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Israil Madrimov Interview
Presenter (Marcos Viegas): Hey everybody, how's it going? Marcos
Israil Madrimov (via Translator): Viegas, Fight Up TV being joined now with Israel Madramoff. Israel, good to
Presenter (Marcos Viegas): see you. Uh, how have things been? I
Israil Madrimov (via Translator): know you uh did a surgery a while ago,
Presenter (Marcos Viegas): but how are you?
Israil Madrimov (via Translator): Alhamdulillah, good.
Presenter (Marcos Viegas): How are you?
Israil Madrimov (via Translator): Yes. Uh thank God everything is okay. I'm at home spending time with my family. Uh I had um a lot of things to deal with, a lot of injuries coming through my career uh as an amateur and as a professional. So uh since there was a lot of things that was bothering me, we decided to take care of all it together and see how my body reacts and recovers.
Presenter (Marcos Viegas): What exactly um surgery-wise did you do and what what injuries were these?
Israil Madrimov (via Translator): This is postly Crawford Crawford. you know, as all the athletes, um, I'm I'm not special. I'm having injuries, too. And it's been following me. Um, a lot of injuries, you know, a lot of things happening in camps and stuff like that. So, um, uh, after the Crawford fight, I have an issue with my shoulder, uh, that I decided to deal with, uh, during the camp shoulder and after the fight there was an issue with a knee. So I decided to deal with it later when we got the fight proposal right after that. We decided to deal with it later but um during camp it's been bothering me worse and worse you know more and more I couldn't do sprints and stuff like that. my knee started bothering. So, uh after the Virgil fight, we went on with the surgery, did the the MRIs, so it was a complete tear on my meniscus and uh the partial tear on my shoulder ligament and um
Presenter (Marcos Viegas): some dental issues too, like the surgery
Israil Madrimov (via Translator): that I had to went through for a while.
Presenter (Marcos Viegas): So, we just did all of it together and
Israil Madrimov (via Translator): uh luckily so far I'm ahead of schedule. I'm recovering well and uh recently I got back to light training and uh you know things are going things are getting a little bit better. We'll see how my body responds in the next couple weeks but uh so far so good. Feeling like uh the recovery goes the way it should. Okay. Uh now that makes sense as to um you know I remember watching your fight against Virgil there in person and I I kept wondering like hey Israel is not moving the way he usually does. He's not using lateral movement the way he usually does. And I just wondered like
Presenter (Marcos Viegas): what's what's what's what's up? Like his
Israil Madrimov (via Translator): movement's not there now. Now it makes sense. Yeah. viewers watching.
Presenter (Marcos Viegas): What
Israil Madrimov (via Translator): Oh, you know, um I'll be honest, it's it's more of um the knee was not an issue in the fight itself. Uh the knee was an issue. It's just keep keep on bothering me. So, I couldn't do the um you know the work that I used to the explosive work in preparation for the fight. But um uh the thing was realistically not about that. Uh when we were in preparation for um Sergey Bogachuk uh that's when I picked up some virus uh back in Usbekistan. It was uh first time training in Usbekiststan for a while. It was a winter there. I don't know what happened. I got the virus the kind of virus I I never ever uh experienced before. It was worse than COVID or anything else. It was a some sort of a um very tough version of um bronchitis that hurt me the way I never felt hurt before. It went down to my lungs and um I've been off from training for like 10 12 days, taking all the antibiotics and everything, but nothing helped. And uh getting back in camp, like I was weaker than ever. Like I couldn't I couldn't do rounds. I couldn't spar. I literally couldn't spar with like uh with the lower level guys for like three rounds. I couldn't breathe. I just couldn't breathe. I couldn't I couldn't get my you know couldn't get my together. I just couldn't understand what was going on. And uh so we started talking to all the doctors and everyone. What
Presenter (Marcos Viegas): can we do? there was obviously nothing
