Madrimov enters the fight on a two-game losing streak, but the losses have come against the highest level of competition in the division. He lost close twelve round decisions to Terence Crawford and Vergil Ortiz Jr.
Performance against Crawford
Against Crawford, Madrimov did better than expected and probably better than Canelo Alvarez. His awkward timing and unpredictable punches kept Crawford under pressure for much of the fight.
These performances showed that Madrimov remains dangerous at world level. He landed heavy shots against both Crawford and Ortiz, consistently marking their faces. Power had never been his problem.
Salazar, a 32-year-old from the Dominican Republic, has faced limited opposition throughout his career. His lone loss came in 2021 by knockout in the eighth round. He is not known as a puncher and is not considered a serious threat to beat Madrimov, even with ring rust in play.
Clear skill gap
The skills gap is clear. Madrimov has a significant advantage in strength, technique and experience. His amateur background remains a strength. He had more than 350 amateur victories before turning professional in 2018.
Stylistically, Madrimov is expected to work from the outside using movement and his right hand to take down Salazar. Movement has always been an important part of his game, though it seemed to cost him late in the Ortiz fight, where his output dropped in the closing rounds.
Positioning for the next battle
The fight will be shown on DAZN and serves as the co-feature of the Andy Cruz vs Raymond Muratalla card at the Fontainebleau.
For Madrimov, the goal is simple. Get laps. Test the body. Restore rhythm. And move forward from there.
