Note: NO NEGOTIATIONS now happening; this is purely a conjectural. Madrimov, however, wants that smoke: This content is protected It's doubtful whether he gets the chance, however, for multiple reasons. For one, as noble as his intentions may be to dust himself off after two consecutive losses and go after someone frequently called "the most avoided man in boxing" - the IBF has strict rules and isn't keen on allowing people to contend fresh off defeats (let alone multiple). Murtazaliev also has a slew of better options in terms of risk-reward ratio. He was recently in talks for a fight with Josh Kelly, and his name has also been linked with the likes of Xander Zayas, Sebastian Fundora, the Ortíz vs. Lubin winner, and the Adams vs. Bohachuk II winner. I'd be shocked if the Uzbek were able to cut the line on any of those peers, even with a tune-up buffering him from the L column. It'd be a nice match, though, eh?
Worth noting that in a 2020 interview, Murtazaliev spoke complimentarily of Madrimov and said he would likely be a world champion - and wasn't yet confident that he'd take it h2h. In that same interview he acknowledges that he didn't really achieve much success in the amateurs, unlike Madrimov, but chalks that up to "politics" in the Russian boxing scene. He learned a lot of his craft "on the job" under the coaching of Abror Tursunpulatov and sparring with Olympic gold medalist Fazliddin Gaibnazarov, both countrymen of Madrimov's, and holds the Uzbek boxing program in general in high regard.
Madrimov wanting all the smoke is very ballsy and admirable but also not ideal for him. I remember when he also had plans to fight Bohachuk as well before fighting Ortiz within a 2 month time frame which obviously didn't work out. He has 2 back to back losses against Crawford and Ortiz.. I'd rather for him to take some easier tune ups before jumping into another top level fighter, especially a guy like Murtazaliev. Should he face him right away it would not end well for Madrimov and could potentially ruin his career for good much like Tszyu.
Madrimov should probably chill and get a couple of wins under his belt first, but I do think he can beat Murtazaliev.
Wild statement! Especially since Murtazaliev is yet to face anybody the level of Crawford or Ortíz...
Since when is everyone treading Madrimov like chopped liver? Yeah he's on an 0-2 skid but ...not exactly against bums! Two undefeated opponents, arguably the #1 and #2 h2h at the weight...and he was competitive with both.
Madrimov is a much better fighter than Tsyzu ever was, I think. Tim was wildly overrated and got decimated when he had to fight a live dangerous guy. If it wouldn't have been Bakhram, it'd have been Oritz, Madrimov, or Crawford who'd have walked through him instead.
'Experts' putting fighters down for their losses often are statistics and numbers fetishists. Two Ls don't mean much, when 1) lots of people have you winning in either fight. Maybe not the majority but it certainly has been competitive. 2) the two opponents you lose to are one of the three p4p Champions at the point and one of the strongest coming up the ladder in boxing People should stuff their L-arguments back in their pockets and look and see that madrimov is champion material and in contrast to so many other politicy boxers beginning with davis continuing with canelo and ending with Fury, Joshua and so on - he looks to fight the best. I will never understand why 'fight-fans' criticize such fighters. Also: Tsyu is a fantastic fighter to watch. One of the most fun to watch out there. And he too seeks the strongest opponents, win or lose. These are the guys that rescue boxong from politics. Not every fighter to follow has to be p4p material.
I mean just Imagine what madrimov's reputation would be if he was managed like tank davis and got the same undeserved accolades for pulling fighters up two weight classes. If these eastern european fighters had an equally strong target group as the us and british fighters have...