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Terence Crawford is mere hours away from his fight against Israil Madrimov at the BMO Stadium in Los Angeles.

Yet, his former opponent Shawn Porter is already talking past his current bout and on Crawford’s potential legacy fight against, none other than the man himself, Canelo Álvarez. While Crawford looks to acquire yet another belt in a fourth division, his main goal is to climb another weight class. Why?

This will take the two-division undisputed champion closer to the division where Canelo Alvarez rules. Since beating Errol Spence Jr. to a pulp last year, Crawford had but one goal – to end his career on a high note by fighting the current unified super middleweight champion Canelo. While Canelo hasn’t paid much heed to the challenge, the fans surely did, who are divided on what would happen. But Porter, who knows quite well what Crawford could do, says he is “concerned”.

Canelo Alvarez Terence Crawford

JUST IN: ‘Terence Crawford may be the most scientifically prepared boxer in the history of the sport’

It’s a tough fight to predict, no doubt—just look at Crawford’s dominant performance against an elite-level boxer like Errol Spence Jr. Regardless, speaking to Marcos Villegas from Fight Hub TV, Porter commented on Crawford climbing two divisions, and the power difference that exists between the boxers fighting in two different weight classes. “I am concerned about him absorbing a Canelo punch, especially through the course of 12 rounds,” Porter confessed.

However, Porter had an interesting analysis, suggesting Canelo would eventually slow down as he had done in most of his recent fights. So, it led Porter to believe Canelo would start the fight on the front foot “and bang on [Crawford] and break him down” before the late rounds when he won’t have the energy while Crawford would.

Even so, Shawn Porter didn’t seem convinced that he had the answer to who would emerge victorious, claiming, “But there’s so many components that make a champion… It’s a conversation that lasts an hour easily when we talk about all the components that Terence Crawford has.” Porter might not be sure if Bud could pull off the win, but Crawford’s other former opponent does.

Since his fight against Crawford last year, ‘The Truth’ hasn’t fought in over a year, even though a rumored fight against Sebastian Fundora is being negotiated for later this year. Regardless, Spence actually had the opportunity to activate his rematch clause with Crawford but chose not to. Whether it’s because he needs more time to prepare for Crawford or has lost hope, Spence Jr sure knows how formidable Terence Crawford is.

According to a tweet from talkSport editor Michael Benson, ‘The Truth’ spoke on a potential fight between Crawford and Canelo. He said, “If Crawford wants to challenge himself to be great, let him try to be great. I’m with it.” As for who he thinks will win, Spence’s words exuded confidence in his former opponent. “I’d be going for Bud. I don’t know if he’d win or lose, but if anybody can pull it off, he can pull it off,” Spence added.

Even though Israil Madrimov has quite the amateur record and stands a decent chance of beating Terence Crawford, it seems people can’t stop talking about a potential fight against Canelo Alvarez. But ‘Bud’ needs to take care of Madrimov first for the potential Canelo fight to turn into a real one.

What’s known about and what’s seen from Terence Crawford as a boxer is spectacular.

One of only two active double-undisputed world champions. The ability to jab and throw power punches with both hands. Forty fights, 40 victories, 31 knockouts. And a hellacious nasty streak that fuels his eagerness to finish wounded opponents.

As he has transformed to his mid-30s, Crawford, 36, has opted to ensure he’s performing at his athletic peak, so he’s aligned for the past three fights with expert conditioning and supplement guru Victor Conte to take his preparation to the next level.

Terence Crawford Israil Madrimov

JUST IN: “The Olympics was never in my dream” – Terence Crawford no Regrets Missing Olympics

As Crawford now moves up in weight for Saturday’s World Boxing Association junior-middleweight title fight against new champion Israil Madrimov of Uzbekistan at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles (DAZN, PPV.com), his fitness and conditioning capacity are essential elements he’ll lean heavily upon in seeking to further his legacy.

From what Conte reports, the results are sublime.

“Since I’ve been working with Terence – and this is the third fight – from the data and blood data we’ve collected, this is the best shape we’ve ever seen him,” Conte said. “I would classify it as super-human.”

While maintaining contact with Conte, Crawford trains in the rarefied elevation of Colorado Springs, Colo, at 6,700 feet above sea level. The impact of that training is seen basically in the superb fitness Crawford has long shown in defeating champions including Errol Spence Jr., Shawn Porter, Kell Brook and more.

