Ring Ratings Update: Terence Crawford tops junior middleweight rankings

Terence Crawford brought an 11-bout KO streak that dated back to December 2016 into his junior middleweight debut against unbeaten WBA beltholder Israil Madrimov on Saturday.

Fans had become used to watching Crawford quickly figure out and systematically break down his opponents before ruthlessly stopping them. That didn’t happen vs. Madrimov, but the undefeated Nebraska native did enough to secure a unanimous decision after 12 competitive, mainly tactical rounds.

Crawford (41-0, 31 KOs), a two-division undisputed champion, won a major world title in a fourth weight class, furthering his reputation as a “generational talent” and future hall of famer. However, anticipation for a potential “superfight” with super middleweight champ Canelo Alvarez took a hit given the difficulty he had imposing his will on the lesser-experienced defending titleholder (only 11 pro bouts). 

Crawford struggled to mount a sustained offense against Madrimov, who landed his share of power punches (more than the American and at a higher connect rate, according to CompuBox), and the 36-year-old veteran was unable to frustrate or wear down the 29-year-old Uzbek. 

Has Crawford reached his physical limit at 154 pounds? Is Father Time (and a once-a-year fighting schedule since 2020) finally affecting his performances? Maybe.

But it says here that Crawford simply faced an elite-level athlete in his prime in the talented Madrimov (10-1-1, 7 KOs). The former amateur standout is not only more athletic, physically stronger and more durable than any of Crawford’s previous 11 opponents, his hyper-active, unorthodox style was a lot more to unpack.

The Ring Ratings Panel recognized the boxing class exhibited by both fighters. For overcoming arguably the most difficult style in the division (on top of making his debut in a heavier weight class), Crawford was installed at No. 1. Madrimov was rewarded for his ability to run one of the best boxers of this era close over the championship distance and was advanced from No. 3 to No. 2 off his first pro loss.

“Terence Crawford beat Israil Madrimov in an excellent fight though probably needed something definitive to recapture the No. 1 pound-for-pound spot,” said Anson Wainwright. “I think we keep him where he is for now.

“(At junior middleweight) Madrimov lost his WBA title in a close fight. How about Crawford to No. 1, Madrimov to go to No. 2? That would see us bump out current No. 10 Bakhram Murtazaliev, though I wouldn’t mind Michel Soro coming out instead. He’s not been too active.”

The panel agreed with Wainwright’s 154-pound placement of Crawford and Madrimov, but the suggestion to drop No. 9 Soro instead of No. 10 Murtazaliev was met with mixed opinions.

“How can we remove Soro if he’s not No. 10 and didn’t fight?” asked Adam Abramowitz. “This seems like we are breaking our own rules and being arbitrary. We had him ranked 9th. So, it follows suit that we remove No. 10 not No. 9.”

Added Jake Donovan: “This is where I’m at. I don’t like that we have to drop Bakhram instead of Soro. However, all the more reason to be mindful of leaving fighters higher than they deserved to be ranked.”

Added Tom Gray: “I wouldn’t get too hung up on the numbers and I’d drop Soro because he’s won two fights in five years. And I wouldn’t lose a minute’s sleep over it.”

In the opinion of your favorite Editor-In-Chief, Soro’s still a legit contender, even at 36 (same age as Crawford). Yes, the veteran has won two fights in five years, as Gray noted, but he’s also been the victim of poor officiating (the controversial ninth-round stoppage vs. Madrimov and the close decision loss to Magomed Kurbanov in Russia) and bad luck (the clash of heads that cut the Madrimov rematch short). It says here that Soro competed on even terms with our new No. 2-ranked junior middleweight in 2021.

Another debate among the panel concerned who should replace Jared Anderson in the heavyweight rankings in the wake of the young American’s KO loss to Martin Bakole.

“Anderson was stopped by Bakole in five rounds,” said Wainwright. “Bakole to take Anderson’s No. 7 spot and Anderson to exit.

“Andy Ruiz and Jarrell Miller fought to a 10-round draw. (Neither seem worthy.) We have space at No. 10. No obvious candidate. Several fighters like Otto Wallin, Arslanbek Makhmudov and Frank Sanchez lost badly in recent fights. How about Bakhodir Jalalov? I don’t like it given he fights between both pro and amateur but we do have his countryman Hasanboy Dusmanov ranked at strawweight.”

Replied Donovan: “Jalolov will get the 10 spot without my vote. He passes the eye test but his résumé is awful for a fighter of his pedigree, especially on his way to winning a second gold medal.”

Abramowitz proposed Australian up-and-comer Justis Huni (10-0, 5 KOs).

“I think Huni has a better resume than Jalolov,” he said. “He might be the guy to come in by default.”

Tris Dixon, Abraham Gonzalez, Daisuke Sugiura, Wasim Mather, and Diego Morilla all echoed Donovan’s sentiment on Huni at No. 10:

“I can get down with that.”

 

RING RATINGS UPDATE (as of August 3):

POUND FOR POUND – Crawford remains at No. 3.

HEAVYWEIGHT – Anderson exits after suffering a fifth-round stoppage to Bakole, who advances to No. 7. Justis Huni enters at No. 10.

LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT – David Morrell enters at No. 10 after scoring a 12-round unanimous decision over veteran Radivoje Kalajdzic in his 175-pound debut.

SUPER MIDDLEWEIGHT – Morrell, now campaigning at light heavyweight, exits. William Scull (22-0, 9 KOs) enters at No. 10.

JUNIOR MIDDLEWEIGHT – Crawford enters at No. 1. Madrimov advances to No. 2.

WELTERWEIGHT – The championship, previously held by Crawford, is now vacant. Shakhram Giyasov remains at No. 7 after scoring a 10-round split decision over Miguel Parra. 

LIGHTWEIGHT – Andy Cruz (4-0, 2 KOs) enters at No. 10 following his seventh-round stoppage of Antonio Moran.

JUNIOR FLYWEIGHT – Thanongsak Simsri remains at No. 9 after scoring a fifth-round stoppage of John Paul Gabunilas.

STRAWWEIGHT – Petchmanee CP Freshmart remains at No. 7 following his fifth-round TKO of Mehran Sadeghi.

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