LOS ANGELES – What is known and seen about Terence Crawford as a boxer is spectacular.
One of only two lively dual undisputed world champions. The ability to throw punches and powerful two-handed strikes. Forty fights, 40 wins, 31 knockouts. And a hell of a mean streak that fuels his desire to finish off wounded opponents.
Now in his 35s, the 36-year-old Crawford has made it his mission to keep his fitness levels up to par, working with fitness and supplementation expert Victor Conte for his last three fights to take his preparation to the next level.
As Crawford now moves up a weight class ahead of Saturday’s World Boxing Association junior middleweight title fight against modern champion Israil Madrimov of Uzbekistan at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles (DAZN, PPV.com), his physical condition and conditioning are key elements he will rely on as he attempts to extend his legacy.
From what Conte says, the results are excellent.
“Since I’ve been working with Terence – and this is the third fight – based on the data and the blood work we’ve collected, this is the best shape we’ve ever seen him in,” Conte said. “I would classify it as superhuman.”
Maintaining his connection with Conte, Crawford trains in the rarefied altitudes of Colorado Springs, Colo., at 6,700 feet above sea level. The impact of that training is evident in the excellent conditioning Crawford has long displayed, defeating champions including Errol Spence Jr., Shawn Porter, Kell Brook and others.
Crawford set up camp in Colorado Springs on July 25, leaving for his hometown in Nebraska before arriving in Los Angeles earlier this week.
Returning to sea level changes an athlete’s body, Conte says, making some of their fitness readings “loud and misleading.” So this week, scientists worked to bring water levels back up to those seen in Colorado.
“You hit the rebound and your (numbers and efficiency) go back up to 8, 9, 10, 11… all the benefits of his training in Colorado Springs to get to the peak (of efficiency). Everything was planned perfectly,” Conte said. “He will get the maximum benefit.”
Conte said that during Crawford’s time in Los Angeles, Crawford was fitted with something called an “oxygen mask” that allows him to achieve what Conte calls super-oxygenation.
It would be best if Conte explained the scientific process.
“So you’re breathing 20.9 percent oxygen when you breathe at sea level. Terence is breathing, through an open mask, 68 percent oxygen,” Conte said. “What happens is that your red blood cells have hemoglobin, which is like the seats on a bus. You fill them up, and that transports nutrients and oxygen to your muscle tissue. Your blood is 55 percent plasma or liquid and 45 percent red blood cells. So when you fill all the seats with oxygen from the red blood cells, it spills over into some of the plasma and some of the liquid – that’s called super-oxygenation.”
“So if you ask, ‘Where are you going to take him to get him higher than sea level to recover?’ Well, you’re going to do that with equipment.”
Conte has worked challenging to resurrect his career after federal law enforcement raided his infamous Bay Area steroid-producing facility, BALCO, 21 years ago, where athletes including Olympic sprinters Marion Jones and Tim Montgomery, boxing champion Shane Mosley, baseball king Barry Bonds and others were among its clients.
After serving four months in a low-security federal prison, Conte began a modern chapter in his life by launching a modern line of legal fitness, sleep and recovery supplements under the banner of his modern, wildly successful company, SNAC, which has ties to several former, current and recent boxing champions, including Devin Haney, Demetrius Andrade and Claressa Shields.
With superoxygenation, Conte says Crawford “has the most powerful concentrated oxygen package possible in his (hotel) room.” The “oxygen mask” is equipped with a diffuser, Conte explains, that takes the richer oxygen and “injects it into his nostril and mouth. You take in 68 percent of the oxygen and you exhale waste products—lactic acid, ammonia, carbon dioxide. We flush those waste products out of his system.”
At Thursday’s press conference, Crawford spoke about his excellent physical condition.
“I feel like I’m going to be stronger. I’m going to be full of energy. I won’t have to lose another seven pounds, so there’s less stress on my body,” Crawford said. “I’m ready. I’m going to feel great. Right now, I feel good.”
The surprising effects of Crawford’s preparation were observed in blood tests and lively marker sensors on Crawford, which measured his heart rate, blood flow rate, respiratory rate, hydration, and blood oxygen saturation.
Crawford’s heart rate is one-third slower than the average person, and his resting respiratory rate is extremely impressive.
“I like how tranquil he is, I’ve never seen him so relaxed,” Conte said. “When he comes back between rounds, his heart rate drops very quickly. Every time he comes out, he’s fresh. He’s a very scientifically prepared boxer.
“The key is training and recovery, and you have to make sure you have the right amount of time to recover. It all comes from those metrics… we’re putting science into it. It’s not old-school boxing.”
Conte assured that Crawford’s weight cut ahead of Friday morning’s weigh-ins will be uncomplicated.
“It’s like a perfect landing of a 747 … the easiest cut it’s ever made. That’s what science does … we’ll land perfectly on that scale,” Conte said.
“Terence is probably the most scientifically prepared boxer in the history of the sport.”
His experience will be imperative if Crawford finishes his preparations with an impressive win over Madrimov, which would augment the likelihood of a later clash with undisputed super middleweight champion Canelo Alvarez.
Conte claims Crawford can reach 168 pounds in three months.
“They would need three months to promote the fight, so there’s plenty of time for that,” Conte said. “He’s got a team of very bright people around him, increasing the calories and all that…
“… You can develop fast-twitch type 2B muscle fibers. That’s where explosive power and speed come from, not from running tempo. That’s interval training and weightlifting.”
First up is Madrimov.
“That’s his (Canelo) plan, but now that’s the whole push,” Conte said. “You don’t talk about Step B until you beat Step A.
“Trust me, Terence is the boss. He gives me the freedom to do things. He’s a very bright guy who understands how things work and is fully committed. It was great to work with him because he listens, he understands, he’s clever.”
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