The man who gave Terence Crawford perhaps his toughest fight is certain Crawford will remain retired.

After talking to the undefeated five-division champion, Israil Madrimov came away from their conversation convinced Crawford will resist the temptation to return to the ring. Madrimov, who lost a unanimous decision to Crawford in August 2024, thinks the physical toll training camps take on fighters and his sense that Crawford has done well with his money makes Crawford different from most boxers who walk away from the sport.

Madrimov wasn’t surprised, either, when the 38-year-old Crawford announced his retirement December 16 in a video posted on YouTube.

“Before he announced his retirement,” Madrimov told The Ring, “we met, and he told me he’s done, he’s had enough of the sport, that he had achieved everything possible and that he’s not chasing money. He don’t care about all that stuff. He has everything he needs. God bless him. I’m super happy for him. When he told me this, I was thinking maybe he was just saying that and maybe he was gonna get that huge offer, and he’ll take it.

“But he said no, that he doesn’t care. I believe that Terence is a man of his word. He said all he wants is his legacy and to leave the sport as one of the GOATs, one of the best, and without a blemish on his record. I respect and appreciate that and wish him only the best of health and wealth for him and his big family. Nothing but the best and respect for him.”

Crawford (42-0, 31 KOs) retired as The Ring’s No. 1 fighter pound-for-pound following the Omaha, Nebraska native’s impressive points victory over former undisputed super middleweight champ Canelo Alvarez on September 13 at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas. The cerebral, skillful Crawford’s win against Alvarez (63-3-2, 39 KOs) made him a fully unified champ in a third division, unprecedented among male boxers, and enhanced his status as one of the most accomplished fighters of the 21st century.

“Terence Crawford is if not the greatest, one of the greatest fighters in probably the last decade,” Madrimov said. “He is a special fighter, with special accomplishments. To me, he’s a legend. And I’m grateful for sharing the ring with him. I’m super proud of sharing the ring with a legend and having a good relationship with him. Even before the fight, during the fight [week], I always said he’s my favorite fighter to watch, to pick up things from him. I’m really happy for him. I wish him nothing but the best.”

Uzbekistan’s Madrimov (10-2-1, 7 KOs) is scheduled to fight for the first time in 11 months January 24 in Las Vegas.

Surgeries on his left shoulder and left knee kept him from training for several months after his 12-round, unanimous-decision defeat to WBC interim champ Vergil Ortiz (24-0, 22 KOs) on February 22 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The former WBA super welterweight champion feels refreshed following a long layoff and hopes his 10-round tune-up fight against Dominican underdog David Salazar (20-1, 7 KOs) marks the start of a more active, successful 2026.

DAZN will stream Madrimov-Salazar as part of the Raymond Muratalla-Andy Cruz undercard from Fontainebleau Las Vegas.

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