By Alan Dawson in Hollywood
MATCHROOM chairman Eddie Hearn is hoping his fighter Israil Madrimov can do to Terence Crawford what Dmitri Bivol did to Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez.
Madrimov fights Crawford in the main event of Riyadh Season’s inaugural US show Saturday at the BMO Stadium in Los Angeles. It is a WBA super welterweight world title fight.
Considering Crawford’s status as a three-weight world boxing champion, and his extraordinary performance against Errol Spence Jr. in his last fight, last year, he is the favorite by some margin to secure the 41st victory of his career this weekend.
But Team Madrimov are unperturbed at their underdog status.
In fact, they believe the 10-0 boxer can summon the magic that one of manager Vadim Kornilov’s other clients Bivol seemed to use when he cast a spell on Canelo in 2022, and won a one-sided decision thanks to his triple-jabbing, activity, and use of feints.
“This feels so similar to when Canelo Alvarez boxed Dmitri Bivol,” Hearn told Boxing News and other reporters Thursday in front of the Chinese Theater in Hollywood.
Two years ago, having unified the major super middleweight world championship belts, Canelo jumped to the light heavyweight division to challenge Bivol for his WBA crown but came unstuck, lost, and went back to 168.
Having dominated lightweight, super lightweight, and welterweight, Crawford is on the move once again as he makes his debut at 154 against an unbeaten fighter.
For Hearn, and Kornilov, even, it’ll be a step too far as Madrimov is “a serious, serious man,” according to the Matchroom boss. He’s a man so serious he can Bivol the pound-for-pound star Crawford, Hearn said.
“He’s a young Gennadiy Golovkin and, in my opinion, potentially better,” said Hearn. “He’s a 154-pound wrecking machine, not just with power and chin, but with great movement and ring IQ.”
Kornilov, who represents Bivol and Madrimov, told Boxing News backstage that both fights are unique situations.
“There’s always somebody that has their career end sooner or later,” Kornilov told us. “I think Madrimov is right there [to end Crawford’s unbeaten run].”
Finishing, Hearn said: “When Bivol won with ease, do not be surprised when [Madrimov] causes an upset Saturday.
“This will be the toughest fight of Terence Crawford’s career, no doubt at all. You’re going to see a wonderful fight between two modern day greats.”
The Crawford vs Madrimov fight tops an eight-fight card, and a live performance from Eminem, that airs on DAZN PPV, PPV.com, and Prime Video.
