Promoter Eddie Hearn has expressed his doubts about the possibility of Terence Crawford granting former WBA junior middleweight champion Israil Madrimov a rematch after a hard-fought but controversial 12-round unanimous decision victory. Hearn believes that Crawford faced the toughest challenge of his career against Madrimov and was fortunate to escape with the win.
Crawford, with a record of 41-0, 31 KOs, was out-punched, marked up, and looked older than his years against Madrimov, who now stands at 10-1-1 with 7 KOs. The judges’ decision appeared to save Crawford from his first career defeat, raising questions about his readiness for bigger fights in the future, particularly against the likes of Canelo Alvarez.
Hearn has suggested that Crawford should face Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis in his next bout, but he doubts that Crawford would be willing to entertain that fight either. The punishment Crawford endured against Madrimov might have shaken his confidence in facing younger talents like Ennis, especially if it risks jeopardizing a potential matchup with Canelo.
Eddie Hearn boldly claimed that Israil Madrimov has proven himself to be the best fighter in the world at 154 pounds following his performance against Crawford. While some fans may agree with this assessment, there is no denying that Crawford’s victory was met with skepticism from spectators who saw Madrimov as the true winner of the fight.
Hearn expressed disappointment with the judges’ scorecards, feeling that Madrimov deserved more credit for his efforts. Despite it being just his 11th professional fight, Madrimov showed tremendous skill and determination against one of boxing’s top stars. Hearn believes that a knockout victory might have been necessary for Madrimov to sway the judges in his favor.
Looking to the future, Hearn suggested that Madrimov needs to secure significant wins in big fights to earn a potential rematch with Crawford. Despite the loss, Madrimov’s stock has risen in the boxing world, making him a viable contender for top fighters like the winner of the upcoming clash between Serhii Bohachuk and Vergil Ortiz Jr.
Terence Crawford’s victory over Israil Madrimov may have left more questions than answers about his true abilities. With doubts looming over his future opponents and the credibility of his win, Crawford will need to make significant adjustments to prove himself in the competitive world of boxing. Meanwhile, Israil Madrimov’s impressive performance has solidified his status as a rising star in the sport, with fans eagerly anticipating his next move in the ring.