Crawford vs Madrimov Upset?

The risk is not really about Crawford moving up one weight division too far here because he's not going to be fighting someone who is bigger than him. Crawford was a big 147 pounder and he likely weighed more at 147 than Madrimov does at 154 because Madrimov's a small 154. Crawford might even have a significant/big weight advantage up at 154 because he's going to be heavier than he was at 147.And Crawford has a way longer reach than Madrimov too.

The risk for Crawford is he's actually facing a legit banger his size or rather closer to his size which is something he has very rarely done. Madrimov has big power in both hands and if he can close the distance and get past Crawford's near six inch reach advantage and land his bombs he's really dangerous. He's obviously inexperienced with only 11 fights, especially against world class opposition, but his power is real.

 

Madrimov is not a nobody. He's a good fighter and a big puncher.

Yes, there's a huge experience gap between them, not only in terms of number of fights but between in level of opposition and there still is despite the fact that Crawford's level of opposition is weak for a 40 vet and top 5 P4P star. Madrimov has only fought a couple of fringe world class guys. That being said, he's dangerous and especially so given Crawford has fought so few legit bangers, especially ones his size.

Crawford will yet again have home advantage will likely, as is practically the norm over in the US but literally never happens anywhere else for world title fights between a home and away fighter, have a home ref and three home judges which means that Madrimov will, again, very likely need a KO to come away with the win

And, as said, Crawford is not moving up and fighting someone much bigger than him like certain other multiple weight champs are doing routinely when they move up in weight. That has never been the case with him because he's been massive or very big at every weight he's campaigned at and at the very worst Madrimov will be the same size as him. But if we're judging from how much Crawford weighs in the ring and how much Madrimov said he does Crawford will be bigger and he has a way longer reach than Madrimov.

That being said, despite all this, I give Crawford credit for taking on Madrimov in his first at the weight because Madrimov is a talented fighter, might just be the best at the weight, and he's a legit banger and Crawford has fought so few of them.

However, the Crawford fans better not act like Crawford is fighting a much bigger foe, in their backyard who has a wealth of experience at the world level if he beats Madrimov and like he's pulled off some insurmountable against the odds type victory because Crawford is the one who has everything stacked heavily in his favour and the only advantage Madrimov has is power.