Crawford broke camp in Colorado Springs on July 25, departing for a hometown appearance in Nebraska before arriving in Los Angeles early this week.

Coming back to sea level alters an athlete’s system, making some fitness readings “haywire and confused,” Conte says, so they’ve worked this week to restore the levels that were seen in Colorado.

“You hit the rebound and your (figures and performance) climb back up to 8, 9, 10, 11 … all the benefits of him training in Colorado Springs to getting the peak (performance). It’s all been timed perfectly,” Conte said. “He’s going to get the maximum benefit.”

Upon Crawford’s time in Los Angeles, Conte said, Crawford’s equipped with something called an “oxy mask” that allows him to achieve what Conte calls super-oxygenation.

It’s best to let Conte explain this scientific process.

“So you breathe 20.9 per cent oxygen when you’re breathing at sea level. Terence is breathing, through an open-designed mask, 68 per cent oxygen,” Conte said. “What happens is, your red blood cells have hemoglobin, which are like seats on a bus. You fill those up, and that transports nutrients and oxygen to your muscle tissue. Your blood is 55 per cent plasma or liquid and 45 per cent red blood cells. So when you fill up all the seats with oxygen on the red blood cells, it spills onto the plasma and liquid portion – that’s called super-oxygenation.

“So if you ask, ‘Where do you take him to get him higher than sea level for recovery?’ Well, you do it with equipment.”

Conte has diligently worked to resurrect his career from the depths of a federal law enforcement raid 21 years ago on his infamous BALCO facility in the Bay Area that designed steroids and counted a litany of athletic greats including Olympic sprinters Marion Jones and Tim Montgomery, boxing champion Shane Mosley, baseball’s home-run king Barry Bonds and others as clients.

Since serving four months in a minimum-security federal prison, Conte has emerged turning over a new leaf with a new line of legal conditioning, sleep-aid and recovery supplements under his new wildly successful company SNAC, with connections to several former, current or recent boxing champions like Devin Haney, Demetrius Andrade and Claressa Shields.

Through super-oxygenation, Conte says Crawford has “got the most  powerful oxygen-concentrated makeup possible up in his (hotel) room.” The ‘oxy mask” is equipped with a diffuser, Conte explains, that takes the richer oxygen and “injects it up his nostril and in his mouth. You take in 68 per cent oxygen and exhale out the metabolic waste products – lactic acid, ammonia, carbon dioxide. What we do is flush his system of these waste products.”

At Thursday’s news conference, Crawford addressed his superb fitness.

“I feel I’ll be stronger. I’ll be energized. I won’t have to lose the extra seven pounds, so it’s going to be less stress on my body,” Crawford said. “I’m ready. I’m going to be feeling great. I’m good right now.”

The astounding effects of Crawford’s preparation have been seen in blood testing and active sensors of Crawford markers on his heart rate, blood flow rate, breath frequency, hydration and blood-oxygen saturation.

Crawford’s heart rate is one-third slower than the average person and his breath rate while resting is incredibly impressive.

“What I like is how calm he is, never seen him so relaxed,” Conte said. “When he comes back between rounds, his heart rate is going to drop very quickly. Each round he goes back out, he’s fresh. He’s a very scientifically prepared boxer.

“The key is in the training and the recovery and you’ve got to allow adequate recovery time. That all comes from these gauges … we’re bringing science to it. This is not old-school boxing.”

Crawford’s weight cut for Friday morning’s weigh-in will be simple, Conte assured.

“It’s like landing a 747 perfectly…easiest cut he’s ever made. This is what science does … we will land perfectly on that scale,” Conte said.

“Terence may be the most scientifically prepared boxer in the history of the sport.”

The expertise will be imperative should Crawford conclude the attention to preparation by impressively defeating Madrimov, raising the likelihood of a later showdown against recently undisputed super-middleweight champion Canelo Alvarez.

Conte says Crawford can get to 168 pounds in three months.

“They would need three months to promote the fight, so there’s plenty of time to do it,” Conte said. “He has a team of very smart people around him, to increase the calories and all that …

“ … You can develop type-2B fast-twitch muscle fiber. That’s where explosive power and speed come from, not from tempo running distance. It’s from sprint-interval training and weightlifting.”

