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Terence Crawford vs. Madrimov: Night weigh-in sets stage for substantial event

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Image: Terence Crawford vs. Madrimov: Late Night Weigh-In Sets the Stage for a Big Event

Promoter Eddie Hearn revealed today that the weigh-in for the Terence Crawford vs. Israil Madrimov event will take place at 9pm on the Friday prior to the event on Saturday, August 3 at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles and will be broadcast live on DAZN.

Hearn says the Crawford-Madrimov weigh-in will be held outdoors in Los Angeles. It’s that behind schedule on a Friday night because they want it to be an “event” with music to get people involved.

Madrimov (10-0-1, 7 KOs), the WBA junior middleweight champion, is an underdog against Crawford (40-0, 31 KOs), but Hearn likes his fighter, Madrimov, and his chances of causing a surprise against the 36-year-old.

Crawford is moving up to 154 pounds for the first time after an extended layoff since July 2023 and facing a guy who fights in an unconventional style, much like he does. Madrimov is slower than Crawford and has less experience as a pro. But he hits harder, is much younger, at 29, and has been more vigorous in his career.

Hearn is not talking about a plan for Madrimov if he wins on Saturday night. If he beats Crawford, many boxing fans will be clamoring for him to face Canelo Alvarez in 2025. However, His Excellency Turki Alalshikh seems to have his eye on a Crawford-Canelo fight in 2025 and may stick to that plan even if Terence loses to Madrimov.

It wouldn’t be an ideal way for Crawford to fight Canelo. Still, the Mexican star has fought smaller opponents recently, fighting Edgar Berlanga, Jaime Munguia and John Ryder.

If Crawford returns to fight Canelo and loses to Madrimov, it will be a reference to the Mexican star’s recent, unexciting fights.

“There will be a press conference at the Chinese Theatre on Thursday. It will be stunning. There will be an outdoor weigh-in in Los Angeles on Friday at 9pm because the official weigh-in will be earlier in the day of course,” said Eddie Hearn iFL TV on the weighing of Terence Crawford and Ismail Madrimov.

Having the Crawford-Madrimov weigh-in behind schedule Friday night will make it compelling for East Coast fans who would have to stay up behind schedule to watch it. This is great news for West Coast fans as they will be able to watch it when they are not working.

“It’s going to be an unbelievable crowd,” Hearn said when asked why the weigh-in was taking place so behind schedule on Friday night. “Why do it at five or six? Why not do it as an event in the evening with music and get people interacting?”

It will be compelling to see what kind of crowd there is at the weigh-in on Friday, since it’s such a huge event. Crawford’s fans are mostly in Nebraska, and Madrimov is still unknown to fans in the States.

It wouldn’t be surprising if the majority of fans who show up for the weigh-ins are there to see the fight between Isaac Cruz and Jose “Rayo” Valenzuela, who some believe will be the main event on Saturday night.

“It’s an eight-fight card on Saturday. It’s unbelievable. So, from top to bottom, the promotion, the activity in fight week. It’s the biggest thing I’ve been involved with in America and I can’t wait. I think it’s a brilliant card,” Hearn said.

Eddie is right about the fight card on Saturday. It’s incredible and certainly one of the best boxing fights in many years.

Saturday’s fight card:

  • Terence Crawford vs. Israil Madrimov
  • Isaac “Pitbull” Cruz Jose “Rayo” Valenzuela fight
  • Jared Anderson vs. Martin Bakole
  • David Morrell vs. Radivoje “Heated Rod” Kalajdzic
  • Andy Cruz vs. Antonio Moran
  • Andy Ruiz Jr. vs. Jarrell Miller

“Madrimov is not a household name. You don’t have to be polite to him. He’s an incredible fighter. He’s a world champion who is on the way to establishing himself in the sport. When he won the world title in Saudi Arabia, [against Magomed Kurbanov last March in Riyadh]“We never expected him to fight Terence Crawford,” Hearn said.

