Terence "Bud" Crawford is a -700 favorite over Israil Madrimov (+400) in this exciting August 3 boxing match for the WBA (and WBO interim) world super welterweight title.
The Crawford vs Madrimov matchup will be 12 rounds at the BMO Stadium in Los Angeles. The Crawford-Madrimov odds don't tell the full story, so let's dive into our betting preview and picks for this fight.
Crawford vs Madrimov Betting Odds
Odds as of August 2
Using our odds calculator, Crawford's -700 favorite status means a $100 bet on him to win pays out $114.29. The same bet on Madrimov pays out $500.
Crawford vs Madrimov Props
How madrimov Wins
The Uzbekistani fighter must take advantage of Rounds 1 through 5. Crawford is such a vet in this business, that it'll be too tough for Madrimov to outclass him if the fight goes the distance, so the challenger must lean on his strengths.
Madrimov is an extreme athlete. Thanks to a background in gymnastics, the 29-year-old is loose and explosive. His footwork is also incredible and he uses angles very well. As the younger, fresher, fighter, Madrimov must capitalize before "Bud" figures him out. He can be aggressive, but cannot compromise on defense or he'll hit the canvas.
There's no need to bet Madrimov at anything other than his +400 value.
How Crawford Wins
I'm completely chill with Crawford taking one, two, or even three rounds to read Madrimov and figure out his timing. Bud can throw some feints, lay the foundation with body work, and gradually build up to an explosive final few rounds.
Crawford has wicked fast and accurate hands, plus he loves doubling and tripling up jabs before unloading power punches. He's an intelligent defender, using good head movement to steer clear of danger and tee up his opponent. The champ occasionally exposes himself when he needs to close the distance, which is why I believe it's possible Madrimov knocks him down (or out) in this fight.
That said, Crawford is No. 1 or No. 2 on most people's pound-for-pound list. He should recover from any damage Madrimov dishes out. Ultimately, I'm a fan of betting Crawford by KO/TKO in this fight.
Crawford vs Madrimov Pick
This will be a tighter fight than the odds suggest, and I'm looking forward to this bout heading into the later rounds, when both guys are bloodied and fatigued.
I believe this fight will end inside the distance, so feel free to lay that prop. As far as a pick goes, I'm taking Crawford by KO/TKO.