First comes Madrimov.

“That’s his plan (Canelo), but this is the total focus now,” Conte said. “You don’t talk about Step B until you’ve conquered Step A.

“Trust me, Terence is the boss. He gives me the ability to proceed. He’s a very bright guy who understands how things work, and he’s all in. He’s been great to work with because he listens, he gets it, he’s smart.”

Every boxing fan wants to see ‘the’ fight. Two of sport’s biggest names, Terence Crawford and Canelo Alvarez, in a momentous clash.

Talks about a potential fight have been going on for some time now. Even His Excellency Turki Alalshikh has expressed a keen interest on the much-sought-after match-up. Thoughts and discussions apart, social media is already abuzz with ‘the outcome’ game. Who will win? Or, who has a better chance of winning?

Oleksandr Usyk is preparing for the rematch with Tyson Fury. Days following his epic win over the Mancunian saw him vacate the IBF title, thus making his undisputed championship one of the shortest in boxing history. Like many, Usyk too found himself in a corner boxed by a poser on the Crawford-Alvarez puzzle. The P4P number-one boxer, however, knew the answer. Ever since it reached the ears of the fans, discussion on the subject has become more rigorous.

Oleksandr Usyk Has No Doubt Who Wins Canelo-Crawford Fight: "He's  Different" - Seconds Out

JUST IN: ‘GREEDY BELLY, YOU’RE MY FRIEND’ – USYK TROLLS FURY’S TRAINING FOR THE REMATCH

Oleksandr Usyk was a guest on the ‘3 Knockdown Rule’ podcast. As the show neared its end, host Mario Lopez finally asked, “What about there? There’s talk. It’s not official, of course, but there’s talk of a potential fight between Canelo and Terrence Crawford. How do you see that fight?

I like Terence,” responded the champion. Usyk revealed that ‘Bud’ happens to be his friend. But when the push comes to shove, Terence Crawford will win. “Terence, it’s different, man. Terence works in two, two, two sides, two sides, right and left, but it’s very smart, man. It’s very, very smart, but feel the distance and the place.

From the time he became boxing’s first male two-division undisputed champion, Terence Crawford made it clear what he wanted next. Aside from Alvarez, his list included Jermell Charlo. It underwent alteration following the ‘Iron Man’ suffering a defeat from the Mexican icon. However, concerns over the sheer weight gap always raised alarm and concern across the board.

Clearly, there was no unanimity among fans over a clear winner. To some, the super middleweight champion would remain unscathed. But then a few believe the Nebraskan southpaw has the wherewithal to usurp the throne. Let’s check what a few others had to say about the ambitious lineup.

Given Oleksandr Usyk’s winning streak, this fan believes that on the Crawford-Alvarez question, the Ukrainian champion might face an aberration. According to them, Canelo Alvarez’s physical attributes give him a significant advantage. Hence, it might as well be a one-sided fight, where he might dominate ‘Bud’ Crawford.

Commonwealth Games gold medalist and former professional boxer Anthony Fowler also seems to favor Canelo Alvarez for the win. Reinforcing the belief that weight classes often play a crucial role in determining outcomes in boxing, he insisted that Alvarez’s prowess at 168 pounds makes him a clear favorite.

Given how Yuriorkis Gamboa shook him up in their 2014 fight, this fan also lacks confidence in whether ‘Bud’ Crawford can withstand the shots from the hard-hitting Alvarez. Perhaps taking a dig, they suggested that the Nebraskan might as well check with Jermell Charlo beforehand to see how Alvarez’s punches felt. Underscoring the Mexican icon’s prowess in the ring, they predicted the likelihood of the match ending in the sixth round—in Alvarez’s favor.

However, this fan finds himself siding with Usyk. expressing their preference for Crawford over Alvarez in the hypothetical matchup, they believe that ‘Bud’s superior skills in movement, reflexes, and hand to understand punching power might enable him to dominate the fight. conceding that Alvarez has too much of a granite chin to be knocked out; however, they espoused that Crawford would barely give a quarter.

Then this user felt that maybe Terence Crawford should note down a few items from Floyd Mayweather Jr.’s playbook if he wants to defeat Canelo Alvarez. The former world champion’s method, where he overpowered the Mexican boxer with his sheer technical skills, gives ‘Bud’ the best chance of scoring a ‘W’.

