It looks like foes are ready to turn into friends. Terence Crawford is stepping up for one of the biggest challenges of his career, facing the undisputed super middleweight champion Canelo Alvarez. But Crawford might have a secret weapon—his former opponent, Israil Madrimov. The 30-year-old Uzbek fighter gave Crawford a tough time when they clashed on August 3rd last year at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles. Many expected Crawford to dominate, but Madrimov refused to back down, outboxing and out-slugging him in moments. Crawford still got the win, but it wasn’t the one-sided fight fans had predicted. Now, with the Nebraska native facing an even bigger test against Mexican boxer Canelo Alvarez, Israil Madrimov is open to lending a hand.
In a conversation with FightHubTV, the WBA junior middleweight was asked if he would help Crawford prepare for Canelo. His response was simple, as he said, “Yes, I need pract (practice) for my next fight. If he calls me, no problem.”
Surprisingly, it wouldn’t be the first time they played a crucial role in someone’s camp against Canelo Alvarez. When Dmitry Bivol shocked the world by outclassing one of the best boxers in 2022, there was one key figure behind the scenes—Israil Madrimov. The 30-year-old helped Bivol sharpen his skills, sparring with him in training camp. And it paid off.
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Madrimov takes pride in the role he played in Bivol’s career-defining victory. In a conversation with Snow Queen LA, he reflected on the experience and said, “I helped Bivol in camp for Canelo. Bivol is considered a P4P fighter now. I’m glad I was able to help him out. It was a pleasure for me to play such a role in our team to secure the victory over number 1 boxer in the world.” Now he could be in a position to do the same for Crawford.
Having shared the ring with Crawford and played a key role in preparing for Alvarez, Madrimov is in a rare position to make an informed prediction. So who does he think will win?
Israil Madrimov makes bold prediction on Terence Crawford vs Canelo Alvarez
Speaking to Fight Hub TV, he weighed in on the matchup. Since the fight is happening at 168 lbs, he believes Canelo might have the upper hand. “If 168 pounds, I think it’s Canelo,” he stated. But he didn’t rule out Crawford either.
According to Madrimov, it all depends on how the fight plays out. “If 12 rounds Crawford wins, I think if knockout, it’s Canelo,” he explained. His take is simple—if Crawford can make it to the final bell, he’ll likely win on points. But if Canelo lands his power shots early, it could be lights out.
While Terence Crawford and Canelo Alvarez are gearing up for their blockbuster fight in September, Israil Madrimov is preparing for a huge challenge of his own. On Saturday night, he’ll step into the ring against Vergil Ortiz Jr. for the interim WBC super welterweight title. The fight is part of Riyadh Season’s The Last Crescendo megacard at Kingdom Arena in Saudi Arabia.
With his own battle ahead, Madrimov might not have time to be a full-time sparring partner. But if his former opponent picks up the phone, the Uzbek fighter has made it clear—he’s ready to help. Will Crawford take him up on the offer?
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