Promoter Eddie Hearn nonetheless views Israil Madrimov because the #1 fighter at 154 after what he feels was a controversial loss to well-known pound-for-pound star Terence Crawford on August third in Los Angeles.
Hearn says that individuals who view Crawford as the most effective nonetheless contemplate Madrimov (10-0-1, 7 KOs) #2 as a result of he got here inside a whisker of beating him on the scorecards for his or her headliner on the BMO Stadium in Las Vegas.
Sadly, there received’t be a rematch to clear up the controversy, however maybe down the highway if Crawford stays at 154 lengthy sufficient to expire of viable opponents.
“I believe individuals nonetheless don’t give Israil Madrimov sufficient credit score. He’s the most effective 154-pounder on this planet. In the event you suppose he misplaced the combat, then he’s the second 154-pounder on this planet,” stated promoter Eddie Hearn to the Stomping Grounds YouTube channel, about his view that Israil Madrimov continues to be the most effective fighter within the 154-lb divisions regardless of his controversial loss to Terence Crawford on August third.
Crawford is predicted to combat for the WBC interim title towards Vergil Ortiz Jr. relatively than for a full belt, however that combat is extra about enterprise. If Crawford had the chance to combat for a world title towards WBC/WBO 154-lb champion Sebastian Funfora, he’d take
Crawford at 168? ‘The Weight is Too A lot’
“I believe the load is an excessive amount of for Crawford, nevertheless it’s irrelevant as a result of it ain’t occurring,” Hearn stated about the opportunity of Crawford shifting as much as 168 for a combat towards Canelo Alvarez. “We’ll see what occurs with Crawford.”
We noticed towards Madrimov that Crawford doesn’t have the scale or energy to go additional than 154 as a result of he was the weaker fighter and appears afraid of preventing aggressively as he had prior to now.
“He’s a really inactive fighter. He’s getting on a bit [in age]. He’s made some huge cash,” stated Hearn about Crawford. “What are the starvation ranges like? Does he need to undergo one other division to change into undisputed? Good luck if he does.”
Crawford fights as soon as and has been doing that since 2020. He’s executed for the remainder of 2024 after having fought as soon as, and doesn’t plan on preventing till February 2025. He turns 37 in September, and he’ll be turning 38 subsequent yr.
“He’s a generational nice, however I do really feel like the load positively at 168 could be an excessive amount of,” stated Hearn.
Making Huge Fights
“There are a great deal of fights His Excellency Turki has needed to occur however didn’t occur, however this occurs to be a high-profile one,” stated Hearn a couple of combat between Canelo Alvarez and Crawford. “That is somebody who does what he needs, which is Saul, and somebody who has his personal plans and concepts, which is His Excellency.”
Canelo could be occupied with preventing Crawford if His Excellency waited till after his combat with Edgar Berlanga on September 14th to speak about it. The cash would clearly nonetheless must be proper for Canelo to conform to it as a result of he’ll need much more than what he’s been getting for a very long time.
“I’ve stated earlier than; all His Excellency needs to do is make the largest fights within the sport, and possibly like loads of followers, will get annoyed that they’ll’t occur,” stated Hearn. “He needed to make Crawford towards Canelo, and he needed to make Benavidez towards Canelo.
“It’s not doable for the time being. So we restrategized, refocused and we have a look at what fights might be made. I believe it was just a little little bit of frustration for His Excellency. ‘Why can’t we speak about it? Come on.’ The way in which he does enterprise, ‘Let’s make it occur.’
“One of the best ways to explain His Excellency is he’s a combat fan with an enormous finances,” stated Hearn.
