DID CRAWFORD FALL SHORT AGAINST MADRIMOV?
TERENCE CRAWFORD's performance against ISRAIL MADRIMOV on August 3rd left fans divided. Despite his victory, many felt Crawford didn’t live up to the high expectations set after his dominant win over ERROL SPENCE last year. BRIAN 'BOMAC' MCINTYRE, Crawford’s trainer, believes the public unfairly judged his performance because they were expecting him to “annihilate” Madrimov as he had done with his previous opponents.
Factors such as age, inactivity, and moving up in weight might have played a role in Crawford’s less-than-stellar performance. At 36, Crawford appeared slower, less powerful, and more vulnerable at 154 pounds, a stark contrast to his usual dominance in lower weight classes. The fight exposed these vulnerabilities, leading to criticism from fans who were used to seeing a more dominant Crawford.
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BoMac, however, defended his fighter, attributing the criticism to the public's unrealistic expectations. He argued that Crawford was up against a talented opponent in Madrimov, who posed a tougher challenge than many of Crawford’s previous opponents. Despite the win, Crawford’s inability to deliver a knockout or a more decisive victory led some to downgrade their assessment of him.
Critics also pointed to Crawford’s inactivity, noting that fighting just once a year since 2020 has likely dulled his edge. His past success against weaker opposition allowed him to maintain his undefeated record, but Madrimov exposed cracks in Crawford’s armor, leading many to question whether he’s nearing the end of his career.
In the end, while Crawford secured the win, the fight left more questions than answers. Has age finally caught up with Crawford? Or was it simply a case of fans expecting too much? Only time will tell as Crawford continues his journey in the ring.
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