Crawford's Knockout: Fake or Foreshadowing?
Terence Crawford, the undefeated boxing champion, delivered a one-punch knockout in a professional wrestling appearance last Friday night. While the move might have fooled wrestling newcomers, it raised questions about Crawford's preparedness for his upcoming title fight against WBA Junior middleweight champion Israil Madrimov on August 3rd.
The 36-year-old boxer, known for his lengthy breaks between fights, is facing Madrimov in a highly anticipated clash, part of His Excellency Turki Alalshikhâs Riyadh Season event, live on DAZN and ESPN+ PPV. Crawford's history of taking extended vacations after fights has raised concerns. This could potentially come back to haunt him in his fight against Madrimov, as boxing doesn't allow for a part-time approach.
While Crawford's cherry-picking of opponents might have worked in the past, inactivity can eventually rob fighters of their skills, making even cherry-picked opponents challenging.
Crawford's opponents in the past four years paint a picture of strategic selection:
Errol Spence (2023)
David Avanesyan (2022)
Shawn Porter (2021)
Kell Brook (2020)
Egidijus Kavaliauskas (December 2019)
Amir Khan (April 2019)
The question arises: will Crawford's inactivity be his downfall against Madrimov? Will his wrestling stunt be a sign of things to come, or will he prove his doubters wrong?
The outcome of this fight is crucial for Crawford and his future. A loss to Madrimov could derail his ambitions for a potential showdown against Canelo Alvarez in 2025. This would be a setback for the fighter, who has been touted as a potential opponent for the undisputed super middleweight champion.
In the event of a Crawford loss, a rematch against Madrimov or a return to the 147-pound weight class to face Jaron 'Boots' Ennis would be the ideal next steps. However, some believe that Madrimov should be the one to challenge Canelo instead of Crawford, if the latter fails to secure a victory.
The stakes are high for Crawford as he prepares to step back into the boxing ring. His recent wrestling foray has added another layer of intrigue to his already captivating story. Will he overcome his inactivity and claim victory, or will this be the fight that finally exposes his weaknesses? The answer lies just two weeks away.
