A much bigger, smaller, and older-looking Terence Crawford confirmed off his kind right this moment, sparring retired Andre Ward within the remaining 2 1/2 weeks of preparation for what is predicted to be the hardest struggle of his profession on August third towards WBA Junior middleweight Champion Israil Madrimov.
Most agree that this can be a troublesome struggle for Crawford as a result of he’ll get hit with energy pictures by Madrimov, which he’s by no means skilled earlier than throughout his 16-year profession. Crawford has solely fought 4 occasions since 2020, beating these guys:
– Errol Spence
– David Avanesyan
– Shawn Porter
– Kell Brook
These are tune-up-level fighters, and none of them are related to Crawford’s struggle towards Madrimov on August third. These should not the kind of fighters you face in case you’re about to struggle ‘Little GGG’ in a match the place you’re going to get hit loads.
The 12 months out of the ring since Crawford’s win over Errol Spence appears to have aged him as a result of he doesn’t look bodily like the identical man he was 12 months in the past.
Within the sparring footage, Crawford held his lead hand far out earlier than him, utilizing it to forestall Ward from getting shut. Japanese European fighters typically use that type, so Madrimov is not going to have an issue determining the way to overcome it.
Crawford should stand his floor to win this struggle as a result of he can’t win by jabbing and retreating all night time, which he was doing within the sparring with Ward.
Coaching with 40-year-old, out-of-shape-looking former two-division world champion Ward isn’t the best option to put together for Madrimov as a result of they’re two completely different fighters. Madrimov is younger at 29, shorter than Ward, trim, a a lot larger puncher, and has an Japanese European type.
Ward’s expertise with an older model of Sergiy Kovalev gained’t assist Crawford put together for Madrimov as a result of he doesn’t struggle like him.
Nobody is aware of what to anticipate from Crawford (40-0, 31 KOs). He appeared older from being out of the ring for a 12 months, and he’s bulked as much as get to 154 to face the massive puncher Madrimov (10-0-1, 7 KOs).
“I get some rounds with one of many GOATs. Two GOATS,” mentioned Terence Crawford on social media, speaking about his sparring with an out-of-shape-looking 40-year-old Andre Ward in getting ready for the 29-year-old phenom Israil Madrimov on August third.
Crawford hasn’t overwhelmed anybody aside from a pale Errol Spence Jr. for him to be thought-about one of many best of all time. Giving himself a self-label of GOAT is pretentious on his half as a result of he solely has the automotive crash-wrecked Spence on his 16-year resume. The remainder of the names are guys Kell Brook, Amir Khan, and Shawn Porter. They have been all outdated by the point Crawford fought them.
Ward wasn’t a GOAT as a result of he solely had wins over an outdated Kovalev, and each of these have been controversial. He misplaced the primary struggle within the eyes of many followers, and within the second, he was given a questionable stoppage win after showing to hit Kovalev with repeated low blows.
I watched the struggle dwell and counted three consecutive low blows, which the referee, Tony Weeks, missed. Ward retired with out preventing Dmitry Bivol and Artur Beterbiev, which doubtless wouldn’t have ended badly for him if he’d fought them.
