What Flag Does Israil Madrimov Carry? Nationality, Religion, Ethnicity, and Hometown

Israil Madrimov is going into a fight that has the possibility of putting him in the top echelons of boxing if he wins. On August 3, he will be facing the undefeated, and two-time undisputed champion of the world Terence Crawford. In a very short span of time, Madrimov has proved that he is a force to be reckoned with. In just 11 professional fights, he has become a world champion. “When I received the news that I would be making my first world title defense against Terence Crawford, I was very happy. Let’s go! I am ready all of the time,” Madrimov had said.

The boxer’s biggest win came against an elite Russian boxer Magomed Kurbanov, picking up an impressive fifth-round stoppage victory and grabbing the vacant WBA junior-middleweight title in the process. The 29-year-old fighter will be making his title defense in his natural weight class while Terence Crawford will be jumping up from welterweight to become a four-division champion. While both the fighters prepare themselves for the ultimate showdown, let’s delve into the underdog Madrimov’s early life and his cultural background.

Where is Israil Madrimov from? Background and early life

Madrimov hails from the boundless deserts of Uzbekistan. Born in a small village called Khiva, life was difficult for young Madrimov as he was raised in a household with no heating or electricity. From a very young age, he had to shoulder the responsibility of collecting wood for their household’s fireplace to keep his family warm during the winters. “I remember one time, during the middle of winter when I was only a little boy, it was so cold that I couldn’t sleep and was crying in my bed. We had no electricity and no heating. I prayed to Allah that by his grace, I would work hard to make things better for my family.” the Uzbeki fighter said in an interview with Fight-Site.

Although Israil wanted to become a football player when he was a little boy, a trip to a boxing gym at the age of ten shifted his perspective. And, he didn’t look back ever since. Honing his skills under the tutelage of Tulkin Kilichev, he was called up to the national team at the age of fifteen in 2010 for his first major tournament, the 2011 AIBA World Junior Championships in Kazakhstan, where he won the silver medal. Since then, he had an impressive amateur career, padding up a boxing record of 350-20, winning the 2018 Asian Games with notable wins over World Championship silver medalists Abilkhan Amankul and Eumir Marcial.

However, to make it big in the professional boxing circuit, he traveled halfway across the globe along with a bunch of battle-hardened Uzbeki boxers to the Californian desert. In Indo, under the guidance of Mexican trainer Joel Diaz, Madrimov made his professional debut in 2018. It has been smooth sailing so far, picking up a record of 10-0 with seven knockouts.

Currently, Uzbekistan has been producing the country’s finest fighters. At this year’s Olympics, the country sent eleven boxers to compete in the Paris Olympics 2024. Some of the elite fighters who train alongside him, and compete in the Olympics are Bakhodir Jalolov, Abdumalik Khalokov, and Hasanboy Dusmatov. Such is the confidence in his Olympic team’s boxing squad that Madrimov expects all of them to get medals.

But, what makes them such elite students of the ‘sweet science’? “Their work rate and their discipline, they’re just different. They eat, sleep, drink, walk, everything is about boxing. They’re so disciplined and, to me, I think that discipline beats class. It doesn’t matter how good you are. If you’re not disciplined, you’re gonna get lazy some day and you’re gonna get beat up by a more disciplined fighter,” Madrimov’s translator once told Boxing Scene.

What’s more, Madrimov has a higher purpose that keeps him humble and focused on this craft.

Israil Madrimov talks about his religion

Like the majority of his countrymen, the 29-year-old Uzbeki fighter is a devout Muslim. For Madrimov, following the tenets of Islam is more important than boxing.

“My faith is very important to me. If I win or lose, it is because Allah intended so. I am confident in my ability because I have worked hard, but having him always with me gives me strength. Religion comes first, and boxing after. And I haven’t achieved my dreams yet, there is still a long way to go,” he told Fight-Site. It is Israil’s religiosity that keeps him humble and kind, and his religious underpinning is a good reminder of his humble beginnings.

Meanwhile, the pressure fighter, who draws his inspiration from the legendary fighter Gennady Golovkin, wants to put on an entertaining fight for the fans. Yes, boxing smart is important, but Madrimov won’t hesitate to take risks to give the fans what they want. “He [Crawford] doesn’t have any weaknesses. I haven’t seen any of those, but I will try to discover some. I am very excited to get this opportunity to make a statement, and I will, Inshallah. I’m not Errol Spence Jr. I am Israil Madrimov. This is my division.” he said in an interview.

It would be interesting to see how a counterpuncher with a remarkable boxing IQ in Crawford will handle an explosive, pressure fighter like Madrimov. Who do you think will win the fight on August 3? Madrimov or Crawford? Let us know in the comment section below.