Terence Crawford is the epitome of the great fighter of the “four belt era.” He has amassed nine alphabet belts in 18 world title fights (all wins; 15 by KO) in three weight classes. However, some might argue that if we subtract those belts from his record and look only at the quality of his opponents, it falls compact of what is required to establish an “all-time” greatness.
But that’s a cynical and completely untrue view. It’s one expressed by those boxing hipsters, and I’m sure you know the type, who rattle off the names and biographies of legends of the past while lamenting those who lead today.
It’s not Crawford’s fault that he operates in an era where the only thing at the end of boxing’s yellow road is undisputed status, a goal that “Bud” has reached twice. To get there, stops at the door of inferior opposition are an inevitable byproduct of pleasing multiple sanctioning bodies at once; in every unification contest, there’s a mandatory task that must be completed to satisfy the Alphabets, and even title wins in today’s era can happen against opponents who came to the belts somewhat haphazardly. Furthermore, when comparing today’s greats with yesterday’s heroes, it’s also critical to remember how relatively infrequently today’s fighters get to fight.
In compact, don’t hate the player.
The fairest way to judge a fighter’s place in history is to first judge his place on his own timeline—simply because that’s the only barometer they can control in any way. And Crawford, the most vicious of ambidextrous fighters, proved to be the best fighter of his era at lightweight, welterweight, and welterweight, carving his own Hall of Fame plaque while standing elevated as the best and most complete fighter in the entire sport.
The left-handed player is looking to win his 10th title on Saturday night.t sanctioning the belt in the fourth division when he challenges WBA junior middleweight chief Israil Madrimov. Whether this proves to be just another notch on the bedpost, like the victorious efforts over Thomas Dulorme and Jeff Horne that may now be recognized, or something more significant – well, it’s too early to tell.
At 10-0-1 (7 KOs), Madrimov is a relative newbie in elite circles, and it could be argued that the 29-year-old Uzbek isn’t quite there yet. Whether Crawford wins easily or tough, or even loses, we’ll need to see more from Madrimov to assess what exactly he represents for Bud’s legacy. If, for example, he’s put together an impressive career, then any win over him would certainly improve with age. However, if a loss spells the beginning of the end for Madrimov — similar to the losses Crawford dealt to Dulorme and Horn — this fight may ultimately mean little.
A talented amateur whose rise through the pro ranks was suitably steep, the Indio, Calif., fighter earned his belt with an impressive knockout of Magomed Kurbanov in March. While it was a well-matched fight, few would have ranked either Madrimov or Kurbanov in the top three in the 154-pound division entering the fight for the vacant “world” title.
Madrimov has been a tough opponent for the rising fighter, though his wins over Kurbanov and Michel Soro are arguably his best ever and make this fight with Crawford a giant leap in class – even if Crawford is the one moving up in weight. For now, Madrimov has more potential than solidity.
A clean-cut, well-rounded fighter with a swagger in both gloves, Madrimov will likely start brisk and will need to do so if he wants to have a chance at a breakthrough victory. And if we’re going to create a scenario where Crawford loses, which is honestly like writing a fairy tale, the fact that the Nebraskan tends to take his time in the early rounds is the only place to start.
In three of his last four fights, against Errol Spence Jr., Shawn Porter and Kell Brook, Crawford has been ruled the loser in the first round by at least two of the three judges. Continuing the theme, Brook was level on two cards after three rounds, and Porter was in sight in all three after nine.
But it might be stretching the truth to say he’s a leisurely starter. Crawford, a true generational talent, tends to operate in cruise control until he decides or is told to put his foot down. Overtaking Crawford is one thing, but winning a race has proven nearly impossible so far.
A more telling statistic is this: He has won his last eight fights by knockout. Make no mistake, Crawford is a brutal finisher when he feels like it (just ask the lightweight heavyweights and heavyweights he reportedly demolished in sparring). He is also adept at taking down undefeated fighters like Andrey Klimov, Yuriorkis Gamboa, Viktor Postol, Julius Indongo, Horn, Jose Benavidez Jr, Egidijus Kavaliauskas and Spence Jr.
Another straw to pick in favor of Madrimov is the weight. This will be Crawford’s first fight at 154 pounds — about 19 pounds north of the lightweight division where he began his title run. While some great fighters have moved up from lower weight classes to junior middleweight, some — like Manny Pacquiao, Floyd Mayweather and Pernell Whitaker — have quickly realized they’re more effective at welterweight. That’s a scenario that could play out here, since there’s no guarantee that Crawford, who dominated at 147, will be the same at 154. Still, the prospect of the extra seven pounds being so inconvenient that he’ll be outboxed by Madrimov (he’s half an inch taller than the 5-foot-8 Crawford) is tough to imagine.
The other factor “against” Crawford is uncomplicated to dismiss. While he’s been inactive since his majestic defeat of Spence Jr. last July, a 13-month layoff is nothing novel. Since December 2019, his average time away from the ring between fights has been 11 months. What can’t be so easily ignored, however, is the possibility that Crawford will suddenly leisurely down. After all, he’s just a month away from turning 37, and the longer he fights, the more inevitable that fade becomes. We may see evidence of that on Saturday at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles.
More likely, though, we’ll see more of what we’ve grown accustomed to. Madrimov – who will have a four-inch advantage in reach – is tough and mighty and could surprise the favourite with his power, especially when the action gets close. While he can win rounds, he has yet to prove he’s a sweet spot defensively, and Crawford’s ace of counter-punching as he shifts between positions and picks his moments to attack will ultimately disorient the younger man.
It’s pure guesswork how Crawford will win, because, first, we don’t know if his punches will have the same power in the juniors, and second, we have no idea how robust Madrimitov’s chin will be under fire. Still, the feeling is that the antique champion’s dominance in the second half will become so complete that a stoppage will occur – perhaps even initiated by the Uzbek’s corner.
Afterwards, there should be no doubt that we are witnessing the fight not only of one of the best warriors of his time, but one of the best of all time.
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