Israil Madrimov: I Take Everything As It Comes And I Was Rewarded For My Patience

Israil Madrimov always had a feeling that an opportunity like this would eventually come his way.

For a short while, the only thing he was worried about was the gate fight he needed to get there that threatened to fall through the cracks.

The unbeaten Uzbek will defend his WBA junior middleweight title against Terence 'Bud' Crawford, who moved up in weight. Their scheduled 12-round fight headlines a Pay-Per-View event this Saturday from BMO Stadium in Los Angeles.

A series of circumstances almost left Madrimov (10-0-1, 7 knockouts) without even a chance to win the belt. His vacant title fight against Magomed Kurbanov was postponed several times and he encountered a health problem that took several days to resolve.

“At that time, I had a lot of thoughts running through my head,” Madrimov admitted to The Ring. “That was the longest I have ever prepared for a fight as it was postponed many times. We were scheduled to fight in the US, then Mexico… all these places around the world but we never got in the ring. Then they told me that it might not happen at all with that last situation.

“It was difficult and it was four weeks since (March 8). We stayed in shape but when we got that last day, my coaches entered that part of the camp. Then at the last minute, we were taken off the plane because of that medical condition.” At that time, my mindset was 'If it's meant to be, it will be' If not, I would just have to accept that fate. So, we got the word out, and it was time to weigh in and fight. “

Finally Madrimov was allowed to fight. He took advantage of this opportunity, as he knocked out the undefeated Kurbanov in the fifth round of the March 8 show in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

“Everything worked out. We got to the ring and I left as the new WBA champion. It wasn't good how we got there but it was an experience that strengthened my strength.”

This enabled Madrimov to participate in the new junior middleweight division.

Jermell Charlo (35-2-1, 19 KOs) was stripped of all four belts and his Ring Championship for failure to defend. Madrimov was one of the beneficiaries of the belts to be taken. The award came with a dream split against Crawford (40-0, 31 KOs), The Ring welterweight champ and No. 3 pound-for-pound.

Saturday's program focuses mainly on Crawford, a favorite of Turki Alalshikh and the Riyadh Season team. Much of the pre-fight chatter included speculation of an upcoming pound-for-pound clash against Mexico's Saul 'Canelo' Alvarez (61-2-2, 39 KOs).

Madrimov, ranked No. 3 at 154, isn't bothered by any talk of a fairy tale fight. He's equally unconcerned about his underdog status despite Crawford moving up to his fourth weight class. Crawford is a -700 favorite according to bet365, who book Madrimov at +450 to successfully defend his title.

Crawford has won RING championships at 135, 140 and 147 pounds. He became the first undisputed male champion in the sport in two weight divisions after a tour-de-force victory over Errol Spence last July 29 in Las Vegas.

Madrimov views the opportunity to unseat Crawford as a universal makeup statement in his struggle between the ranks.

The controversial victory of Michel Soro in Dec. 2021 saw Madrimov become a WBA mandatory challenger. A replay was ordered for the following July but ended in a head-to-head clash after two rounds.

Madrimov went another nine months before his next fight. It appeared on the 'Before The Bell' segment of the DAZN show last April in San Antonio, California. A ten round victory over Raphael Igbokwe marked his only fight of 2023. Then followed a waiting game from the WBA where he would have the opportunity to challenge for the title.

The fight that was ordered to face Kurbanov was not guaranteed by the full title when both sides agreed on the fight. It didn't matter, as it changed places several times before the final threat of being completely removed from the program.

All that was left for Madrimov was to keep his faith that his time would come. Once he did, he made every second count and now he's focused on the fight he's been longing for.

“I take everything as it happens and I was rewarded for my patience,” said Madrimov. We went through six different opponents to finish the title and waited three years for my shot at the title.

“Finally it came and I was blessed with that result.”

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