Israil Madrimov (via Translator): we could have done because uh you know the preparation were going all the way and that's when it started to popping up that I'm gonna fight Virgil. Everyone started talking about that fight when my full concentration was at the time on Sergey but um like healthwise I just couldn't do nothing like literally I was hurt the way I was never hurt before uh by uh that virus. So uh we decided to just cancel the fight because there was no way that I could have stepped in the ring you know like literally no way. So uh after that when from from right there I went two weeks later I thought that two weeks is going to be enough for me you know to recover to get to get my health better and to start preparation for Virgil cuz it was approximately like 8 n weeks away. So I went straight to uh India and uh like through the whole camp I just could not recover like it doesn't matter what I try to do and it will be maybe one day better and I will be able to spar like six seven rounds you know and the next day I will feel bad and so things were happening it was really really tough you know the the fight was already scheduled it was it was a great opportunity for me you know to fight against one of the best 154 uh in ****** El, you know, the huge opportunity in Riad and uh I already pulled out of the fight. I didn't want to do that again. And um of course I tried to do all the best, all that I could have done, but you know, the things played out they are. It's uh nothing nothing towards Virgil. He's a great fighter. But unfortunately I couldn't perform at my best and um I couldn't deliver um the best performance um that I I I know I could have done a little bit better for sure you know even even in the condition but if if I would just uh prepared right for this fight cuz I thought that if I'm going to push through I'm going to feel better but the doctors were saying that I should have just stay away from training completely and just prepare for the fight for 3 4 weeks instead of training for 8 weeks and just constantly hurting myself, you know, making things worse. So, yeah. Anyways, uh it it it wasn't really about the knee. Yeah, the the accumulation of everything played a part, but the most the bronchitis, the virus hurt my lungs. I just like could never breathe. Like literally after five rounds with Virgil, four or five rounds, I literally couldn't catch a breath. Like I couldn't breathe. in the corner. I was only thinking about like recovering as far as the uh breathing ability. Yeah, it didn't look like you in there to be honest. And yeah, it looked like you were tired by like the the the fifth round. You you were breathing hard. Um with that said, I I would imagine you know, you weren't happy with that performance and you'd like to get a another crack if the opportunity the opportunity ever presents itself against Virgil. How different of a fight do you think it would have been if you were um not suffering from the effects of of the
Presenter (Marcos Viegas): bronchitis and the virus?
Israil Madrimov (via Translator): for sure. No. for sport, you know, uh again it's um you know I have a I have a big platform a lot of followers you know, I never went I I never looked for excuses. All my fights, I always fought the best guys possible, you know, and uh where where where my performance when I didn't deliver in my performance, I never looked for any sort of excuses or explanations, you know.
Presenter (Marcos Viegas): So, in this one, I feel a little bit
Israil Madrimov (via Translator): embarrassed talking about it cuz the fight is already gone, you know. I lost the fight. I congratulated Virgil. Uh he won and uh I have absolutely no issues with it. It was my decision to step in the ring. So, I don't blame anyone for it. Of course, uh, of course, I know that I could have done better. Of course, I know that if I was healthy, I would deliver a much much better fight. And, um, I'm not talking about the results of the fight. I'm just saying that the fight will be uh much more uh better competitor competitive than it was. Uh, as far as how would it play out, I'm pretty sure that if of course right after the fight, the only guy that I um the only person that I told that
Presenter (Marcos Viegas): what was going on with me is um I asked
Israil Madrimov (via Translator): my manager to explain to his excellency Turkey alik that I can deliver a much better fight. But at the end of the day uh we have plans but there's only one plan is a God's plan. And if there is an opportunity to fight Virgil or to fight uh anyone else at the top, I'll always take it. You know, I I always took all the fights coming into the professional career. My goal was to fight the best guys. And so far, I was able to fight against the two very best guys uh and uh give them both a great fights, you know.
Presenter (Marcos Viegas): So, uh I believe that I'm still young. I
Israil Madrimov (via Translator): have a lot of energy in me left. And if my health will be fine, I'll deliver a great fight against anyone. And uh if if the opportunity presents with Virgil, I asked uh his excellency that I would love to have another crack at that fight. And uh if it happens, uh I'm pretty sure that Virgil is going to be prepared better. I'm going to be prepared better and it's going to be a better fight all around.
