Madrimov Determined To Become Two-Time Champion: ‘Rematch With Crawford Is My Goal’
Former super-welterweight champion Israil Madrimov says he’s focused on getting his hands on world titles again, and while his preference would be a rematch against Terence Crawford, he does not expect it to happen anytime soon.
Madrimov (10-1-1 7 KO) saw his short reign as the WBA’s 154lb champion ended by Crawford (40-0-0 31 KO) on August 3 in the headline bout of Riyadh Season’s first international show in Los Angeles.
The Uzbek gave pound-for-pound star Crawford one of his toughest fights, taking the Nebraskan the distance for the first time in six years. Crawford needed to win the championship rounds to preserve his perfect professional record and won by just one round on two of the judges’ scorecards.
While it was ‘Bud’ who left the BMO Stadium with the belt to become a four-weight world champion, Madrimov left with plenty of credit in the bank and an elevated profile.
“I said after the fight that I thought I did enough to keep my world championship belt,” said the 29-year-old. “Right now, I’m ready for a rematch with Crawford to regain my title or to challenge any of the other junior middleweight champions.”
In addition to Crawford, the 154lb division is ruled by Sebastian Fundora, who holds the WBO and WBC titles, and IBF champion Bakhram Murtazaliev. Based on recent developments, Madrimov will need to bide his time for a title shot.
The WBO this week ordered Fundora to fight Crawford, who also claimed the WBO’s interim title in his win over Madrimov to make him Fundora’s mandatory challenger. The two teams now have 30 days to negotiate and agree to a fight, although reports persist that Crawford is squarely focused on an ambitious mega-bout with unified super-middleweight champion Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez.
Should Crawford opt out of his mandatory status, Fundora could then be ordered by the WBC to face Vergil Ortiz Jr, who claimed its interim belt earlier this month with a Fight of the Year contender victory over Serhii Bohachuk in Las Vegas.
As for the IBF, a fight is expected to be announced soon between champion Murtazaliev and Tim Tszyu. The Australian lost his WBO title to Fundora in a split decision in March having fought for much of their bout with a nasty cut to his head.
“A rematch with Terence Crawford is my goal, but I’m not sure he is interested right now,” Madrimov said. “Our fight still has left many questions unanswered, I am sure that one day if he is willing, we will fight again.
“Fundora is a unified world champion, Murtazaliev holds a title; I want to fight the best and prove again that I deserve to be a champion. I was a world champion and I deserved to be a world champion after August 3, now my main goal is to regain that status.”
