Israil Modrahimovich "The Dream" Madrimov

For what its worth regarding Frank Rojas, ignore the near criminal scorecards in his loss against Hammond, it was anything but.... James and I are rarely in agreement, but even he scored it in favor of Rojas.

 

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Many, many folks who attended the Saturday fights at Turning Stone Casino in Verona, NY, for a card topped by a Dmitriy Bivol light heavyweight title defense against Joe Smith came away mightily impressed by a low on the card prospect.

Israil Madrimov entered 1-0, but left with another W, and a load of new admirers.

I reached out to the hitter, who hails from Uzbekistan, to get a sense of who he is, where he comes from, and where he’s going.

First off, I wanted to get a sense of his demeanor…so I asked, do YOU think you won the weekend, of all the fighters?

“I don’t think so because Dmitry Bivol, my teammate was in a very important fight and defended his world title,’ said the 24 year old, who campaigns netween welterweight and junior middleweight. He debuted as a pro in November, winning a TKO6 against 10-2 Vladimir Hernandez in Atlantic City.

On Saturday, Madrimov, with ample power in each hand, bested Frank Rojas (24-3, 23 knockouts), a Venezuelan power puncher. The power was most evidenced by the Uzbek, who flurried and dropped Rojas, and then picked up where he left off to drop him hard to the mat. Game over, 1:56 of round two. He dropped him lefty and finished him off righty, for the record.





“I was very comfortable in the ring using footwork and distance,” Madrimov told me. “Not trying to be cocky but I knew I could knock him out in the second round either with a hook to the head or a body shot. I used the first round to get warmed up.”

The prospect took up fighting at 11 years old, when he went to a gym near his hometown of Khiva, Uzbekistan. “Once I started boxing I felt great and within two years I was a national champion. My goal is to become a world champion, hopefully that will happen within the next year.”

I recommend you get this guy on your watch list; he’s gunning for top names, sooner rather than later…

“I want to fight any of the champions at 154, Jaime Munguia, Jarrett Hurd or Tony Harrison,” Madrimov declared. “I’m ready for them right now.”


On Friday, March 15, I chatted with Madrimov’s trainer, Joel Diaz, and his stated level of certainty about how good this kid is, well, it got me charged up to follow up.

I told Diaz that Madrimov seems ultra confident, that he could handle some of the champs at 154, right now. What does Diaz think of that assertion?

“I can tell you one thing…put Madrimov in with Jaime Munguia, and Munguia will not last six rounds,” said Diaz. “Right now!”

With over 475 amateur fights tucked into his belt, Diaz (below) says this kid has plenty enough seasoning to grab straps ASAP.



More Diaz: “He’s very awkward, he’s tricky from every angle, and it’s every punch thrown with bad intentions. Don’t blink on this kid. Madrimov is the next superstar in the sport, I guarantee.”