Presenter (Marcos Viegas): How did Cuz I didn't get we didn't get a
Israil Madrimov (via Translator): chance to speak to you, Israel, after the fight. Um how did Virgil's power
Presenter (Marcos Viegas): feel? Because I know he's seen as a a
Israil Madrimov (via Translator): very very big knockout puncher. Crawford. No. Virgil. Uh yeah. So uh Virgil s did surprise me with being being very um very uh responsible defensively. That was the biggest surprise. He has a very good stiff jab uh Virgil and uh he's overall physically um strong. He's he's physically strong guy, but as far as the power and punches, it's it's solid. It's not crazy, you know, obviously. Uh but um as far as like the the power in punches, uh Crawford is a is a sharper bigger puncher than Virgil. But as far as uh strength, Virgil, uh Virgil is a strong guy. Oh, wow. Okay. He thinks uh Crawford's punches had more like of an effect when he would land him compared to Virgil's. Yes. Yeah. Something like that. Okay. Wow. Wow. All right. Uh given that then um just because they're talking about uh this fight for Virgil, they're saying maybe Virgil against Geronis. I'm just curious what is is Israel. What do
Presenter (Marcos Viegas): you think about that fight? Who do you like in that fight?
Israil Madrimov (via Translator): No. Uh yes. N is for me. You know, it's really hard to say. It depends on how uh how they react to each other when they when they're in the ring. If uh Boots is in great shape and uh well prepared, he can he can outbox Virgil. But uh if Virgil is strong and well prepared, he can he can win this fight also, you know, just by uh pressure and dominance, you know. So it it it just depends. You never know until they step in the ring how they react to each other. Yeah. A lot of people are wondering like
Presenter (Marcos Viegas): how is Geron going to be be able to like
Israil Madrimov (via Translator): handle the pressure the presence of uh of Virgil always, you know, on him, always pressuring him. I I would say like that's one of like the big questions. speech. Foreign speech. Foreign speech. say um once again I believe it all comes down to once they once they in the ring
Presenter (Marcos Viegas): how they react to each other's uh
Israil Madrimov (via Translator): strength you know physicality But uh Andy's has everything to win. Like he he he has all the tools in the world to win. He he can box. Can he box
Presenter (Marcos Viegas): for 12 rounds? Can he stay sharp and counter for 12 rounds? That's the
Israil Madrimov (via Translator): question. That's his preparation. That's
Presenter (Marcos Viegas): how he reacts to extra weight carrying.
Israil Madrimov (via Translator): He he will have to carry. And uh but uh you can never uh count out Virgil with his uh temper, with his uh presence, with his um uh spirit, you know, like he's always there. He's always going to be trying to make it a fight. So, it's it it it's really hard to predict. They're two top fighters and and uh it it will only be being seen in the ring, you know, how how they react to each other because they're in your division,
Presenter (Marcos Viegas): Israel. Uh, what do you think? This will
Israil Madrimov (via Translator): be a two-part question, but this is the first part. What do you think about
Presenter (Marcos Viegas): Sebastian Fendor's win over Tim Zoo? And what do you think of him a as a fighter?
Israil Madrimov (via Translator): Because a lot of people say like, "Oh man, like this guy's just too big, too tall, too lanky." Like, how are we supposed to fight against a guy like
Presenter (Marcos Viegas): this?
Israil Madrimov (via Translator): forian bioche. Team um Well, first of all, uh I I do know him. I know him personally. He's a great great human. Great they're they're great human beings. They're uh great professional athletes. And uh he is uh he is who he is. He proved that in the ring. I knew that before. And u I know
Presenter (Marcos Viegas): how uh how good he is. We sparred
Israil Madrimov (via Translator): together. We worked together. So I know his strengths. I know his u sides that you can use against him too, you know, like I like I know how good he is and um the thing with him, I don't want to I don't want to talk uh about his, you know, like everyone knows his strength. Uh like but people thinking that him being told it's awkward as hell. Yes, he's he's awkward, but um as far as box English is with him, it doesn't matter
Presenter (Marcos Viegas): how um strong you are, how good you are,
Israil Madrimov (via Translator): you know, you have to stay so on point for all 12 rounds to be able uh to actually beat him. Well, obviously, everyone knows there is always a lucky punch opportunity chances, you know, like you can land one punch and just finish the fight at any given moment in any fight. But other than that, if we take away the lucky punch with Fondor, it will take it will take a lot to beat him. You know, you have to be physically stronger than him. You have to push him cuz he's very physically strong. People think that he's this skinny guy. No, he's not. He's physically strong guy. He has a very solid power in his punches. I believe he creates it with um leverage, you know, how long his hands are. And uh you can never feel comfortable if you're in the distance. He keep tagging you. You get inside, he's really good on the inside. He he's awkward. He has solid power. He's physically strong. He has a good endurance. So he's really that good.