It should now be understandable how debatable the matchup is. On his part, Terence Crawford, after a year-long break, will enter the ring on August 3 to mark his debut in the light middleweight division. So instead of three, he is now short of the super middleweight division by two weight classes.

In September, Canelo Alvarez will also face his year’s second opponent. He is no longer an undisputed champion. so he will have to defend his remaining unified titles from Edgar Berlanga on the weekend before Mexican Independence Day. So may be after that, by this year-end or first quarter next year, will the fight with Terence Crawford eventually make through?

Oleksandr Usyk reacted to Tyson Fury’s training ahead of their rematch on December 21. 

Usyk defeated Fury to become the Undisputed Heavyweight Champion of the world. Despite winning via a split decision, Usyk dominated the fight. Fury’s only good rounds were the middle parts of the fight. Usyk almost knocked out Fury in round nine, only for the referee to impose a standing eight count when Uysk was going to the finish.

Fury refused to accept the loss, saying Usyk made the decision due to the war in Ukraine. He referred to Usyk as an amateur boxer. The rematch offers the chance for redemption. However, it will not be undisputed as Usyk vacated the IBF belt. Fury has been putting in the work early. The following footage shows Fury after a run. He then stated the following.

Fury Reacts

JUST IN: Terence Crawford vs Israil Madrimov: Madrimov manager urges ‘fair fight’ from the powers that be

Tyson Fury: “I just finished a little bit of a run on the bay with the lads, working away, chipping away nicely. December 21st, Usyk, you’re on notice. Come on.”

In contrast, Usyk has been taking things much easier since the win. Usyk is starring in the new film Smashing Machine alongside The Rock. He will play the character of Ukrainian kickboxer Igor ‘Ice Cold’ Vovchanchyn. He has already made an impression with Johnson and Snoop Dogg, who came to visit him on set.

The Ukrainian also attended the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. Usyk was vocal about the state of amateur boxing, with worries it could get scraped from the Olympics. Usyk won an Olympic Gold in London 2012 and went professional a year later. The importance of the Olympics showed as Usyk became undisputed at cruiserweight and heavyweight. The Ukrainian was not happy with the standards.

“For many years, there has been a desire to change the boxing system, which is rotten on an international level. So, we just need to work. No promises need to be made; we need to act. When you do this, people see the work done and come to you, asking to collaborate. But I think boxing will be in the Olympic Games. We are at war. But our athletes still came. They are fighting,” Usyk said

Although Fury was pushing the limits with his training, Usyk was unfazed.

Oleksandr Usyk: “Hey, my friend, ‘Greedy Belly,’ continue training. I’m ready, brother. I know your hard work is good. I appreciate it. Thank you so much, ‘Greedy Belly.’ You’re my friend. You are my friend.”

The rematch is pivotal for both. Another win for Usyk may be enough for him to walk away from the sport. His team has already hinted at a crossover fight. Conor McGregor has been mentioned as an opponent in BKFC. There is also the chance that Usyk will drop back down to cruiserweight. However, that is unlikely, as he would have to lose much weight.

This would be more difficult at this stage of his career now that he is 37. Meanwhile, another loss for Fury will leave question marks over where he goes next. Although there is the Anthony Joshua fight, it will not be as big as it would have been. Either way, there is plenty on the line come fight night.

Consider it a preemptive strike rooted in an abundance of supportive evidence.

To close Thursday’s news conference with favored, three-division world champion Terence Crawford, new World Boxing Association (WBA) junior-middleweight champion Israil Madrimov of Uzbekistan said, “My dream is to create something that nobody expects and win the fight I’m not supposed to win. I believe I can do that Saturday night.”

The point of emphasis for Madrimov (10-0-1, 7 KOs) and his team Thursday was to make it clear to the three judges, referee and California commission that an upset is indeed possible, urging them to look for it.

Terence Crawford Israil Madrimov

READ: Can Terence Crawford Beat Floyd Mayweather and Canelo Alvarez in Their Prime? 

Much of this campaigning has to do with some recently criticized scoring in boxing – Robson Conceicao’s junior-lightweight title victory over O’Shaquie Foster, Sean McComb’s split-decision loss to unbeaten 140-pounder Arnold Barboza Jr. and Marlon Tapales’ split-decision triumph last year over Madrimov’s stablemate and former junior-featherweight champion Murodjon “M.J.” Akhmadaliev.

