Los Angeles , USA: Terence Crawford and Israil Madrimov Final Press Conference ahead of their WBA World Interim WBO World Super Welterweight Title fight on saturday night.
1 August 2024
Picture By Mark Robinson Matchroom Boxing
LOS ANGELES — Terence Crawford is looking for more. Maybe this is the precursor for what is ahead and “Bud’s aimed future clash with Canelo Alvarez.
For now, this Saturday, the former two-division undisputed world champion (140 and 147) and three-time division titlist (135, 140 and 147) is looking at a title in a fourth weight class, when he faces WBA junior middleweight titlist Israil Madrimov at BMO Stadium, in Los Angeles, California.
The fight, plus undercard bouts, will be broadcast on ESPN+ PPV, 6 p.m. ET/ 3 p.m. PT. And DAZN at 4:30 p.m. ET/ 1:30 p.m. PT.
Rated No. 3 in The Ring’s pound-for-pound rankings, the 36-year-old Crawford (40-0, 31 knockouts) is a heavy favorite over the 29-year-old Madrimov, The Ring’s No. 3 junior middleweight.
At the official weigh-in on Friday morning, Madrimov came in at 154 on the nose, and Crawford came in at 153.4 pounds.
What is intriguing about is how stacked this fight card is.
The co-feature marks the return of former heavyweight titlist Andy Ruiz Jr. (35-2, 22 KOs) coming off a 23-month layoff to face another heavyweight looking for redemption in Jarrell “Big Baby” Miller (26-1-1, 22 KOs).
Before that, two more heavyweights battle, when Jared Anderson (17-0, 15 KOs) faces the best opponent so far in his career against Martin Bakole (20-1, 15 KOs). Anderson came in at a career-high 252.4 pounds, while Bakole also came in at a career-high 284.4 pounds.
At the official weigh-in, Miller came in at 305.6 pounds, which was 27.4 pounds less than the 333 pounds he weighed in against Daniel Dubois when Miller suffered his first defeat last December. The 305 pounds is the lightest Miller has weighed in six years. Ruiz weighed in at 274.4 pounds, the highest weight he has been since his rematch lost to Anthony Joshua back in December 2019.
WBA junior welterweight titlist Isaac Cruz (26-2-1, 18 KOs), making his first title defense, came in right on the nose at 140. He will be fighting Jose Valenzuela (13-2, 9 KOs), who weighed 139.8 pounds.
Cuban expatriate David Morrell (10-0, 9 KOs) came in at 174.8 pounds and will try and continue his seven-fight stoppage streak against former title challenger Radivoje Kalajdzic (29-2, 21 KOs), who came in at 174.4 pounds.
Andy Cruz (3-0, 1 KO) has a drive to become a world titlist in 2025 and this will be his second fight in 2024, when the Cuban Olympic lightweight gold medalist faces veteran Antonio Moran (30-6-1, 21 KOs) in a 10-rounder.
Here are the weights:
WBA Junior Middleweight Title – 12 Rounds
Israil Madrimov (10-0-1, 7 KOs), 154 pounds vs. Terence Crawford (40-0, 31 KOs), 153.4 pounds
Heavyweights – 10 Rounds
Andy Ruiz Jr. (35-2, 22 KOs), 274.4 pounds vs. Jarrell “Big Baby” Miller (26-1-1, 22 KOs), 305.6 pounds
Heavyweights – 10 Rounds
Jared Anderson (17-0, 15 KOs), 252.4 pounds vs. Martin Bakole (20-1, 15 KOs), 284.4 pounds.
WBA Junior Welterweight Title – 12 Rounds
Isaac Cruz (26-2-1, 18 KOs), 140 pounds vs. Jose Valenzuela (13-2, 9 KOs), 139.8 pounds
Light Heavyweights – 12 Rounds
David Morrell (10-0, 9 KOs), 174.8 pounds vs. Radivoje Kalajdzic (29-2, 21 KOs), 174.4 pounds
Lightweights – 10 Rounds
Andy Cruz (3-0, 1 KO), 134 pounds vs. Antonio Moran (30-6-1, 21 KOs), 134.8 pounds.
Joseph Santoliquito is an award-winning sportswriter who has been working for Ring Magazine/RingTV.com since October 1997 and is the president of the Boxing Writers Association of America.
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