Presenter (Marcos Viegas): When the fight with Timu happened like
Israil Madrimov (via Translator): first fight, I thought that Fondora is going to stop him. Uh everyone was talking about teams uh being caught, but nobody was talking about Fondor having a broken nose, you know.
Presenter (Marcos Viegas): So the second fight when it was
Israil Madrimov (via Translator): scheduled uh I I I was confident that if there is no lucky punch then uh Fondor is going to win it and he's going to dominate more than he did especially since team already got knocked out in the previous fight and mentally just wasn't himself uh from couple years ago you know of course you have to deal with with it as a mental part you know you're stepping in the ring being uh dropped hurt knocked out you in in in the brutal fashion. It's it's really tough. So, uh all the kudos, respect to both guys, but like yeah, the fight wasn't um I knew
Presenter (Marcos Viegas): how the fight is going to go and uh
Israil Madrimov (via Translator): Fondora proved that he is the number one at 154 today. Yeah, that that's what I was going to ask uh you Israel is if you felt that Fendor is um the best guy in the division or uh other people like Virgil or maybe Zas could be at number one but you feel that it is Fondura
Presenter (Marcos Viegas): who's number one at 54 right now?
Israil Madrimov (via Translator): Yeah. If if if uh if Terrence is not u is not in the picture of 154, if we're taking him away from this picture, then I think that in my opinion, Fondura is the best fighter cuz he proved it. He he he he he he has the belts and uh he's uh he's been in this division for all his career. Yeah. And you you could tell too like he his confidence is at an all-time high. Like I felt like he mentally he was different coming into this Zoo rematch and like he just had just a lot more like confidence and also like he I don't know. I just I equated to confident like he knows like he belongs there. for team Um yeah, you know, once again, um he does he does have a confidence. He's a he's um psychologically stable, but also uh I'm telling you like that height like before before him I only like I have I have my best friend and uh one one of my best friends and he's a two-time Olympic champion heavyweight Bakadir Jalal of big goosbeck he's 66 and uh Fondor is the same size and I used to drill with Jalalaf uh just just like playing a game you know touch touch and and then like just drilling together all the time and it's always crazy hard to to to touch him, you know, that that made me work extra hard. And here you have a samesized guy and that gives you like it's it's it's hard to really touch him to to to to get to him to uh Fondora. He he makes you work extra hard and when you're trying to rest and think that you're safe, you're not cuz he still can touch you. He still can reach you. He still can he makes you work even when you're trying to rest. So that's uh that's something that uh about him that will always uh give him advantage against anyone you know like you have to be physically prepared for the 12 rounds not for 12 rounds more rounds than that you know and uh uh physically he's again he's strong and he he has his advantages and he knows how to use them. So uh he's smart also.
Presenter (Marcos Viegas): How hard were those sparrings?
Israil Madrimov (via Translator): No, this You know, it's mentally very draining because you have to think all the time. It's um it's a physical sparring always. uh and any sparring kind of like gives gives you different look with him you
Presenter (Marcos Viegas): when you step in the ring with him it's
Israil Madrimov (via Translator): just something that I I believe that most of the boxer have not experience like being against such a tall guy and as I said you have to work double shift to to you know to to be able to deliver things that you want because usually I'll be able to get get out get in you know and and like touch people with certain punches set it up with him, you have to waste double the energy, you know, to to do the same thing. And it's not like he's he's untouchable or
Presenter (Marcos Viegas): something. No, but but it's hard to
Israil Madrimov (via Translator): deliver those things that those setups, you know, uh and you can make it just like a physical fight, but he's also, as I said, like he's not a weak physically guy. He's he's uh he's tough, he's strong, and he really knows how to uh with being this long, he knows how to work on the inside. So, at this point, Israel, um the surgeries are done. Um
Presenter (Marcos Viegas): when do you think uh you'll get back to
Israil Madrimov (via Translator): like full-time training, and when do you think you'll you'll get back to the
Presenter (Marcos Viegas): ring?
