Terence Crawford will face WBA junior middleweight champion Israil Madrimov on August 3rd in a loaded card at the BMO Stadium in Los Angeles, California.
Crawford (40-0, 31 KOs) is looking to expand his credentials. It’s a big step up for the Nebraska native, who has never fought at 154 and has had it pretty easy in the last six years fighting guys who weren’t up to the mark talent-wise.
A win for Crawford will be his fourth division world title, and could help him get the lucrative fight that he’s been pushing for against the golden star, Canelo Alvarez.
Saudi promoter Turki Alalshikh is interested in making the fight between Crawford and the superstar, but he’s got to first defeat Madrimov and possibly Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis to get that fight. With the way Madrimov is looking, Crawford may come undone against him.
Riyadh Season Undercard
- Vergil Ortiz vs. Tim Tszyu: Former WBO 154-lb champion Tszyu (24-1, 17 KOs) makes his first appearance after losing his title last March. Tszyu faces the big-punching Ortiz (20-0, 20 KOs).
- Andy Ruiz vs. Jarrell Miller: Former unified heavyweight champion Ruiz fights ‘Big Baby’ Miller in a crossroads match between aging, inactive fighters.
- Isaac Cruz vs. Jose Valenzuela: WBA light welterweight champion Pitbull Cruz makes his first defense of his title against the popular but struggling Rayo Valenzuela, who comes into the fight with a 1-2 record in his last three fights.
- David Morrell vs. Radivoje Kalajdzic: Morrell (10-0, 9 KOs) moves up to 175 to broaden his horizons after being locked out of big fights at 168.
- Andy Cruz vs. Antonio Moran: 2020 Olympic gold medalist Andy Cruz (3-0, 1 KO) battles veteran Antonio Moran in lightweight action. The Matchroom promoted Cruz is viewed as a future world champion and superstar at 135.
Crawford, 36, is taking a dangerous fight against Madrimov, who can punch and has a crafty, unpredictable style with odd angles that he uses to throw his powerful shots. If Crawford is forced to take a lot of shots in this fight from Madrimov, he could break down and fall apart.
The Eddie Hearn-promoted Madrimov has looked exceptional during his short professional career and is coming off a fifth-round knockout of Magomed Kurbanov last March in a title-winning match.