Madrimov was fortunate to get the fight with Crawford, as Sebastian Fundora was Bud’s original target for the 154-pound world title. Fundora chose Errol Spence, resulting in Crawford going with his second favorite, Madrimov, to try to win the 154-pound world title.

“We were going to have two or three defenses, maybe look for a unification fight and fight Tim Tszyu or Errol Spence. Crawford comes in and it’s one of those tough decisions. In terms of maneuvering Madrimov, it’s probably not the fight you would expect. But in terms of the opportunity, the money, the legacy and the faith of the team, he accepted it.”

The money Madrimov will make for the Crawford fight is much bigger than what he would make fighting Tszyu, Sebastian Fundora or Errol Spence. Turki Alalshikh has put together a huge preliminary card for Saturday’s Crawford-Madrimov fight, and we probably wouldn’t have seen that if Madrimov had fought those other guys.

“No, ‘Oh, it’s just a few pounds.’ He took that to mean, ‘I can win this fight.’ [Madrimov’s trainer] Joel Diaz: “We think we can win this fight.”

Madrimov’s Super Bowl is Saturday, and a win over Crawford would make him a substantial name in the sport. Even if Madrimov doesn’t get the Canelo fight, a rematch with Crawford is a sure thing. The Nebraska native has too much pride not to try to avenge his loss to Madrimov.

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Ryan Rozicki is waiting for Badou Jack’s consent to mandatory cooperation with the WBC

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Badou Jack Rozicki Mikaelian WBC

The World Boxing Council (WBC) ordered world cruiserweight champion Badou “The Ripper” Jack (20-1-1, 19 KO) to make a mandatory title defense against Ryan “The Bruiser” Rozicki (20-1), number 1 in the WBC ranking – 1, 19 KOs).

If both camps fail to successfully negotiate an agreement, the WBC will organize a tender on February 4, followed by the Jack vs. Rozicki. Rozicki’s promoter, Three Lions Promotions, immediately sent Team Jacek an offer to promote the fight in Canada last week.

“We are waiting for their counteroffer,” explained promoter Dan Otter of Three Lions Promotions. “Boxing has had a huge resurgence in Canada and Ryan is leading the way. He is one of the most electrifying and hardest-hitting fighters in boxing, definitely in the cruiserweight division. He wants the WBC green belt and ultimately the unification of the division. Ryan will fight Jack anywhere for the belt.”

29-year-old Rozicki, born in Sydney (Nova Scotia) and living in Hamilton (Ontario), fought 22 professional fights against 21 different opponents (twice against Yamil Alberto Peralta), stopping 19 of the 20 opponents he defeated. an eye-opening 95-KO percentage.

Jack, 41, was a 2008 Olympian representing his native Sweden. He is a three-division world champion, as well as the WBC super middleweight and World Boxing Association (WBA) lightweight heavyweight title holder. Jack has a record of 5-0-2 (2 KO) in world championship fights.

“We respect Jack and I don’t want to sound disrespectful,” Otter added, “but he’s over 40 years vintage and has been relatively inactive for two years (only one fight). He brings a lot of experience and respect to the ring, but he will fight a newborn defender with a lot of power. Jack is going to struggle and honestly, I don’t think he’ll make it past the first few rounds.”

Ryan Rozicki is on a mission to become the first Canadian cruiserweight world champion.

The next move is Badou Jack’s.

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Floyd Mayweather’s record is not normal, it can’t happen in 70 years

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Floyd Mayweather 50-0

Floyd Mayweather’s incredible 50-0 record is not normal and cannot be repeated in sports for another seventy years.

This is the view of Saudi Arabian president Turki Alalshikh, who wants to adopt the UFC model in which fighters lose many fights during their career.

In a speech as he hosted the Ring Magazine Awards after acquiring the long-running boxing publication from Oscar De La Hoya, Alalshikh was unequivocal in his opinion.