Israil Madrimov (via Translator): organism. Yeah, I'm still in the process of uh rehabilitation after the surgeries. I'm still uh uh working on recovering my lawns from the uh from the bronchitis. Like I'm still going through the testings every 2 3 weeks, you know, to see uh to do the blood work to see the results and everything. But um as far as like overall health, I'm uh I'm feeling better. And um you know we we were uh we approached to the team also that when there was an uh opportunity if there is an good big opportunity for a big fight we're ready to consider any any uh offer you know against against the top guys. But if it's uh at any time, but if it's um nothing significant, then I believe that I'll be ready by the end of the year uh to step back in the ring hopefully, God bless, um maybe December, uh for, you know, to to come back and to test myself uh to see what I'm capable of um after all this, you know, long period of the recovery. Wow. Uh yeah, I would imagine then this has been a little frustrating then having to to deal with all these uh physical issues. Uh yeah. Yeah. Yeah, it was very tough. It was u it is still uh it's much better now, but it's still I'm still working on in the process, but uh it's very tough mentally, you know, like last time I went 12 rounds um in sparring was in preparation for Terence Crawford. like since that time I could never do more than six, seven rounds sparring, you know, and uh being in preparation for one of the toughest guys in the division and uh I know Virgil I I been with Virgil in the ring before I know how. So it's it's mentally pressure, you know, big pressure to get ready for someone that you know is going to be there for 12 rounds and you can't spar even like, you know, six, seven solid rounds. It's it's it's been an issue, you know, as a fighter. It's um it's hard to deal with it and uh when you're not training for the for getting better, you know, you're only training and hoping for uh you know, like uh getting in better shape or
Presenter (Marcos Viegas): something like that. So, to get in
Israil Madrimov (via Translator): shape. So, it's been hard, but uh again, God willing, we we'll see what what he
Presenter (Marcos Viegas): what God has for me in the future.
Israil Madrimov (via Translator): Yeah. I was hoping um because I had asked you about uh maybe potentially helping Crawford prepare for Canelo because you helped uh Bval Dmitri prepare for Canelo that I would see you pop up in camp with uh Crawford but yeah with what you've been telling me with the injuries and everything like that obviously that that's not possible but uh what's your your perspective having fought Terrence him now fighting Canelo moving up two more weight classes to fight a lot bigger guy. for pound IQ Yeah, you know, um that's a most intriguing fight right now. The whole world is watching. No one expected that, but uh thankfully to his excellency and uh Riat, we're getting this fight. And it's unbelievable. It's it's it's a special fight. As far as the fight itself, uh yeah, I would um I would easily and uh would love to help Terrence in preparation, but um as like I I I'm I'm not in the stage, you know, of helping him right now with as far as um my abilities. But um uh for him uh if cuz Terrence has everything in the world. He's he's he's probably the highest IQ uh boxer in the world. He knows everything. And some people saying uh uh he can he can turn righty, lefty. He's he has power. He's strong. He's physically uh gifted. He's a great athlete. So, he has all the tools. Canelo is Canelo. Everyone knows who's Canelo and what's his uh strong sides.
Presenter (Marcos Viegas): Some people saying like, "Oh, Terrence
Israil Madrimov (via Translator): has to run, but he can run." Uh I don't think he can run. I think first of all I think he can. It's just that he never was pushed to run before but that doesn't mean that he can't box for 12 rounds. Like people saying that oh he's not really a boxer like that but maybe he just would never push to that you know so that doesn't mean that he can't do that. No I believe he can do whatever and he can adjust to whatever. Um the question is how the physicality is going
Presenter (Marcos Viegas): to be. How is he going to react? And uh
Israil Madrimov (via Translator): in my opinion uh the only thing Terren should avoid uh is gaining weight. That's what I wouldn't do. I wouldn't try to compete with Canela in that department by just being bigger, bulkier, stronger. I I don't think that that's a good idea. I would never uh gain weight for someone like Canela. I would stick to who Terren Crawford is, you know, and uh being around that way. But I believe that Terrence has all the all the tools, but it's all going to come down to like how they step into the ring, how they approach to each other. Yeah. Have you seen photos of of
Presenter (Marcos Viegas): Terrence? He does look a little bulkier
Israil Madrimov (via Translator): now. was a short
Presenter (Marcos Viegas): some place.
