Terence Crawford to challenge Israil Madrimov in super welterweight title clash

His Excellency Turki Alalshikh, chairman of the board of directors of the General Entertainment Authority (GEA), announced a blockbuster world title clash as pound-for-pound superstar Terence Crawford challenges Israil Madrimov for the WBA and WBO interim world super welterweight title on August 3rd sponsored by Visit Saudi, MDL Beast and Red Sea Global at BMO Stadium, Los Angeles. The event will be promoted by Riyadh Season Card, Sela, League 1 and Matchroom Boxing in association with World Of Boxing, TGB Promotions, Golden Boy, Goldstar, Queensberry, Salita Promotions and Warriors Boxing Promotions.
 
HE Turki Alalshikh said: "We are delighted for Riyadh Season to host its first overseas event in Los Angeles and this fight in the United States is a special one to mark this moment. We want to give people around the world the opportunity to enjoy their own Riyadh Season experience and this is exactly what we hope to achieve by staging this and also future events around the world."
 
Eddie Hearn, Matchroom Sport Chairman, said: “This is a fantastic fight between a pound-for-pound great and one of the best world champions in the sport. Terence is a pound-for-pound great and continues to strive to be the very best, but in Israil, he meets a hungry champion that has no intention of relinquishing his title in his first defense - this promises to be one of the fights of the year. The undercard has to be one of if not the best we have ever seen for a US card - get ready for a huge night on August 3 in Los Angeles”.
 
Crawford (40-0 31 KOs) is gunning to become a four-weight world champion as he moves up to 154lbs after conquering the welterweight division with a stunning KO win over Errol Spence to be crowned the undisputed champion at 147lbs in Las Vegas in July. The Omaha star has already ruled the roost at super lightweight and lightweight, and now the pound-for-pound great is arrowing in on cementing greatness by claiming honors at a fourth weight.
 
Madrimov (10-0-1 7 KOs) is the man that stands in Crawford’s way, and the Uzbek champion makes his first defense of his title against the toughest opposition possible after winning the belt in spectacular fashion in his last outing in Saudi Arabia. The 29-year-old took on Magomed Kurbanov for the vacant title in Riyadh in March, and stopped the Russian in five rounds with a dominant performance to continue his impressive unbeaten run in the paid ranks, following a glittering amateur career.
 
"I’m proud to partner with Riyadh Season and HE Turki Alalshikh on their first boxing event in the United States. I cannot wait to get back in the ring in my fourth weight class and remind the world why I’m the best pound for pound fighter in the world,” said Crawford. “Israil Madrimov is a tremendous and entertaining fighter, but on August 3, he will be my next victim. This is the Terence Crawford era.”

“Terence Crawford is one of my favorite boxers and one of the best boxers in the world,” said Madrimov. “I am very excited to get this opportunity to make a statement, and I will Inshallah.”

The main event is complemented by an undercard that is set to captivate fight fans.

Recently crowned WBA super lightweight champion Isaac Cruz defends his title for the first time against United States southpaw Jose Valenzuela.
 
Two of the United States’ most fearsome boxing heavyweights will do battle with former unified heavyweight champion Andy Ruiz returning to the ring for the first time since a unanimous decision win against Luis Ortiz in September 2022, to face Jarrell Miller, who will be going all out to produce a winning outcome after losing his undefeated record in Riyadh in December last year.
 
Former super welterweight world champion Tim Tszyu awaits Vergil Ortiz Jr, subject to the outcome of his fight against Thomas Dulorme this weekend, while David Morrell of Cuba will seek to preserve his unbeaten record in a light heavyweight contest against US fighter Radivoje Kalajdzic.
 
Andy Cruz, the Olympic lightweight gold medalist, continues his lightweight campaign when he takes on Mexico’s Antonio Moran.