By: Sean Crose
“I feel good,” the one and only Terence Crawford said on the eve of his junior middleweight debut. “I feel great. I’m ready to fight, but everyone keeps telling me to enjoy the moment because one day it’s all going to be over, so grab it while you can.” Crawford is having a moment of his own. His most recent fight, a one-sided domination of welterweight champion Errol Spence last year, left no doubt as to what a legend the Nebraska native really is.
“As I always say, everything happens for a reason,” Crawford continued, “and for that reason, God didn’t bless me then, but He has blessed me now that I’m more mature and can handle everything that comes my way. Who knows where I would be if I had everything I wanted when he was young and immature.” It’s an interesting perspective. Boxing has seen too many stories of successful young stars ending up in disastrous ways – both in and out of the ring.
Like Crawford, Israil Madrimov is enjoying the moment. As Crawford’s opponent this weekend in LA, the fighter known as “The Dream” is aiming to make the most of this unique opportunity. “I’ve been waiting for this moment for a long time,” he said, “and here we are, just waiting for Saturday, where I want to win. I’m enjoying this moment and for the first time in my life, I just imagined something like this would happen to me.”
So is the little-known Madrimov ready for the power of “Bud” Crawford? “We trained very well and I feel great,” he said. “I want to make a good game plan and it will be a great fight on Saturday. I don’t think it’s about size, but about the experience and knowledge he can bring. This is my weight class and I am the champion, I have to defend my belt.” Indeed, Madrimov’s WBA junior middleweight title is at stake on Saturday night. In fact, there will be more than a little bit at stake for both fighters.
If Crawford wins on Saturday, he will become a four-division champion—a feat that remains an incredible feat in boxing to this day. If Madrimov pulls off a surprise, on the other hand, his life will never be the same. Shocking surprises, after all, have a way of changing the fortunes of the underdog.