Israil Madrimov (via Translator): That's uh Yeah, exactly. That's what I'm talking about. I know Terren is u very smart and uh maybe they try to trick everyone with those pictures. Maybe those are from years ago. But but uh he's saying that uh no one ever beat Canela with strength, with uh like he was beaten by boxers. He was he was outboxed. He was outclassed, but he was never uh beaten by strength by some of the strongest guys, you know. So, I would say that uh Terren has everything he needs to to compete to look good and everything, but um in my opinion, that could only hurt, you know, by being slower, not being able to carrying that weight uh just just just because he didn't used to it. you in your personal opinion, Israel,
Presenter (Marcos Viegas): what happens in the fight?
Israil Madrimov (via Translator): um hard pick uh in my opinion if Terren is Terren if he's not going to gain weight if he's just going to be himself weighing in at under the 68 limit you know, and just just just just just being himself. I see it as a 50/50 fight. I I believe the Terren can can win on points, uh, can can do great. But, uh, if he's going to gain weight and if he's going to try to compete with Canela in in in where Canela is good at and strong, then I see Canelo as a favorite. And uh I think that Canela may be able to catch and hurt uh Terrence if if he tries to, you know, work in um on his field, you know,
Presenter (Marcos Viegas): where Canelo is good.
Israil Madrimov (via Translator): Yeah. The the biggest thing is how is Terrence going to react to Canelo's punches over the course of 12 rounds and if that's going to affect him given that Canelo is a bigger guy. He's used to fighting bigger guys and Terence has never felt like this type of power and this is his first time up at 168 pounds getting hit with someone as powerful as Canelo with 10 oz gloves. Great. Yeah. Uh, Crawford. Uh, Uh it's very interesting and intriguing. You never know that. I personally know as I've been in the as as I've been helping uh Bivo in preparation and u with work with Beck, you know, and work with the big boys and I know how it is. I know what's the difference there. Uh you you there are weight classes for a reason. There are different strength power and everything. Of course, I'm talking about a highlevel people that I'm talking about. Not like you can go and spar like 75 pounders, no problem. it. You have to see who you sparring,
Presenter (Marcos Viegas): what level, and you know, it's a big
Israil Madrimov (via Translator): difference. But again, fighting is different and from sparring. And um but Terren is that smart, that good. He is uh he adjusts. He knows when to switch on and off. He's uh he's all around good, you know, like he's he's your favorite. He's uh uh we call him uh your favorite fighter favorite fighter like he is the guy who's u who creates you know and able to accomplish things. He he just uh he plans to do something and he he's able to do that you know like he's that good. Uh and uh as far as the IQ, I don't think that uh Canela in in his recent fight fought anyone close to Terrence, you know, because Terrence can adjust to everything and he reads things. So I still give edge in that department to Terrence and I think that he can adjust on the fly, you know, really really easy. And um with Canelo, I don't think that he can. If Terren gives him some different looks and keep switching, you know, and keep doing different things, I don't think that Canelo can adjust to that easily. Just because you mentioned it, Israel,
Presenter (Marcos Viegas): how big of a difference is the power
Israil Madrimov (via Translator): from the bigger guys, you being at 54
Presenter (Marcos Viegas): and sparring the bigger guys? Is it like a noticeable difference? Um, or is it something where like, no, I I could
Israil Madrimov (via Translator): handle like Terren should be able to handle this type of power over 12 rounds. Uh, yes. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah, you know, of course, uh moving up two-way classes feels different again, uh
Presenter (Marcos Viegas): solid guys, you know, like like not just
