Sounding like he’s acquired a chip on his shoulder, Terence Crawford mentioned he desires to show the naysayers flawed who suppose he’s previous going into his struggle that Saturday evening in opposition to WBA junior middleweight champion Israil Madrimov on the BMO Stadium in Los Angeles.
(Credit score: Melina Pizano/Matchroom)
Crawford’s Age and Ring Rust within the Highlight
Throughout as we speak’s media exercise, the 36-year-old Crawford (40-0, 31 KOs) to the media that he’s taking Madrimov’s WBA 154-lb belt on Saturday evening of their headliner on DAZN PPV.
There are numerous questions on whether or not Crawford could have gotten previous in a single day since his final struggle in opposition to Errol Spence final 12 months in July 2023.
Crawford has been out of the ring for 13 months, and he’s not fought a killer prior to now wherever near Madrimov at any level in his 16-year skilled profession.
Given all that’s going in opposition to the Omaha, Nebraska native Crawford, together with age, inactivity, and less-than-stellar opposition, he would possibly collapse on Saturday evening when he will get in with the athletic 29-year-old Madrimov, who seemed like a gymnast throughout as we speak’s exercise.
Previous Success No Assure of Future Glory
Chris Mannix: “Everybody is aware of how good Terence Crawford is. What’s the one factor you need to do to beat him?”
Israil Madrimov: “I solely take into consideration the victory, and I’ll present every thing I’ve contained in the ring.”
Chris Mannix: “Bud, you’re no stranger for giant occasions. What do you consider this occasion thus far? The primary struggle at 154. How do you’re feeling carrying that further weight?”
Terence Crawford: “I really feel nice. Come Saturday, I acquired a deal with for y’all.”
Mannix: “You mentioned Madrimov is the most effective at 154. What sort of struggle are you anticipating from him?”
Crawford: “I’m anticipating him to return out and attempt to do every thing he can to try to dehrone me. That is the Terence Crawford period and I’m taking that belt.”
Mannix: “You’re going to be 37 in a few months [September 28]. You’re nonetheless preventing in addition to you may have earlier than. You’re a first-ballot Corridor of Famer at any time when your profession ends. What retains you motivated to maintain stepping into these kinds of occasions?”
Crawford’s Fixation on Naysayers
Crawford: “The naysayers, those such as you that say I’m previous. I really feel nice. I by no means smoked and by no means drank. So my physique is nicely preserved. I’m simply so aggressive. Once I suppose I reached my ceiling, there’s at all times that further push to do one thing I’ve by no means completed earlier than.”
Mannix: “The variety of naysayers most likely dwindled so much within the final 12 months.”
Crawford: “I don’t care.”
“Typically, when you may have scary expertise, you’re prevented. That’s simply the case in boxing and a part of being a talented fighter,” mentioned commentator Sergio Mora. “It is a man who has been in his prime for the final ten years.”
