Hearn’s Game Plan For Madrimov: Pressure Crawford Early And Often

Matchroom promoter Eddie Hearn wants his boxer, Israel Madrimov, to focus on landing heavy shots on Terence Crawford early to tire him out for a knockout in the later rounds on Saturday night in their junior middleweight bout at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles.

(Photo credit: Mark Robinson Matchroom Boxing)

Can Madrimov Simulate GGG’s Pressure?

In order for Madrimov, 29, to follow Hearn’s tactics in this fight, he will have to emulate the style of Gennadiy ‘GGG’ Golovkin, who excelled across the ring against the most mobile fighters.

It’s not enough that Madrimov has the same strength and looks like GGG; he must be able to pressure Crawford into a fight with him because this is the only chance he has to win. He won’t win a boxing match against Crawford or be competitive. Madrimov doesn’t have the hand and foot speed to outbox Crawford.

Hearn is under no illusions that WBA 154-lb champion Madrimov (10-0-1, 7 KOs) will win the opening rounds against the talented and experienced Crawford (40-0, 31 KOs). He wants Madrimov to throw hard enough punches to the body and head to wear down the 36-year-old.

Madrimov’s Winning Formula

1. Power
2. Pressure
3. Accuracy

“He punches hard and has a lot of direct punches to the body. You are going very well,” promoter Eddie Hearn told DAZN Boxing about Israel Madrimov and what he does well that could lead to a victory over Terence Crawford on Saturday night.

Madrimov’s last two fights against Magomed Kurbanov and Raphael Igbokwe have not been good enough to win against Crawford unless he improves his accuracy a lot and cuts through the ring.

“You have to put a little bit in him [Crawford] because if you let him get into a rhythm and stand out, there is no doubt that he will win on Saturday,” said Hearn.

“For those types of geniuses [Naoya Inoue, Vasily Lomachenko, and Crawford]it’s when you move up through the weight classes that you meet someone who may not be nearly as good as you but who can match you in size and strength and hurt you.”

Hearn is right about highly skilled fighters eventually reaching their limit of what they can do when they move up in weight. This may be why Inoue chose not to move up to featherweight; he should know that he will start losing that weight.

Crawford may find against Madrimov at 154 that he has exceeded his potential, even with his immense talent. If this is too much to overcome for Crawford, he will succumb to the power of Madrimov on Saturday.

“We’ve seen Terence Crawford talk a few times, and he’s in the biggest streak of his career. [Madrimov],” Hearn said. “I think this is the hardest fight of his life. Madrimov has no experience as a specialist, but they are ready for this.”

Crawford’s vulnerability

Crawford was injured by Yuriorkis Gamboa, Dierry Jean, and Egidijus Kavaliauskas. Those guys don’t have Madrimov’s power, but their speed was better, and they took advantage of Crawford’s aggressive moments.

Against Madrimov, Crawford may choose to punch and not take chances, knowing that he is facing a bigger boxer than him. More importantly, with his fight against Canelo Alvarez next year, Crawford may not be willing to risk getting involved in a heated exchange with Madrimov.

“You have to go into this fight and find a way to not get out of the division early and not get injured early,” said Hearn. “If you were given Terence Crawford early, it’s a long way back.

“I’m not even winning the first rounds. Be competitive. He tried to weaken him and hit him and hurt him. “You have to calm down on this guy,” Hearn said.

Madrimov’s lack of speed will make him vulnerable if Crawford rains a flurry of shots on him, which he sometimes does against slower fighters.

If Crawford lands a 10-punch combination, the referee can step in and wave it off, even if Madrimov isn’t hurt. His punches are so slow that he might lose if Crawford hits him.