LOS ANGELES – Terence Crawford loves to challenge himself and does not like to lose.
Few fighters like him have that mindset, but that combination has worked thus far.
The unbeaten Crawford outboxed and defeated Israil Madrimov by close unanimous decision atop Saturday’s DAZN Pay-Per-View event from BMO Stadium. Crawford (41-0, 31 knockouts) won by scores of 115-113, 115-113, and 116-112, and claimed the WBA junior middleweight title.
With that feat, Crawford is now a four-division titlist.
Boxing fans can debate how the fight played out.
Uzbekistan’s Madrimov (10-1-1, 7 KOs) provided a difficult-to-solve style and validated his No. 3 Ring rating at 154 pounds. He fought a disciplined fight put forth by trainer Joel Diaz and relied on a skillset he honed in the amateur ranks.
With the Madrimov fight now in the rearview mirror, the question asked of Crawford is who the Ring’s No. 3 pound-for-pound fighter will face next.
The assumption headed into fight week was a mega-fight versus Ring and unified super middleweight champion Canelo Alvarez (61-2-2, 39 KOs). Interest in the fight seems to lean more on the Crawford side. More so, with the backing of Turki Alalshikh whose Riyadh Season group presented Saturday’s show.
In previous interviews, including one during the PPV event, Alalshikh stated he would again offer Canelo a fight against Crawford. Las Vegas’ Allegiant Stadium and Riyadh, Saudi Arabia are suggested destinations for the super fight.
“As I’ve said before on ESPN, I have made (Alvarez) an offer,” said Alalshikh. “If he’s smart, he will accept it.”
After the win over Madrimov, Crawford was still open to a fight against Alvarez.
“You know what I’ve said, ‘If the money is right, we got a fight,” said Crawford in an interview after the fight with Chris Mannix. “(Canelo) has a fight to focus on. I have a family to focus on (now that Madrimov fight is over).”
Crawford will turn 37 on September 28. Did his performance against Madrimov sway Alvarez’s opinion about now wanting to fight Crawford?
Alvarez will defend his 168-pound championship versus Brooklyn’s Edgar Berlanga (22-0, 17 KOs), No. 9 at 168, on September 14 in Las Vegas.
Fans have clamored for Alvarez to face David Benavidez (29-0, 24 KOs) over the last couple of years. Alvarez has been critiqued for his disinterest in the fight. That will likely remain the case should he face Crawford before—or instead of—Benavidez.
Alalshikh also revealed a contingency plan should Alvarez continue to ignore his pleas. Vergil Ortiz (21-0, 21 KOs) has emerged as the new frontrunner, should he dethrone interim WBC interim 154-pound titlist Serhii Bohachuk (24-1, 23 KOs).
That fight takes place this Saturday at Michelob ULTRA Arena in Las Vegas. The DAZN event will mark the first sponsorship venture between Riyadh Season and Golden Boy Promotions, Ortiz’s promoter.
The suggestion of Crawford-Ortiz has already caught buzz, as well as the attention of this weekend’s unbeaten challenger.
“@Turki_alalshikh put me in,” Ortiz posted on X upon hearing the on-air callout.
@Turki_alalshikh put me in!!
— Vergil Ortiz Jr. (@VergilOrtiz) August 4, 2024
There are other lucrative and compelling fights at 154 pounds.
Chief among them would be former WBO titlist Tim Tszyu (24-1, 17 KOs). A fight in his native Australia—where he fights on September 22—would do big business.
Saturday’s win also saw Crawford claim the interim WBO title and become the WBC mandatory challenger. Both options puts him on a direct path towards unified WBC/WBO titleholder Sebastian Fundora (21-1-1, 13 KOs). The WBO has already declared that the fight must take place before the end of the year.
Fundora was teased to next face former unified welterweight titlist Errol Spence (28-1, 22 KOs), but the fight or a suggested date has yet to be announced. Crawford dominated and stopped Spence in the 9th round to fully unify the 147-pound division last July.
Also in the mix is recently crowned WBA beltholder Bakhram Murtalaziev (22-0, 16 KOs). Given Crawford’s ties to Alalshikh, a unification bout versus Murtazaliev—a devout Muslim—would be a perfect fit in Riyadh.
The competitive nature of Saturday’s win has given some fans pause over his ability to dominate at the new weight. Crawford’s eleven-fight knockout streak ended versus the defensively savvy Madrimov.
It should not at all take away from his cemented status as a generational talent. In fact, the effort to add to that legacy is even more compelling.
Crawford can remain put at 154 and attempt to become the first-ever three-division undisputed champion in the multi-belt era. Only four fighters in history have accomplished the feat when the sport only recognized one champion per division.
The last to do so was the legendary Henry Armstrong, who simultaneously held the 126, 135 and 147-pound championships in 1938.
Crawford could further challenge himself at his new weight before a proposed fight versus Alvarez. The odds of him losing against any of the world titleholders at this weight class could be interesting.
Fortunately for the sport, it’s a risk that Crawford is always willing to take.
Francisco A. Salazar has written for The Ring since October 2013 and has covered boxing in Southern California and abroad since 2000. Francisco also covers boxing for the Ventura County (California) Star newspaper. He can be reached at santio89@yahoo.com
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