LOS ANGELES – Hip-hop icon Eminem warmed up the crowd at 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 is 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, fumbling their showcase opportunity with a slow yet tactical fight that never switched into second gear.
After 12 close, competitive but calculated rounds, 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.
Crawford, a three-division champion and former undisputed 140- and 147-pound king, went the distance for the first time since 2016, ending a streak of 11 straight stoppage wins.
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.
Crawford landed 95 of 433 punches, while Madrimov was more accurate, connecting with 84 of 275 punches – several of which were more meaningful.
The fight started at a timid pace as the switch-hitting Crawford immediately changed his stance from orthodox to southpaw 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 continued 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, as the habitual counterpuncher Crawford landed a few jabs. Both fighters combined to land just 13 punches.
The restless crowd started voicing its displeasure in the third, as the slow start continued. Fans were not interested in a fight exclusively 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 moved his offensive into second gear and landed several power punches to the body. For the first time in the fight, the fighters 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 in the round, Madrimov did better 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.
In the 12th, with the close fight seemingly hanging in the balance, Crawford pressed on the gas and landed back-to-back uppercuts from inside. Combinations followed, but Madrimov was never hurt.
But his record suffered, as the 2016 Olympics silver medalist for Uzbekistan endured his first professional loss.
Both fighters ended the fight with swelling around their eyes.
Turki Alalshikh, chairman of the General Entertainment Authority in Saudi Arabia, again promised on Saturday night that he will do everything possible to arrange a Crawford clash against super middleweight king Saul “Canelo” Alvarez. If Alvarez declines, 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 turn his attention to either rematches versus Madrimov and Spence or fights against the likes of Jaron Ennis, Jermell Charlo, Tim Tszya and Sebastian Fundora, who await at 154 pounds.
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.