Terence Crawford went the distance for the first time since 2016 on Saturday night in Los Angeles. (AP/Damian Dovarganes)
Terence Crawford went the distance for the first time in nearly a decade, but he got it done on Saturday night.
Crawford beat WBA super welterweight champion Israil Madrimov via unanimous decision in an exciting 12-round battle at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles on Saturday. That officially handed Crawford, who moved up to 154 pounds for the first time in his career, a fourth title in as many divisions.
“He had fast feet, he had good rhythm upstairs and he was strong,” Crawford said of Madrimov in the ring. “He was waiting to counter me just like I was waiting to counter him. … He fought a good fight.”
Crawford, who started his professional career in 2009 at super lightweight, was a heavy favorite entering the bout on Saturday. There was an issue with his gloves earlier in the night, too, as one of them split at the seams. That came only after he initially objected to Madrimov’s Grant Gloves, though he later agreed to wear them. That delayed his warm-up slightly.
The first several rounds were slow, as both guys seemed to be feeling each other out — though Crawford appeared to hold a slight advantage early as Madrimov hung in there. He even landed a few big shots to his head in the third and sent Crawford down to the mat briefly late in the fifth round, though that was ruled a trip and Crawford seemed relatively unbothered.
Crawford responded with a combo of head shots in the sixth round to take a step ahead again at the midway point. While Madrimov seemed as if he was getting closer in the eighth and ninth rounds — he landed a massive blow to Crawford’s head in the ninth round, which was probably his best of the night — Crawford responded each time successfully. Crawford then came out hot in the final round, and while he couldn’t finish Madrimov, he pulled off the victory.
Crawford won the fight 115-113 on two scorecards and 116-112 on the third to claim the unanimous decision. That pushed him to 41-0, and officially handed Madrimov the first loss of his career.
“He only had 11 fights, but he was strong,” Crawford said. “For us to come in and fight a guy of his caliber in my first fight [at 154 pounds] says a lot about my team.”
Here’s how the entire pay-per-view main card unfolded:
LIVE COVERAGE IS OVER94 updates
Sat, August 3, 2024 at 10:52 PM PDT
8/3 DAZN- Crawford W 12 Madrimov. Bud wins his 4th title in 4th weight class with a hard fought win over Madrimov, whose herky-jerky style blunted Bud’s offense, but Madrimov managed 23 punches thrown per round, 7 landed. Bud landed 8 of 36 per round. pic.twitter.com/tv47EsUla2
More body shots land clean for Bud, who has mostly taken control. Madrimov’s speed almost a non-factor while Crawford’s quick counters easily find their mark. Interesting chess match nonetheless as both fighters look for openings.
A Crawford combo froze Madrimov. Crawford may have his timing down. Madrimov is holding his own, however, and Bud seems to be swelling a bit where Madrimov’s right hand keeps landing.
Sat, August 3, 2024 at 10:16 PM PDT
Sat, August 3, 2024 at 10:15 PM PDT
Round 5 ends
Crawford is very selective with his punches and caught Madrimov with a quick combo. Madrimov landed some big shots late that Crawford just shook off.
Sat, August 3, 2024 at 10:12 PM PDT
Sat, August 3, 2024 at 10:10 PM PDT
Round 4
Madrimov finds some openings for his right hand, which he spams amid a flurry of feints. Crawford caught the champ with a great body shot. Madrimov undeterred.
Sat, August 3, 2024 at 10:07 PM PDT
29 total punches landed so far
8/3 DAZN- Punches Thru 3 Crawford 15 of 85 Madrimov 14 of 43
Madrimov throwing little and feinting a lot. Bud is measuring distance (downloading info), but also not throwing much of anything.
Sat, August 3, 2024 at 9:58 PM PDT
Round 1 ends with not much action
Madrimov landed a big counter shot but that was about it.
Sat, August 3, 2024 at 9:56 PM PDT
Sat, August 3, 2024 at 9:55 PM PDT
Sat, August 3, 2024 at 9:54 PM PDT
Fight starts at 9:54 p.m. in Los Angeles
Here we go!
Sat, August 3, 2024 at 9:52 PM PDT
Sat, August 3, 2024 at 9:50 PM PDT
Fighters are being introduced, main event just minutes away
Sat, August 3, 2024 at 9:41 PM PDT
Crawford, the non-champion at 154, walks out last
Crawford-Madrimov main card results, highlights
Super welterweight: Terence Crawford def. Israil Madrimov via unanimous decision (115-113, 115-113, 116-112) Super lightweight: Jose Valenzuela def. Isaac Cruz by split decision (116-112, 113-115, 116-112) Heavyweight: Jarrell Miller vs. Andy Ruiz ends in majority draw (112-116, 114-114, 114-114) Heavyweight: Martin Bakole def. Jared Anderson by KO in R5:
Light heavyweight: David Morrell def. Radivoje Kalajdzic by unanimous decision (118-110, 118-110, 117-111) Lightweight: Andy Cruz def. Antonio Moran by KO in R7:
