Crawford captures 154-pound title in Los Angeles

Crawford captured the WBA junior middleweight title with a unanimous decision over Israil Madrimov in Los Angeles. The three ringside judges turned in scorecards of 115-113, 116-112, and 115-113 to favor the 42-0 fighter. Madrimov, nicknamed "The Dream", controlled the rhythm for much of the bout with quick feinting and ring mobility. The 36-year-old Nebraska star overcame the herky-jerky style of Madrimov by utilizing a dominant jab and a three-punch combination that included a clean left uppercut during the eleventh round of the fight. I believe the performance lacked the brilliance fans expected from the pound-for-pound leader. Madrimov, who is 29 years old, previously won the vacant WBA title by stopping Magomed Kurbanov in five rounds in March. Despite the majority pro-Crawford crowd at BMO Stadium, the Uzbekistan champion neutralized Crawford for much of the fight. Crawford found success in the championship rounds, specifically in the twelfth round when he threw a combination involving a body shot and two straight uppercuts. This victory marks his debut in the 154-pound weight class and follows his recent conquests at 147 pounds.

The shifting welterweight scene

This win prompted Crawford to vacate his WBA welterweight belt. Eimantas Stanionis, who holds a 19-0 record with 13 knockouts, remains the lone WBA champion at 147 pounds. The 147-pound scene remains highly competitive with Jaron Ennis holding a 42-0 record and 31 knockouts. Ennis, who is 21 years old, delivered a devastating knockout of Keith Thurman in mid-2025. Stanionis secured a unanimous decision over Vergil Ortiz Jr. in late 2025, and he remains a mandatory challenger for other belts. Some critics argue Crawford’s 147-pound resume consists of wins over Jeff Horn, Jose Benavidez Jr., and Amir Khan.

Madrimov lost his title but maintains a 10-1 record with 7 knockouts. Jose Valenzuela grabbed the WBA junior welterweight belt after a split decision win against Isaac Cruz. The 25-year-old Valenzuela used his longer frame to box a clean fight against the 26-3-1, 18-KO aggressive Cruz. The 154-pound division also includes the unified champion Tim Tszyu. Do you think Crawford will target the super welterweight king next?

Ambitions at middleweight and beyond

Janibek Alimkhanuly wants a clash of undisputed champions against Crawford in the fall of 2026. The 17-0 middleweight holds the WBO and IBF belts and wants Crawford to join him at 160 pounds. Alimkhanuly posted on X that he wants to meet Crawford if the Nebraska fighter still holds all four belts in his division. The 160-pound division also includes WBC champion Carlos Adames and WBA champion Erislandy Lara. Other potential opponents include Hamzah Sheeraz and the super welterweight champion Tim Tszyu. I find the rumors of a Canelo Alvarez fight at 168 pounds more realistic than his stay at 154. Crawford remains the pound-for-pound leader despite his narrow margin of victory in Los Angeles. The decision to stay at 154 pounds seems like a strategic move for his legacy. Many observers thought his win in Los Angeles lacked the dominance seen in his previous title fights. Crawford will now move through a division where the titles are often fragmented among various champions. I see many fighters in this division preparing to take his spot. The 168-pound environment remains busy with fighters like Chris Eubank Jr. and Conor Benn clashing in April.