Israil Madrimov

Early Life and Amateur Career

 

Israil Madrimov was born on February 16, 1995, in Khiva, Uzbekistan, a historic city known for its rich cultural heritage. Growing up in a region with a strong tradition in combat sports, Madrimov was drawn to boxing at an early age, showing promise as he entered local competitions.

 

His amateur career was both prolific and impressive, marking him early on as a talent to watch on the international scene. Madrimov’s style, characterized by aggressive tactics and technical skill, quickly made him a standout in the amateur ranks. He amassed a notable record and gathered extensive experience through various national and international tournaments.

 

One of Madrimov’s significant amateur achievements came in 2010 when he won a gold medal at the Junior Asian Boxing Championships. This victory was a crucial early indicator of his potential and prowess in the ring. As he matured and gained more experience, his success at the continental level continued, including a gold medal at the 2013 Asian Amateur Boxing Championships.

 

Madrimov’s talent and hard work culminated in his participation in the World Series of Boxing (WSB), where he competed for the Uzbek Tigers. His performances in the WSB were particularly noteworthy, showcasing his ability to adapt to different fighting styles and opponents. During his time with the Uzbek Tigers, Madrimov went undefeated, a testament to his skill and determination.

 

A pinnacle of his amateur career was reached at the 2018 Asian Games in Jakarta, Indonesia, where Madrimov won the gold medal in the welterweight division. This victory was not only a personal triumph but also a proud moment for his country, highlighting his readiness to transition to the professional ranks. Following his success at the Asian Games and with an amateur record that boasted over 300 fights with a high win percentage, Madrimov decided to turn professional, aiming to carry over his amateur success into the professional boxing world.

 

Professional Career

 

Israil Madrimov, a standout figure in professional boxing, burst onto the scene on November 24, 2018, making a memorable debut against Vladimir Hernandez at the Hard Rock Live in Atlantic City, New Jersey. Competing for the vacant WBA Inter-Continental super-welterweight title, Madrimov demonstrated his prowess by knocking Hernandez down in the third round, ultimately securing a technical knockout (TKO) victory in the sixth round. Dominating the scorecards with margins of 50–44, 50–43, and 49–45 at the time of the stoppage, Madrimov’s victory was a significant undercard event during Dmitry Bivol’s successful defense against Jean Pascal.

 

Madrimov’s first title defense came on March 9, 2019, coinciding with another Dmitry Bivol fight, this time against Joe Smith Jr. at the Turning Stone Resort & Casino in Verona, New York. Facing Frank Rojas, Madrimov delivered a stunning performance, dropping Rojas with a left hook in the second round before knocking him out cold moments later with another decisive left hook, confirming his knockout power and defending his title spectacularly.

 

In June of the same year, Madrimov continued his ascent with a sixth-round TKO victory over Norberto Gonzalez. His momentum did not stop there; on October 5, 2019, he defended his title for a second time against Alejandro Barrera at Madison Square Garden. This bout, part of the undercard for the Gennady Golovkin vs. Sergiy Derevyanchenko fight, ended with Madrimov retaining his title through a fifth-round TKO.

 

A controversial moment in Madrimov’s career occurred during his fight against Eric Walker on August 15, 2020, in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Despite what appeared to be a legitimate knockdown by Madrimov in the ninth round, referee Gary Ritter controversially ruled no knockdown. This decision, along with Ritter’s management of the situation as Walker struggled to recover, drew criticism from observers, including Hall of Fame referee Steve Smoger.

 

Madrimov’s pursuit of higher accolades continued on December 17, 2021, when he faced Michel Soro, the then #1 WBA-ranked contender at super welterweight. Madrimov emerged victorious with a technical knockout in the ninth round of their title eliminator bout. However, a rematch with Soro ended in a technical draw due to an accidental clash of heads that caused a significant cut on Soro.

 

Achieving a significant milestone, Madrimov captured the vacant WBA super welterweight title on March 8, 2024, with a fifth-round stoppage of Magomed Kurbanov in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Following this victory, he was honored in his hometown of Tashkent, Uzbekistan, where he received the keys to a Chevrolet Tahoe from the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan.

 

Looking ahead, Madrimov is set to defend his WBA super welterweight title against Terence Crawford on August 3, 2024, in Los Angeles, California, a highly anticipated matchup that highlights his rising status in the boxing world.