‘A Done Deal’: Next Step for Terence Crawford Revealed

Dan Rafael has revealed via sources on his Fight Freaks Unite Substack that unified welterweight champion Terence Crawford (40-0, 31 KOs) will be moving up in weight to challenge WBA junior middleweight titleholder Israil Madrimov on August 3 in Los Angeles at a yet to be announced venue.

Terence Crawford Next Fight: Opposition and Date

Terence Crawford Next Fight vs. Israil Madrimov

Pound-for-pound king Crawford looks set to return to the ring and challenge Madrimov for his WBA strap. The source revealed it’s “a done deal.” The report from Rafael also explains that the fight will be announced at a news conference in New York on April 24. This will also be the first fight in the United States financially backed Turki Alalshikh.

His Excellency posted a photo on his social media on April 17, which showed Crawford in the ring following his resounding ninth-round knockout of Errol Spence Jr. 

Last week, questions arose about who Madrimov would fight next after winning his title against Magomed Kurbanov. Rafael revealed that Jermell Charlo had made it clear to the WBA as their “champion in recess,” that he wanted to have the next shot at Madrimov. However, Charlo has backtracked with Tom Brown of TGB Promotions revealing their position: “On behalf of former undisputed Super Welterweight Champion Jermell Charlo, we are pleased to inform you that he hereby requests to be reinstated as the WBA Super Champion at 154 pounds,” Brown wrote in the letter, a copy of which was obtained by Fight Freaks Unite. “We also want to let you know that Jermell has no problem with WBA champion Israil Madrimov defending his regular title against Terence Crawford this summer. We are currently working on scheduling his next fight. Thank you for your attention and consideration.”

Last Time Out

Charlo was last seen in the ring being widely outpointed by Canelo Alvarez. It remains to be seen if he will return and what weight class he will choose for a comeback.

Crawford has beat all comers in his professional career, and a title in a new weight class would further solidify his legacy. Madrimov enjoyed a career-best performance last time out and also defeated Michel Soro.