LOS ANGELES – Hip-hop icon Eminem warmed up the crowd at BMO Stadium on Saturday night with a tiny concert to celebrate the first boxing event of the season in Riyadh, United States.
The world’s best boxer, Terence Crawford, and Israil Madrimov, holder of the WBA junior middleweight title, both entered the ring with lightning-fast grace.
Immediately after the national anthems there was a fireworks display.
The ceremony and occasion were a fitting tribute to the pound for pound king, when Crawford finally got his flowers as he enters the final act of his Hall of Fame-bound career.
Michael Buffer uttered his signature catchphrase, “Let’s get ready for a fight,” but the stars of the evening came stumbling onto the stage from the start, wasting their chance to shine in a slow-paced yet tactical fight that never quite got going.
After 12 fierce, evenly matched, but calculated rounds, the judges unanimously awarded the victory to Crawford (41-0, 31 KO) over Madrimov (10-1-1, 7 KO) by scores of 116-112, 115-113, and 115-113.
Crawford, a three-division champion and former undisputed king of the 140- and 147-pound weight classes, went the distance for the first time since 2016, snapping a streak of 11 consecutive submission wins.
While “Bud” defeated “The Dream,” the win fell tiny of Crawford’s spectacular performance last summer in a career-defining victory over Errol Spence Jr.
Crawford landed 95 of 433 punches, while Madrimov was more true, landing 84 of 275 punches – several of them more true.
The fight started at a tentative pace as the double-punching Crawford immediately switched from an orthodox stance to a left-handed one to better gauge Madrimov, and the pair landed five punches in a controlled, tactile frame.
The eternal patience continued into the second round as neither fighter made a real attempt to solve the puzzle of his opponent. In his favor, Madrimov was the one pressing forward while the habitual counterpuncher Crawford landed few punches. The two fighters combined for just 13.
The restless crowd began to express their displeasure in the third round as the sluggish start continued. The fans were not interested in a fight based solely on dodging and footwork. The duo waltzed to join forces and land 10 punches in the round.
Madrimov and Crawford traded strenuous right hooks in the fourth round, but again failed to reach double figures, landing just eight total punches this time.
Crawford stumbled and fell to the canvas in the fifth round, but after he got back up, Madrimov went into second gear and landed several powerful body blows. For the first time in the fight, the fighters reached double figures, 16 combined.
In the sixth round, Crawford stepped up the pace and took Madrimov down, targeting the body.
The tranquil Crawford outsmarted Madrimov in the seventh round, again attacking the body.
Madrimov rebounded in the eighth round and landed a strenuous right jab. While Crawford landed straight punches in this round, Madrimov fared better with power punches.
Madrimov played his best round of the evening in the ninth, in which he landed a powerful right jab and a powerful left hook.
Crawford tried to show his strength in the 10th round, closing the distance and fighting bravely, but Madrimov continued to fight brilliantly, landing the stronger punches in an even round.
Crawford had his best round in the 11th, expertly countering and diving into the opening after landing a left hook in the final 30 seconds. Crawford landed another tiny combination, forcing Madrimov to hold.
In the 12th round, with a close fight seemingly hanging in the balance, Crawford stepped on the gas and landed two consecutive inside hooks. Combinations followed, but Madrimov was not hurt.
However, his record suffered as the 2016 Olympic silver medalist representing Uzbekistan suffered the first defeat of his professional career.
Both fighters finished the fight with swelling around their eyes.
Turki Alalshikh, chairman of the Saudi Arabian General Entertainment Authority, vowed again Saturday night to do everything possible to book a fight between Crawford and super middleweight king Saul “Canelo” Alvarez. If Alvarez declines, Alalshikh said he will focus on booking Crawford against Vergil Ortiz Jr., who must first defeat Serhiy Bohachuk next week.
Crawford could also focus on rematches with Madrimov and Spence or fights with Jaron Ennis, Jermel Charlo, Tim Tszya and Sebastian Fundora, who all await at 154 pounds.
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