Why Israil Madrimov -- and Uzbekistan -- have a chance to shine in boxing - ESPN

Israil Madrimov is laser-focused on the biggest fight of his life against Terence Crawford in Los Angeles on Saturday, but he will also be following developments thousands of miles away in Paris.

Boxing in Uzbekistan has never known a more exciting week. Eleven boxers from that country will have competed at the Summer Olympics in Paris by the time Madrimov steps through the ropes at BMO Stadium to face one of boxing's best pound-for-pound fighters in the world.

Madrimov (10-0-1, 7 KOs) makes his first defense of the WBA junior middleweight title against Crawford (40-0, 31 KOs), the slick southpaw from Omaha, Nebraska, who has won world titles in three weight classes. The vacant WBO interim belt will also be on the line for the winner.

It is a huge opportunity for Madrimov, from Khiva, Uzbekistan, who is a superstar in his homeland but is unheralded in the United States, where he spends most of his time.

Madrimov defends his title against Crawford, a former pound-for-pound No. 1 who produced his best win yet in stopping Errol Spence Jr. to become undisputed welterweight champion a year ago. Not only is it the biggest moment of Madrimov's career, this week will also be a defining moment for some of those he trains alongside in California who will potentially be going for medals next week in Paris.

«The Olympics and my fight are probably equally big in Uzbekistan,» Madrimov told ESPN. «The Olympics is something the whole country waits four years for. But my fight is the biggest fight any Uzbekistan fighter has been in, against a pound-for-pound No. 1, and on a big stage.»

Uzbekistan has one of the strongest boxing teams in Paris and some of the boxers train alongside Madrimov in Indio, California — a home-away-from-home two