Terence Crawford says he’s not eager about trying to turn out to be the undisputed champion at 154 after his struggle in opposition to celebrity Canelo Alvarez on September thirteenth. That’s not a shock, although, as a result of Crawford hit his ceiling together with his struggle in opposition to former WBA junior middleweight champion Israil Madrimov final summer time on August third.
That struggle confirmed that Crawford couldn’t struggle higher than that, and he would probably lose to different fighters within the 154-lb division. With minor tweaks in his sport, Madrimov would have his quantity in a rematch. It will be a tragic approach for Terence to go, dropping repeatedly to the predatory sharks within the division. They’d feed on him.
The 154 Minefield
The previous four-division world champion Crawford (41-0, 31 KOs) feels that he wouldn’t obtain credit score for beating the present champions Bakhram Muratazaliev [IBF] and Sebastian Fundora [WBC and WBO] as a result of they’re both not recognized by followers or have been overwhelmed already.
Crawford would turn out to be a three-division undisputed champion by defeating the 2 remaining champions at 154. Nonetheless, it will be robust for a slight 38-year-old to perform that job, primarily if he sticks to his once-a-year schedule.
It will imply Crawford preventing the highly effective puncher Murtazaliev and the 6’5″ Fundora at age 39 or 40. It doesn’t matter how good Crawford as soon as was; attempting these youthful, taller, stronger, and extra energetic fighters at that age wouldn’t be good for the Nebraska native. Crawford is aware of what he’s up in opposition to.
So, he’s saying he gained’t even attempt to turn out to be an undisputed champion. His possibilities of success are slim, and it will be a brutal approach for Crawford to endure his first profession defeat by getting knocked out by Murtazaliev, who’s deadly with both hand. It might be an entire mismatch.
If Crawford focuses on legacy and cash when he returns to 154, a struggle in opposition to Vergil Ortiz Jr. and Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis can be the way in which to go. Each would nonetheless be perilous fights for Crawford as a consequence of his age. If he chooses to take a one-year layoff after the Canelo struggle, he’d be preventing one in every of them at 39. That ain’t good if it’s Vergil Jr.
The tempo, excessive output, and heavy artillery Vergil Jr. can be dropping on Crawford would make it close to unattainable for him to take for lengthy with out crumbling or being pressured to flee. He bought fortunate with the scoring for the Israil Madrimov struggle, however Crawford isn’t going to maintain being given choices in fights that he’s getting out-slugged.
Madrimov’s Lesson
If ‘Little GGG’ Madrimov had been extra common, he’d have gained that struggle as a result of he had landed the extra brutal, cleaner photographs on Crawford. Simply think about what Vergil Ortiz Jr would do to him. It will be Madrimov 2.0.
“I felt stronger than him. I felt I punched harder than him. I felt I hurt him many times in the fight,” stated Terence Crawford to Cigar Speak about his struggle in opposition to Israil Madrimov final 12 months on August third.
Crawford sounds delusional right here. Israil ‘Little GGG’ Madrimov was the larger puncher, and he made it look straightforward with the way in which he was snapping Crawford’s head again all evening with onerous photographs.
Madrimov landed the cleaner, more durable photographs and clearly deserved the win, however the judges gave him the B-side therapy. Crawford’s face regarded extra beat up on the finish. There have been no cases of Madrimov being harm within the struggle. I’m simply questioning if age is beginning to catch as much as Crawford, which is inflicting him points together with his reminiscence. He could also be pondering of one other struggle.
“I felt he came prepared, he was ready, and he fought a good fight. He was awkward; he was patient. He was determined. He stuck to his game plan, and he did what he had to do to make it to the last bell,” stated Crawford, making a narrative that Madrimov needed to survive in opposition to him, which screams ego-protective.
No Undisputed Run
“Not at all, because I’m looking at the landscape of the 154-lb division. There are a lot of great fighters, but there are not a lot of defining fights at 154. There’s not a lot of legacy fights at 154,” stated Crawford, making it clear he has no real interest in turning into undisputed at 154.
“After I take a look at the panorama at 154. Bakhram. Individuals are going to say, ‘Who is Bakhram?’ He knocked out Tim Tszyu, who already had a loss.
“Fundora has already been knocked out. Throughout my career, people have taken credit away from me to try and diminish my accomplishments,” stated Crawford.
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Publish date : 2025-02-18 16:15:51
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