LOS ANGELES – Hip-hop icon Eminem warmed up the crowd of nearly 23,000 at the BMO Stadium on Saturday night with a brief concert to mark Riyadh Season's debut boxing event in the United States.
Terence Crawford, the best fighter in the world, and Israil Madrimov, the WBA junior middleweight titleholder, both made electric entrances into the ring.
Fireworks ensued soon after the national anthems.
The pomp and circumstance were an appropriate homage for the pound-for-pound king, as Crawford finally got his flowers at a time when he’s entering the final act of his Hall of Fame-bound career.
Michael Buffer delivered his trademark catchphrase "Let's get ready to rumble," but the headliners stumbled out of the gates, getting off to a slow start before switching into a high-level tactical fight that never found a second gear.
After 12 competitive but calculated rounds that were razor thin and difficult to score at times, the judges awarded Crawford (41-0, 31 KOs) with a unanimous decision over Madrimov (10-1-1, 7 KOs) on scores of 116-112, 115-113 and 115-113.
With the tight win, Crawford became a four-division champion following undisputed title runs at junior welterweight and welterweight and a lightweight title run before that. In the process, Crawford also picked up an interim WBO title and positioned himself as the WBC mandatory at 154 pounds.
Although “Bud” bested “The Dream,” the win was nowhere near the spectacular performance Crawford pulled off last summer against Errol Spence Jr. in a career-defining win.
Against the tough Madrimov, Crawford went the distance for the first time since 2016, ending a streak of 11 straight stoppage wins.
“Israil was a tough competitor,” said Crawford. “He was a real strong opponent, durable, took a lot of good shots, and he got me into the 12th round.
“He had fast feet and rhythm, and he was big and strong. He was waiting to counter me just like I was waiting to counter him. He was very disciplined and wasn't coming in throwing wild shots. He fought a good fight."
The younger and bigger Madrimov, 29, had the crafty Crawford baffled at times, as the 36-year-old Nebraska native (who turns 37 next month) didn’t connect with his usual consistency.
“I figured it out from the get-go, but I was being patient," Crawford said. "I didn't want to rush in with anything, because that's how I got caught a couple of times, trying to eat too soon. But I did my thing.”
According to the official punch stats, Crawford landed 95 of 433 punches, 40 of which were jabs, while Madrimov was more accurate, connecting with 84 of 275 punches, 65 of them being power punches.
“I fought the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world, and I believe that I did enough because I was the champion,” said Madrimov. “I was defending the belt, and I was controlling the rhythm, and I felt very comfortable inside of the ring.”
The fight started at a timid pace as the switch-hitting Crawford stuck to a southpaw stance to better get a read on Madrimov. A total of five punches were landed between the pair in a controlled, feeling-out frame.
Perpetual patience seemed the theme in the second, as neither fighter made a real attempt to solve each other's puzzle. To his credit, Madrimov was the one pressing forward, with the habitual counterpuncher Crawford landing a few jabs. Both fighters combined to land just 13 punches in the round.
The restless crowd started voicing its displeasure in the third, begging for action and entertaining exchanges instead of shots being thrown one at a time. Fans were not interested in a fight predominantly featuring feints and footwork. The waltzing duo danced to combine for 10 punches in the round.
Madrimov and Crawford both traded hard right hands in the fourth, but again, they failed to crack double digits in combined punches, this time mustering just eight between them.
Crawford tripped and fell to the canvas in the fifth, but after he picked himself back up, Madrimov dialed up his offense and landed several power punches to the body. For the first time in the fight, they cracked double digits in combined punches, with 16.
Crawford stepped up the action in the sixth and outlanded Madrimov by specifically targeting the body.
A composed Crawford outworked Madrimov in the seventh, again targeting the body.
Madrimov bounced back in the eighth round and landed a hard right. While Crawford landed jabs, Madrimov did more damage with power punches.
Madrimov had his best round of the night in the ninth, highlighted by head-snapping straight rights and a looping left hook.
Crawford tried asserting himself in the 10th by closing the distance and battled well, but Madrimov continued to box beautifully by landing the harder shots in an even round.
Crawford had his best round in the 11th, masterfully countering and pouncing at the sight of an opening after landing a left hand in the final 30 seconds. Crawford landed another short combination, causing Madrimov to hold before the bell sounded.
The result of the fight was still up in the air as the 12th round started. Madrimov was behind on all of the scorecards but could have come away with a majority draw to keep his belt if he won on two of the cards that had him down a round.
But Crawford swept the final stanza on all three cards by pressing on the gas, the highlight being back-to-back uppercuts from inside.
Combinations followed, and although Madrimov was never hurt, his undefeated record was, and the 2016 Olympics silver medalist for Uzbekistan endured his first professional loss.
“I made a couple of mistakes, but I felt I did enough in each round,” said Madrimov. “I was holding myself back a lot too, so in the rematch I can make a lot more. I already know what to do and can push harder.”
Both fighters ended the fight with swelling around their eyes.
“I thought Israil Madrimov did enough to edge it here tonight," said Matchroom Boxing head Eddie Hearn. "There’s always the argument of dethroning the champion whether you think that’s a thing or not and I’m not sure Crawford dethroned Madrimov tonight. We are extremely proud of [Madrimov] and we are debating whether he won a fight against the pound-for-pound number one.”
Having fought a natural junior middleweight in Madrimov, the result of the fight now raises questions about whether Crawford’s power will carry into a new weight class, and if he’d be able to hold his own should he continue to fight at even higher weight classes like he plans to against super middleweight king Saul "Canelo" Alvarez.
Turki Alalshikh, chairman of the General Entertainment Authority in Saudi Arabia, again promised on Saturday that he’d do everything possible to arrange a Crawford clash against Alvarez.
“You know what I say - if the money is right, we got to fight,” said Crawford. “It’s another milestone to greatness, I suppose, and financially.”
If Alvarez declines a Crawford clash like he’s long alluded, Alalshikh said he would turn his attention to setting up Crawford against Vergil Ortiz Jr., who must first beat Serhii Bohachuk next week.
Crawford can also entertain rematch fights versus Madrimov and Spence or bouts against the likes of Jermell Charlo, Tim Tszyu and Sebastian Fundora, among others at 154 pounds. Jaron Ennis, the IBF welterweight boss, also waits in the wings.
For now, Crawford can breathe a sigh of relief and relax knowing that he eked out a close one.
“I am going to go back home to my family and enjoy my win and all of the accomplishments I have made in boxing,” said Crawford.
Manouk Akopyan is a sports journalist, writer and broadcast reporter. He’s also a member of the Boxing Writers Association of America and the MMA Journalists Association. He can be reached on X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, LinkedIn and YouTube at @ManoukAkopyan, through email at manouk[dot]akopyan[at]gmail.com or via www.ManoukAkopyan.com.