It’s a usual night at the office for him: stepping into the squared circle on a Saturday night, putting on a show, and leaving the arena with a victory, even when most doubted him. He’s done it 40 times, but this time it’s different. This time, he can take a step further, cementing his legacy. That’s not it. The need is to do it in style. He needs to make a case for himself to bag the fight with Canelo Alvarez. Will Terence Crawford do it again, surpassing expectations? Or will he find himself lacking against the champion Israil Madrimov?

It all unfolds when the two fight it out for the WBA super welterweight title this Saturday at the BMO Stadium. The fight, with deep consequences for the division, offers the fans electric action and a bang for their money. But who will emerge as the champion? Before the fans take their seats and high-octane action ensues, let’s have a look at how the two boxers stack up.

Terence Crawford vs. Israil Madrimov: Tale of Tape

Crawford flew under the radar for most of his initial career, racking up dominating wins until he signed up with Top Rank and propelled into stardom. He would soon sway fans with his power punching and boxing IQ and race up to an unblemished record of 40-0 with 31 KOs. While some had wondered whether the American boxer would take over Floyd Mayweather‘s 50-0 record, he was content with cementing his legacy with a different route. An antithetical fighter to ‘Pretty Boy,’ Crawford relies on heavy-handed blows to collect wins, and his KO ratio of 77.5% speaks volumes. In addition, you can laud the 36-year-old for his use of his dimensions, a height of 5’8″ (173 cm) and a reach of 74″ (188 cm).

But the two-division undisputed champion is moving up a division. Will that pose a challenge for him as he goes up against another undefeated fighter in Madrimov? At 29, the WBA champion has made his presence felt in the welterweight division with his skills, hard-boiled attitude, and record of 10-0 with 7 KOs, which also narrates a tale of dominance. Madrimov’s power flies under the radar because of his boxing prowess, but with a KO ratio of 70%, you can’t afford to negate his brutal punches. If you do that, you are in for a long night. And then you have to be cautious about his long levers, with a reach of 68½″ (174 cm), and his punches will find your flesh from a distance too.

While nothing separates the two when it comes to height, with Madrimov finding himself a centimeter taller at 5’8½” (174 cm), the champion keeps on adjusting with each passing round, making it difficult for his opponents. Will a similar case follow this time?

Prediction: X factor, and where will the fight be won?

If you can imagine a well-rounded fighter, a technician with knocked power, then Crawford will definitely come to mind. ‘Bud’ knows to work your body and then follow with deadly combinations. Errol Spence Jr. was the victim of the same. His boxing IQ allows him to outwit his foes in the ring. You add into the mix his southpaw stance and his ability to throw punches while switching, and you realize why he is P4P #1. However, what will nudge him to victory is his speed and his swift pair of hands. His speed is his X factor, which separates him from the rest. But will it be effective enough to catch the Uzbek fighter off-guard?

Madrimov has his defensive bases covered. You rarely find him getting hit or absorbing blows. That’s not it. There are few fighters who can stay as focused or disciplined as him. He is also well-conditioned for the vagaries of 154. You can expect the Khiva native to put forward pressure and resort to volume punching. He will feel the fight for the first couple of rounds, make adjustments, and then somewhere close to the fifth round, you will witness him shifting gears.

It will boil down to whether Madrimov will allow the challenge to reach his body with his speed. Will the move to 154 affect his speed while adding more power? No one is sure. But if Crawford becomes the champion, Joel Diaz and the whole boxing community will tip their hats, and there will be a wave of demand for a purge of other champions at 154.

What do you make of this coming fight between Terence Crawford and Israil Madrimov? Who do you think will leave the arena with the gold strap on August 3? Let us know in the comments below.