While translating for Madrimov, the fighter’s manager, Vadim Kornilov, went off script and said this in English:

“I know that I’m fighting the best in Terence Crawford and his team, but I’m also fighting his fans and the rest … and I’m hoping that everything will be fair and neutral.

“I’m expecting that this event is big enough – the whole world is going to watch this event – and I hope everything will be fair and square on fight night.”

The astute Crawford (40-0, 31 KOs) cracked, “That wasn’t the translation … .”

Kornilov admitted he was taking a liberty, but insisted he was speaking the truth.

“I don’t want anyone to take it the wrong way. There’s more to it. Everyone understood what I meant,” he said.

His stance is partially connected to a fresh wound.

Wednesday night on the Santa Monica (Calif.) Pier, another Madrimov stablemate and countryman, welterweight Shakhram Giyasov (16-0, 9 KOs) barely remained unbeaten when he defeated Mexico’s Miguel Parra by split-decision, 95-94, 96-93, 94-95, when Giyasov had a point deducted for a low blow by referee David Solivan.

Both Giyasov and Kornilov objected to the ruling and wanted a replay, but the replay system was not available.

California State Athletic Commission Executive Officer Andy Foster told BoxingScene that Nevada referee Jay Nady will preside over the ringside replay system at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles Saturday night.

In addition to staffing respected veteran referee Jack Reiss to Crawford-Madrimov, the California commission has assigned judges Steve Weisfeld of New Jersey, Canada’s Benoit Roussel and Fernando Villarreal of California to score the bout.

One member of Madrimov’s team recommended Roussel for the bout following his 98-92 score favoring McComb over Barboza on April 20 in New York.

Crawford’s team didn’t request a specific judge, asking for the placement of the highest-qualified judges possible, according to a California official.

“(Fans) are coming from all over the world because they want the best to win,” Kornilov said on the news-conference dais for the first U.S. card sponsored by Saudi Arabia’s Riyadh Season, an effort headed by Turki Alalshikh.

Boxing experts have speculated Saturday’s stacked card is a $70 million show.

“They’re investing millions because what’s happening in the business has got to change,” Kornilov said. “There’s too much B.S. The best man in the ring has got to win, and I think everybody agrees with that. I don’t think anyone here wants to get a decision they don’t deserve.”

Kornilov said he spoke up not because he thinks there’s any funny business going on. He said he’s certain that while boxing fan Alalshikh has designated Crawford a Riyadh Season ambassador and has struck up a friendship with the veteran champion, he wants the rightful winner to emerge.

“(Alalshikh) doesn’t take favors. He doesn’t want an undeserving winner on his shows. I know that for a fact. He’s said that,” Kornilov said. “The whole world should know that.”

While Crawford’s pedigree and fame is more substantial than Madrimov, the new champion is also a two-handed power puncher who’s dedicated his life to the craft of the sport, piling up more than 300 amateur fights and becoming a champion in his 11th pro bout.

Crawford has not been a constant “A” side fighter. He was the “B” side in his most recent bout, his signature ninth-round TKO of three-belt welterweight champion Errol Spence one year ago this week.

Kornilov thinks so highly of Crawford’s integrity he said he’d doubt that Crawford would celebrate a triumph claimed by flawed judging.

Terence Crawford Israil Madrimov

But Kornilov watched two years ago in Las Vegas as all three judges – including Weisfeld – scored the first four rounds for the more-popular Canelo Alvarez over Madrimov’s close friend, Russia’s WBA light-heavyweight champion Dmitrii Bivol.

Bivol seemed to comfortably win the fight and ultimately emerged victorious, but only by three 115-113 scores.

Kornilov was aghast when judge Javier Alvarez delivered his then-champion Akhmadaliev a wide 118-110 score in April 2023, only to watch defeat arrive when judges Sergio Caiz and Jose Roberto Torres each scored the bout 115-113 for Tapales – who then landed a lucrative unification against Japan’s Naoya Inoue while that bout has evaded Akhmadaliev.

Madrimov “knows all that’s happened,” Kornilov said, but he doesn’t expect the flawed-scoring horror stories to force the fighter to chase a knockout as if it’s his only route to victory.

