a fourth weight class when he faces WBA junior middleweight champion Israil Madrimov on Saturday in Los Angeles. This will be Crawford’s first fight in the junior middleweight division after winning titles at lightweight and becoming the undisputed champion at both junior welterweight and welterweight.
Crawford is widely recognized as one of the top fighters in the sport. His most recent performance elevated him to the top two spots on nearly every pound-for-pound list. In his last fight, Crawford dominated Errol Spence Jr. to become the undisputed welterweight champion, winning via a ninth-round TKO.
Since his victory over Spence in July 2023, Crawford has not returned to the ring. A rematch was initially expected, but Spence underwent cataract surgery, causing the rematch clause to expire. This allowed Crawford to focus on moving up in weight and preparing to face Madrimov.
“I feel great, come Saturday I got a treat for y’all,” Crawford said this week. “I’m expecting him to do anything he can to throw me off, but this is the Terence Crawford era and I’m taking that belt. I’m so competitive that when I think I’ve reached my ceiling, there’s always that extra push to do something I haven’t done before.”
Madrimov has an impressive amateur background, having won multiple championships. As a professional since 2018, he has a 10-0-1 record, with the sole blemish being a technical draw against Michel Soro in July 2022 due to a head clash. Madrimov previously defeated Soro by TKO in 2021 in a controversial match. In his most recent fight, Madrimov stopped Magomed Kurbanov in the fifth round to win the WBA title.
Despite Madrimov’s talent, Crawford is the heavy favorite to win and claim the title.
“I feel great, I’ve waited for this moment for a long time,” Madrimov said. “My dream is coming true. Saturday night I’ll show every boxing fan a great fight. I’m only thinking about the victory, and I will show everything that I have inside the ring.”
Looking beyond Saturday’s fight, Crawford has his sights set on a potential matchup with unified super middleweight champion Saul “Canelo” Alvarez. Although Alvarez initially dismissed the idea, he has since warmed to it, making it crucial for Crawford to avoid any missteps to keep the possibility alive.
Crawford vs. Madrimov fight card, odds
Terence Crawford -700 vs. Israil Madrimov (c) +475, WBA junior middleweight title
Isaac Cruz (c) -450 vs. Jose Valenzuela +330, WBA junior welterweight title
Andy Ruiz -300 vs. Jarrell Miller +230, heavyweights
David Morrell -3000 vs. Radivoje Kalajdzic +1400, light heavyweights
Jared Anderson -190 vs. Martin Bakole +155, heavyweights
Andy Cruz -2000 vs. Antonio Moran +1100, lightweights
Steven Nelson -1600 vs. Marcos Vazquez Rodriguez +750, super middleweights
Ziyad Almaayouf -2500 vs. Michal Bulik +950, welterweights
Prediction
Madrimov is not an easy opponent; he might be the best fighter in the division. However, Crawford is one of the best fighters globally and should be expected to win. Where Madrimov is good, Crawford is great, and that often makes the difference. While age and a year out of the ring might catch up to Crawford, it’s unlikely to happen on Saturday. Madrimov may find some success in the early rounds before Crawford takes control, likely resulting in a TKO in the eighth round. Prediction: Terence Crawford via TKO8