EDDIE Hearn took a couple of swipes at Terence Crawford ahead of his 154-pound debut in Los Angeles this Saturday. Hearn suggested that Crawford had taken his eye off the ball and alluded to a silk pyjama mentality, adding that the Omaha man looked nervous.
These fight nights are food and drink to Crawford, 40-0 (31 KOs), who has already swept up in multiple weight classes. Taking on WBA super-welterweight champion Israil Madrimov, 10-0-1 (7 KOs), this weekend represents a further step up in weight, perhaps one step closer to a clash with Canelo.
April 24, 2024; New York, NY; Terence Crawford and Israil Madrimov pose in Times Square after announcing their upcoming fight. The fight will take place on August 3, 2024 at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles, CA. Mandatory Credit: Ed Mulholland/Matchroom.
While the faux confrontation was described as heated in some quarters, it was more a case of two parts of the promotion jostling for front and centre position. Crawford reminded Hearn that he held a 3-0 lead against Eddie’s fighters.
Hearn suggested that not only had Crawford gone soft but that the Ricky Burns fight should’ve been scored a draw. Eddie is not afraid to go verbal with anyone in the boxing game, including one as volatile as Terence.
A year ago to the day, Crawford pummelled rival Errol Spence inside nine rounds to assert his dominance over welterweight and an entire era. While Spence has struggled before and after that fateful night in Las Vegas, Crawford now returns to the ring for the first time. But, after so many accomplishments, is he hungrier than ever? Time will tell.