“He worries about this. He’s seen his comrades not get these decisions … I’m saying this to make sure everybody feels the responsibility to get it right,” Kornilov said.

When you find yourself at the pinnacle of modern boxing, you invariably draw parallels with the greats of the last generation.

It’s the position that Terence Crawford finds himself in at the moment. Doubts, applause, criticism, and shunned comments follow in a heated debate. Has he taken on the tag of the best modern welterweight since Floyd Mayweather Jr. left the scene? Has he what it takes to triumph over the face of boxing, Canelo Alvarez, a fight he desperately chases? These are the questions that cloud a boxing fan’s imagination.

These have plagued the fans’ minds ever since the Omaha native dismantled Errol Spence Jr. with ease last year and cemented his legacy as an undisputed champion in two different weight classes. Interestingly, ‘Money’ Mayweather was just hanging his gloves up when Crawford moved up to the division. Had he delayed his retirement a year later, the fans might have witnessed the two clash. But would ‘Bud’ have taken Mayweather Jr. down? It first depends on which version of Mayweather Jr. we are pitting him against.

Terence Crawford Eyeing Canelo Alvarez Fight Exposes Floyd Mayweather's  Failure to Be All-Time Great, Explains Boxing Commentator -  EssentiallySports

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You could dissect Mayweather Jr.’s career into two halves, the first when he brought aggression and fight into the ring. And the second, when he racked up fame and tightened up his defense, fighting primarily on his back foot, rolling his shoulders, and content with collecting decision wins with relative ease. It was about his undefeated record, after all. The Michigan native had a solid, tight defense, which would have run counter to Crawford’s power and quick pair of hands. It would have been a classic bout, a style showdown.

Let’s talk about their size and skills first. You look at Crawford, 36, and you see why he would rip apart Mayweather Jr. with his taller frame, reach, and size advantage. At least on the paper. However, his hypothetical opponent has been elusive, honing his defensive skills to a near-perfect level. While Crawford bags the size and reach advantage with the ability to impose his will on the smaller but smarter rival, Mayweather Jr. has the better skillset to hit and not get hit, even against towering foes. That’s the mantra that stood up whenever ‘Money’ Mayweather fought inside the ring.

Mayweather Jr. tended to feel the fight initially and then pick apart anyone who stood across from him as the rounds progressed. But what if the 50-0 record holder’s stamina fizzles out in the middle rounds? Could he evade 10 or 12 rounds against the boxer, who is relentless, and packs a power, especially at close quarters? Whichever side you pick, either a hungry fighter with power, quick footwork, and a swift pair of hands, or a boxer with impenetrable defensive skills, you would leave home watching the two world-class fighters go for the kill.

Will you let your recency bias clog your judgment, or will you put your faith in a boxer who has the experience and has done it against fighters of all sizes and styles? If the Omaha native produced a flawless night, where he could hit and tear down Mayweather Jr., you could see him taking the win home. But is it happening? Mayweather Jr. wouldn’t let it happen, would he?

What separates Crawford, at 40-0, from the crop of modern fighters? It’s his explosive yet unpredictable style, where he manages to switch up stances from southpaw to orthodox or from orthodox to southpaw, the minute he senses his opponent has him figured out. You throw into the mix his impeccable defense and a high ring IQ, you have a fighter you will find it hard to deal with in the ring. What bugs his competitors the most is his ability to mold himself and adapt according to whatever his rivals are throwing. So, where does Canelo Alvarez find himself?

The Mexican champion has the skills, experience, and ability to land clean shots. You can sense a running theme here, don’t you? But you need to be careful with him in the ring, as he also had knockout power with his combinations before his hand injury slowed him down a bit. You could sit and heap praise on his ring generalship and his unusual skill of breaking down opponents with his devastating body shots. It’s something that Crawford has found troubling in his fights. In addition, the latter’s most effective weapon, his counters, runs the risk of getting negated because of the 34-year-old champion’s ring generalship. And when you take into consideration the prime Canelo Alvarez, the champion who was devouring the top-ranked fighters, you face an uphill battle.