“Now losing some fights in boxing must be normal,” he explained. “All fighters want a career similar to Floyd Mayweather – no losses. This may happen once every 50, 60 or 70 years.

“We need it [to be] like currently in the UFC model, where champions lose and win,” added the matchmaker during the Riyad season.

Mayweather rose through the sport in the tardy 1990s to become one of its youngest superstars. Mayweather’s professional success came after winning a bronze medal at the Olympics after losing to Serafim Todorov.

Winning world titles in five weight classes, Mayweather was untouchable. The Grand Rapids native only came close to defeat a few times. He dominated Manny Pacquiao and overtook Canelo Alvarez and Oscar De La Hoya after heated debates, with decisions that should have been made unanimously.

Towards the end of his career, Mayweather chose to face Andre Berto and Conor McGregor, easily winning and ending his boxing career at the age of 50 without ever going out. Calling himself “the greatest of all time,” Mayweather earned first-ballot Hall of Fame honors and is widely considered one of, if not the greatest defensive fighter of all time.

However, Alalshikh says this type of career needs to end so that fans can get the most out of boxing, as is the case with the Ultimate Fighting Championship. Boxing needs to become more attractive, and Alalshikh sees the failures of top stars as a way to keep interest at an all-time high.

In this sport, many boxers enjoy undefeated streaks, the most notable of which is Oleksandr Usyk. The Ukrainian Pound for Pound King is 23-0 and has beaten the best he has to offer in his division and cruiserweight classification.

It remains a mystery how Alalshikh plans to make Usyk suffer while he dominates everyone else. By the time his grand plan goes into action, Usyk will be long gone, and Gervonta Davis, Shakur Stevenson and Devin Haney may be more realistic targets.

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Manny Pacquiao remains the favorite to win the title against Mario Barrios

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Manny Pacquiao vs Barrios

WBN understands that despite alternative options emerging, it is more likely that Manny Pacquiao will face Mario Barrios next.

Bob Santos, coach of WBC welterweight champion Barrios, told World Boxing News that he is currently in contact with Pacquiao’s team. Asked by WBN if he had spoken to Pacquiao or representatives of any other challenger, Santos replied: “Yes, Pacquiao’s promoter, Sean Gibbons.” Pressed on whether Barrios vs Pacquiao might happen next, he added: “It’s challenging to say. We’ll have to see how this plays out.”

WBN contacted Santos after Conor Benn emerged as a potential alternative to Barrios. The British fighter, who recently returned from a suspension following two positive drug tests, is keen to return to competition.

Benn showed favor with the World Boxing Council at the recent WBC Convention, the WBC Evaluation Committee and during an interview with the sanctioning body over the weekend. “The Destroyer” is ranked second in the rankings at 147 pounds, despite less than solid opponents during his time in exile, during which Benn competed twice in the United States while his career in the United Kingdom was in doubt.

As he battled to clear his name and with the British Anti-Doping Authority finding no evidence that Benn had intentionally taken ostarine, the 28-year-old’s career took a pointed nosedive. Despite this, he remains highly rated and at least one step away from fighting for an eliminator or one of the remaining championship titles.

However, Pacquiao remains Barrios’ favorite. Now it’s up to the boxing legend and Hall of Famer who got the first votes to secure his shot. WBN believes a July date – most likely at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas – is the most realistic date for a Nevada swan song.

Pacquiao could extend his record as the oldest welterweight champion by six years if he can secure a huge victory over the 29-year-old world champion. At 46 years antique, such a scenario remains unlikely, but he can never be compared to one of the greatest players of this generation.

Unlike heavier boxers and his training regiment, Pacquiao looks in great shape despite his advanced age. Everything is set for a massive return to the boxing capital of the world, provided Pacquiao and his team can manage his political ambitions, which are expected to run from this month until May. After that time, Pacquiao could find himself in the summer finals and become the all-time champion, regardless of the result.

Barrios is based in the city, where he trained with Santos, and would be the perfect opponent to see out the career of one of the greatest fighters in history.

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