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Terence Crawford to Challenge Israil Madrimov for WBA Junior Middleweight Title
Terence Crawford, widely recognized as ESPN’s No. 1 pound-for-pound boxer, will be stepping up to the 154-pound weight class to face Israil Madrimov for his WBA junior middleweight championship on August 3rd in Los Angeles, according to sources familiar with the matter.
The high-profile event is set to be organized by Riyadh Season, under the stewardship of His Excellency Turki Alalshikh, who serves as the chair of Saudi Arabia’s General Entertainment Authority. The occasion will be held in collaboration with Sela Sport, a prominent sports entity in the region. A press conference is scheduled to take place in New York this Wednesday to officially announce the bout.
Saudi Arabia’s Commitment to Boxing
Since 2019, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has demonstrated a strong commitment to the sport of boxing. This dedication was prominently showcased when the nation hosted the highly-anticipated rematch between Anthony Joshua and Andy Ruiz for the heavyweight championship. Subsequently, Saudi Arabia’s interest in the sport grew significantly with the entrance of Turki Alalshikh into the boxing arena, culminating in last October’s thrilling bout between Tyson Fury and Francis Ngannou in Riyadh.
Following these successful events, Saudi Arabia continued to make waves in boxing by organizing a card in December that featured former heavyweight champions Joshua and Deontay Wilder. This was followed by a March showdown between Joshua and Ngannou. Looking ahead, the kingdom has lined up two marquee fights: the Fury-Oleksandr Usyk undisputed heavyweight championship clash on May 18th and the Artur Beterbiev-Dmitry Bivol undisputed light heavyweight championship bout on June 1st, both to be held in Riyadh.
Crawford’s Ambitious Move
Marking a significant milestone in his career, Terence Crawford, with an impeccable record of 40 wins and no losses, is poised to become a four-division champion as he steps into the ring against Madrimov. The event not only represents Crawford’s debut in the 154-pound weight class but also marks his inaugural partnership with Saudi Arabia for a boxing event held outside the kingdom.
Hailing from Omaha, Nebraska, Crawford last fought in July, securing a ninth-round TKO victory over Errol Spence to unify the welterweight titles. Now, the 36-year-old looks to add another feather to his cap by challenging Madrimov for the WBA junior middleweight championship.
Madrimov’s Title Defense
On the other side of the ring stands Israil Madrimov, the current WBA junior middleweight champion who clinched the title with a fifth-round TKO win over Magomed Kurbanov in Riyadh last month. Ranked as ESPN’s No. 3 junior middleweight contender, the 29-year-old Uzbek fighter poses a formidable challenge for Crawford in what promises to be a thrilling showdown.
Notably, Jermell Charlo, the former undisputed junior middleweight champion, has expressed interest in facing Madrimov for the WBA title. However, Charlo’s camp has confirmed their support for Crawford’s shot at the title, paving the way for an exciting matchup between the two elite boxers.
Future Prospects in Boxing
Looking ahead, Saudi Arabia’s foray into the world of boxing is set to continue with plans for more high-profile events. Promoters Eddie Hearn and Frank Warren recently announced intentions to host a fight at Wembley Stadium in September, featuring Joshua against the winner of the upcoming Filip Hrgović-Daniel Dubois bout slated for June 1st.
The Hrgović-Dubois clash, scheduled to be part of the Beterbiev-Bivol undercard, is expected to determine the holder of the vacant IBF title, creating a buzz in the boxing community and setting the stage for an action-packed series of events in the months to come.
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