Israil Madrimov Is Being Wasted at 31

Former WBA junior middleweight champion Israil Madrimov remains inactive and without a confirmed opponent at 31 years old. Since losing his title to Terence Crawford in August 2024, Madrimov has fought only twice. He suffered a narrow decision defeat against Vergil Ortiz Jr. in February 2025 and secured a 10-round victory over Luis David Salazar in January 2026.

Madrimov's career has been slowed by knee and shoulder surgeries, as well as a bout of pneumonia. Despite his competitive performances against top fighters like Crawford and Ortiz, his unorthodox style and low punch output reportedly make him a difficult and high-risk opponent for current champions to voluntary defend against.