Crawford And Madrimov Size Each Other Up In Final Presser
Terence Crawford and Israil Madrimov held their final presser before their WBA Junior Middleweight Clash this Saturday.
The fight is almost here, with both men chasing history. Crawford aims to become a four-weight world champion by picking up Madrimov’s WBA Belt. Bud is coming off his best win after he stopped Errol Spence Jr. in round nine to become the first Undisputed Welterweight Champion of the four-belt era.
Crawford knows a victory offers him the chance to chase a historic fight with Canelo Alvarez at 168.
Madrimov aims to beat the best P4P fighters in the world. His record is 10-0-1, and he won the vacant belt by stopping Magomed Kurbanov in his last fight. His huge amateur record will help him prepare for a switch hitter in Crawford. This is what both fighters had to say.
Crawford
“I would like to thank God for blessing me to be here today. I would like to thank Team Madrimov for accepting the challenge and thank you to Turki Alalshikh for putting an excellence card together and thank everybody for supporting all the fighters on the card. I’m expecting Israil (Madrimov) to come out and do what he’s been doing as he’s been phenomenal in the fights that he’s had. People are forgetting I’m strong and punch hard too.
“People keep thinking this whole fight he’s the bigger guy and stronger guy since I’m moving up in weight. We always have these same questions in other fights against bigger guys, but when they get in the ring with me I’m stronger than they thought. I’m going to be stronger at 154 pounds and be more energised. It’s going to be less stress on my body with the weight and I’m going to be ready. I’m good right now and I expect to win however it comes if it’s a knockout, a decision I expect to win,” Crawford
“The journey has been a struggle at times, but it’s been fun most of the time. I’m sure me and any of the team members wouldn’t want to change it. We build character inside the team and we are happy and excited to be here, but we came here to do a job. The challenge of moving to 154 and fighting Madrimov is a hill that you have to climb. I know that the team and everybody around the team want challenges like that so you can say we are the best out there. We have solidified that over the years,” Bomac
Madrimov
“This fight is a big chance for me. I am fighting the best boxer in the world. This is a dream come true. I feel great and want to be a part of history. All the respect to team Crawford. As I said before he’s my favourite fighter, but at the same time I believe that I can prove that I’m the best in the world as well. I believe that anything is possible. My dream is to create something that nobody expects and do something and win the fight that nobody expects me to win and I believe I can do that Saturday,” Madrimov
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
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