Terence Crawford faced a difficult opponent in Israil Madrimov but successfully claimed his fourth world championship in varying weight divisions. The showdown unfolded at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles, where Crawford stepped up to 154 pounds for the first time in pursuit of the WBA and interim WBO super welterweight titles. Following 12 rounds of intense combat, Crawford emerged victorious with unanimous scores of 116-112, 115-113, and 115-113 from the judges.
The excitement leading up to the fight included an Eminem performance and grand ring entrances featuring pyrotechnics. The bout commenced at 12:55 a.m. ET, as both fighters adopted a cautious approach, carefully analyzing each other’s tactics. Crawford, known for his slow starts, faced initial challenges in finding his groove against Madrimov’s agile maneuvers.
Despite the tightly contested battle, Crawford elevated his performance in the later rounds, finishing the fight impressively. Madrimov, despite his limited professional experience, put up a formidable fight throughout the match. Crawford commended Madrimov’s resilience in a post-fight interview, acknowledging his opponent’s strength and endurance.
Crawford’s triumph establishes him as a titleholder in four weight categories, sparking speculation of a potential clash with Canelo Alvarez. Meanwhile, Madrimov believes he did enough to win and has shown interest in a rematch with Crawford down the line. The future will reveal whether a rematch between the two fighters will come to fruition.
