By Tom Donelson / Member Boxing Writers Association of America (BWAA)
Terence Crawford was shooting for a fourth title at the 154-pound division against WBA champion Israil Madrimov, but it was not a coronation as Crawford won a close decision with judges scoring the fight 115-113,115-113 and 116-112. Most every round was close as Crawford averaged 8 landed punches and 36 throws whereas Madrimov averaged 7 punches landed and 23 punches thrown. This was a fight that many rounds saw one or two quality punches decide the round. Crawford threw over 200 more punches and more active, but he only had 22 percent accuracy and Madrimov actually connected on 30 percent of his punches and landed some good rights throughout the fight plus concentrated on the body.
The bout proved to be a tactical fight and Crawford had the superior jab and this allowed him to connect occasionally with his right hand and Madrimov landed clean right hands but there were very few combinations punches and the one punch Madrimov landed successfully was his looping right but he also missed quite a bit with that punch.
In seven rounds, Crawford landed a more punches and Madrimov landed more punches in just four rounds with one round even. I had the fight 115-113 but you could have scored it 114-114 or 116-112 for there were rounds that were close to score.
My own view is that Crawford power did not translate at the higher weight for this fight, and this was the first fight he failed to stop an opponent since 2016. While Madrimov is not an easy opponent to hit, usually Crawford can figure out an opponent before taking control but not in this fight. This was the worse Crawford has fought in a long time and I didn’t see a fighter who could fight Canelo Alvarez and win.
Madrimov is interested in a rematch but Crawford is thinking of a big money fight with Alvarez but there is question on whether the fight will be a major event based on this fight result. Crawford himself admitted that there was a difference at 154 pounds and maybe he may understand that a match with Alvarez may not be in his best interest.