Many continue to argue that Mayweather Jr. wouldn’t have beaten the 61-2-2 record holder if he were not young. Does Crawford stand a chance against the prime Alvarez? When you factor in the disparity in weight categories, Alvarez’s size, strength, and excellent conditioning, and more importantly, the super middleweight champion being the kryptonite to Crawford’s style, the task seems somewhere on the impossible side. Will Crawford’s aggression, speed, and unpredictable boxing style have been enough to tackle Alvarez’s technical style with splendid counterpunching and brilliant head movement? The odds might be very low. But stranger things have happened in boxing.

It will be three years ago in December when Isaac “Pitbull” Cruz stepped in with little more than a month’s notice to accept the biggest fight of his life against now-three-division-champion Gervonta “Tank” Davis, and then took him the distance in a Rocky-esque storyline.

Should the new World Boxing Association junior welterweight titleholder (26-2-1, 18 KOs) defeat his challenger Jose “Rayo” Valenzuela (13-2, 9 KOs) on Saturday night at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles, the stars may be aligning for a December anniversary rematch with the WBA lightweight belt holder Davis.

Earlier this month, Baltimore’s Davis (30-0, 28 KOs) learned negotiations with his fellow three-division champion, the IBF lightweight titlist Vasiliy Lomachenko, had come to little, with Lomachenko saying he needed the rest of the year off to return to his native, war-torn Ukraine with his family.

Gervonta Davis fights through injury, outpoints game Isaac Cruz by  unanimous decision - The Ring

JUST IN: ‘IT’S THE TERENCE CRAWFORD ERA’ – CRAWFORD TELLS MADRIMOV

On Tuesday, the co-manager for the three-division and WBC lightweight titleholder Shakur Stevenson told BoxingScene that Davis’ representatives have not been responsive to negotiating a deal for a unification bout; Stevenson has verbally agreed to pursue a fight against consensus No. 1 lightweight contender William Zepeda, of Mexico.

“Pitbull’s open for December,” Cruz’s advisor, Sean Gibbons, said at the fighter’s grand arrival on the Santa Monica Pier. “So why not do it again?

“He’s up for it any day of the year. Are you up for it, Gervonta? We have no problem here.”

Cruz’s popularity has surged since the first fight, which Davis won by scores of 115-113, 115-113 and 116-112 after entering the bout on the heels of knockout victories over Cuba’s Yuriorkis Gamboa, four-division champion Leo Santa Cruz and reigning WBC welterweight titleholder Mario Barrios.

Since then, Cruz has recorded three stoppages in his past four fights – including his rousing finish in March of then-140-pound titleholder Rolly Romero in Las Vegas.

Cruz earned the loudest ovation of the night in the co-main event, which supported the junior middleweight title fight between the newly unified champion Sebastian Fundora and Australia’s Tim Tszyu.

A similar greeting is expected Saturday night against Mexican countryman Valenzuela in the co-main under the 154-pound title fight between titleholder Israil Madrimov and three-division champion Terence Crawford.

Cruz’s popularity was obvious at the grand arrivals, as he remained among the crowd following interviews with reporters and signed autographs and mingled with his supporters.

Having a full camp to prepare for Davis for what would certainly be an all-action bout is appetizing to consider, but Cruz said he’s locked in on the task ahead of him.

“I’m focused on the fight now; I have a lot of respect for [Valenzuela],” Cruz told BoxingScene.

He had such great success by delivering an onslaught of punches on Romero. Will he repeat that strategy against Valenzuela?

“I’m looking to give the people a great performance. That’s the only thing I’m thinking about,” Cruz said.

As for his thoughts on Stevenson moving toward Zepeda and Davis needing an opponent, Cruz said, “I’m not thinking about that right now. I’m just focused on ‘Rayo’ and being excited about Saturday. I had a great camp. I’m ready for any kind of fight.”

And should he win it, the opportunity to run it back against Davis is rich.

Terence Crawford and Israil Madrimov made their grand arrivals ahead of their clash on Saturday. 

They face off in a WBA Junior Middleweight Clash as Crawford seeks to win Madrimov’s WBA belt. It is Crawford’s first fight in over a year since his ninth-round TKO win over Errol Spence Jr. The win made him the first Undisputed Welterweight Champion of the four-belt era, as he chases a title in a fourth weight class.

