Unbeaten super welterweight Israil “The Dream” Madrimov (5-0, 5 KOs) is looking to steal the show when he faces Eric Walker (20-2, 9 KOs) in a final eliminator for the WBA title in the streets of downtown Tulsa, Oklahoma on Saturday night live on DAZN. Madrimov is hoping to convince promoter Eddie Hearn to put on a huge show in his native Uzbekistan.
Boxing is the number one sport in Madrimov’s homeland and they recently celebrated their first world champion when Murodjon ‘MJ’ Akhmadaliev became the unified super bantamweight ruler in January with victory over Daniel Roman in just his eighth pro outing. Madrimov has ambitions to beat Akhmadaliev’s record and aim to unify at 154lbs in less than eight fights.
He is targeting a future clash with the winner of the September unification battle between IBF and WBA super champion Jeison Rosario and WBC king Jermell Charlo, but winning a World title is the key, and if that can happen in Uzbekistan, the 25-year-old believes it would be a historic night for his country.
“There have been talks over doing an event in Uzbekistan with Eddie Hearn, and it’s easier to do now with MJ as a World champion, it would be a huge event,” said Madrimov. “Our people are crazy boxing fans and would fill up any venue in the country, we have support from the government, so I am sure that it would be a sold-out stadium success and people would remember it for years.
“MJ made history and we’re happy for him as our friend, brother and teammate, it’s unbelievable what he achieved, unified champion in eight fights – but I still have time to beat him!
“Right now, the focus is Eric on Saturday, not looking past that. As soon as business is taken care of, we move on and we want to fight the champion, whoever that is. Rosario and Charlo are fighting each other, whoever has the belts I’m ready to fight them.
“Every fight for me is very important. I started off with a title fight on debut and my last fight was an eliminator, so they are all important and they keep getting bigger. This is a final eliminator and that’s big for me because win this and the next fight should be for a World title, the champion cannot avoid me then. I don’t call people out, I just want to be in a position to fight for titles. I want to build my own legacy and history by becoming World champion and I want to break records.”
Madrimov’s clash with Walker is to co-feature as Cecilia Brækhus (36-0 9 KOs) makes the 26th defense of her undisputed female welterweight crown against unified super lightweight champion Jessica McCaskill (8-2 3 KOs) in the unique setting of the downtown Tulsa streets as Matchroom return Stateside.