Terence Crawford has laid out a condition for a potential showdown with Teofimo Lopez: if Lopez wants a shot at him, he must first get past former WBA junior middleweight champion Israil Madrimov. Lopez and Crawford traded jabs on social media recently, with Lopez expressing his desire to fight Crawford at 154 pounds, but Crawford isn’t making it easy.
Crawford, who narrowly defeated Madrimov in August, is using the tough Uzbek fighter as a hurdle for Lopez to clear before any talks of a bout between them can proceed. While Lopez has been vocal about wanting the fight with no strings attached, Crawford's challenge means Teofimo would have to prove himself first against a formidable opponent at 154 pounds.
Watch Crawford vs. Madrimov highlights: Watch
Madrimov would be a serious test for Lopez, who struggled in his last fight against Steve Claggett, taking significant damage on his way to a unanimous decision win. Given Lopez’s inconsistent performances over the past two years, with many feeling he was fortunate to win against Jamaine Ortiz and Sandor Martin, taking on Madrimov is no easy task.
For Lopez, accepting Crawford’s offer could be a gamble, but the reward could be massive. A win over Madrimov would boost his profile and set up the highly desired fight with Crawford. However, with recent struggles and a string of tough fights, Lopez’s chances of getting past Madrimov are far from certain.
Staying at 140 pounds no longer seems like a viable option for Lopez, as the big names have moved on to higher weight classes. If he wants to make a splash at 154 and get his shot at Crawford, beating Madrimov is the only way forward.
Click here to learn more about Israil Madrmov's career here.
Image Credit: Top Rank