Israil Madrimov (via Translator): guy who weighs heavier, you know, but against legit people, of course, you feel noticeable difference. Uh, of course, if you're not too brain damaged, you're you're not going to try to go and compete with those guys just blowby-blow. You know, I always uh getting in the ring with Beville or Beck or like I'm I'm trying not to get hit. I'm trying to avoid that. I'm trying to be more elusive like uh my job with them is is touch them and don't get touched back, you know. Uh so obviously it's a sparring you get hit and you you can feel that. But my goal with uh with the big boys always to avoid of getting hit, you know, stay elusive, stay keep working, you know, and to use it uh to help if I'm helping them, I'm trying to help them in the department. like with people I was trying to help uh uh you know with the head movement and just being slick you know and being able to uh duck the punches and come back with
Presenter (Marcos Viegas): something big wild explosive you know uh so I can't tell you that I I took their
Israil Madrimov (via Translator): best shots but it definitely you you can feel the difference but my goal was always like trying not to not to get hit by those guys clean you know and not to not to take any punishment in those uh in those rounds. Yeah, I think that's gonna be Terren's goal too in the fight. You know, wrapping up, uh, Israel, uh, you're wanting hoping to return December
Presenter (Marcos Viegas): um, of this year. Who are you eyeing? Who who are you targeting? Like, what what fight do you feel in your personal
Israil Madrimov (via Translator): opinion, if you could choose, would make
Presenter (Marcos Viegas): sense for a return fight?
Israil Madrimov (via Translator): Uh, right. Yes. uh you know, of course, I'm um as you said, yes, the health is the priority and now I know it more than ever. But um and I'm not in the position I lost my fight to Virgil. Uh, so I'm not in the position to pick and choose, you know, like uh uh I understand how the boxing world uh business works, but um uh if I could name maybe one guy that I would love to fight, I would maybe say Bakram Mortazif. Oh wow. The the IBF champion, uh he is the guy who seems to be most avoided, you know, and uh from from from what I'm seeing. And uh if uh if if I would have opportunity, I would really love uh to fight him as he's one of the champions and I would prefer to fight the champions and um I already fought with Virgil, fought with Terren, so there are not many top guys um out there, you know, and he's an IBF champion, great fighter. I would I would absolutely love
Presenter (Marcos Viegas): to share the ring with him. Why? No one wants to fight that guy. Why? Why do you want to fight that guy, Israel? Just
Israil Madrimov (via Translator): because it's the title or is there
Presenter (Marcos Viegas): something more?
Israil Madrimov (via Translator): Uh Crawford Virgil Ortiz. Yes. boy. No, no, absolutely nothing personal. It's only because uh I want to be challenged uh and uh he's the guy who will uh motivate me to train, you know, and and and and there is something to prove. I like to surprise people. I like to, you know, to to to to bring surprises to the ring. But uh he is one of the champions. He proved that he's one of the best by, you know, destroying one of the best. And uh I've been in the ring with Terrence, with Virgil, and uh I want to prove that I'm on that level at on the on the highest level at this division, you know, and there is no better way to prove it but against the be one of the best guys, you know, and u it's just uh it's uh only sport. Um it's only for the sport purpose and reason, not nothing absolutely nothing personal. I love it. I love it. I'd love to see that fight Israel. Yeah, we we both ******s. I have nothing but respect and there is nothing uh personal. It's uh it's not the um it's not the pinch toward him. No, it's uh it's just like if if I could have pick the fight the I would I would love to to see where I'm at and to prove to everyone that I'm still here and that I'm one of the best. Yeah, it's the challenge. It's it's wanting to to be the best. I I would love to see uh that fight. It would be a very interesting one style-wise um as well. Uh Israel, thank you. I I appreciate it. Um, I I hope you you heal up and get healthy quick and I look forward to your return to the ring. All right. Okay, thank you so much. Uh, I think I have the big fans in the pro professional boxing and I want back to work inshallah and uh I Bakorski fanat. Yes. All you know the goal is still the same to show skills to show my skills to the world to show the good boxing and exciting fights. All right. That was Israel Majimov. Israel. Thank you. Appreciate it. Thank you. Thank you so much. Bye.
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