Eddie Hearnhas been backing Madrimov to cause an upset, feeling that Crawford may be out of his depth. Madrimov won the vacant title after knocking out Magomed Kurbanov in his last fight. His record stands at 10-0-1 with 7 KOs, showing he is not experienced at the pro level. Crawford, by comparison, is 40-0 with 31 KOs.

FACE OFF | Terence Crawford vs. Israil Madrimov • HEAD TO HEAD in NYC | DAZN & Matchroom Boxing

READ: “Bigger Than The Errol Spence fight”: Terence Crawford Says His Fight Saturday is Bigger Than The Errol Spence Bout 

But Madrimov has over 300 amateur fights, meaning he has seen the full array of styles. A win for either fighter sets up a possible unification with Sebastian Fundora, who holds the WBO and WBC belts. Meanwhile, Crawford may chase the Canelo Alvarez fight at 168 if he wins. The face-off was very cordial, but both felt confident ahead of the clash.

Madrimov’s Quotes

Chris Mannix: “Israel, it’s a first title defense for you, and it’s a big one against a man that has long been the pound-for-pound king. How are you feeling heading into this fight?”

Israil Madrimov: “I’m feeling great. I’ve been waiting for this moment for a long time. My dream is coming true because I’m feeling great,”

Mannix: “Three divisions, no one has been able to beat this man. Why are you confident that you’ll be able to do it?”

Madrimov: “This is my division because it’s only victory for me.”

Mannix: “It’s been a long time since we called you a title challenger. How does it feel to be challenging for a belt at 154?”

Crawford Reacts

Terence Crawford: “It’s alright. I had to go through it at 135, 140 and 147. It ain’t no different than at 154.”

Mannix: “It’s your first fight at junior middleweight. You’re going right to the top of the division against Israil Madrimov. Why was this the right fight for you?”

Crawford: “I think all the fights are important at 154. I want all the champions. I consider Israil the #1 guy in the division. He’s a great fighter. I just think its the Terence Crawford era.”

Mannix: “This man is probably a little bit bigger and stronger. What kind of fight are you expecting on Saturday?”

Crawford: “I don’t know. He might come out and try to box. He might try to use his size and pressure me, but I assure you. We’re going to be ready for whatever he brings to the table.”

Mannix: “11 straight knockouts for you. Is this the type of fight that you can get the 12th?”

Crawford: “Hey, we shall see,”

Full Card

Terence Crawford vs. Israil Madrimov

Andy Ruiz vs. Jarrell Miller

Jared Anderson vs. Martin Bakole

Isaac Cruz vs. Jose Venezuela

David Morrell vs. Radivoje Kalajdzic

Andy Cruz vs. Antonio Moran

Steve Nelson vs. Marcos Ramon Vazquez

Ziyad Almaayouf vs. Michal Bulk

Andy Ruiz Jr. has shared the ring twice with the British star.

On June 1, 2019, Andy Ruiz Jr. was briefly one of the biggest names in boxing.

The less fancied American was given the chance to face unified heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua at Madison Square Garden in a fight which many thought would be a formality for the British star.

Fight Picks: Andy Ruiz vs. Anthony Joshua 2 - The Ring

JUST IN: “Bigger Than The Errol Spence fight”: Terence Crawford Says His Fight Saturday is Bigger Than The Errol Spence Bout

What transpired was one of the biggest shocks in recent memory with Ruiz stopping Joshua in the seventh round and becoming a unified world heavyweight champion.

Despite knowing that a rematch with Joshua would be next, Ruiz enjoyed lavish celebrations following his triumph, but this appeared to have a detrimental effect on his performance during his second meeting with AJ six months later with the British fighter making easy work of his opponent in Diriyah to become a two-time champion.

Speaking about the rematch on DAZN’s Off The Cuff, Ruiz revealed what went wrong in the Joshua rematch and he was quick to criticise how he conducted himself following the biggest win of his career.

“I think I stayed too much in the party life, I was still enjoying the win,” Ruiz said.

“I totally forgot I had the rematch in six months, it goes by so fast.

“When I went to Saudi Arabia, I gained 30 more pounds, I wasn’t focused, I wasn’t ready.”

Since that loss to Joshua, Ruiz has fought just twice with wins over Chris Arreola and Luis Ortiz in 2021 and 2022 respectively, but he ends this period of inactivity this coming Saturday live on DAZN.

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