Pound-for-pound stalwart Terence Crawford captured the WBA super welterweight championship at the expense of Uzbekistan’s Israil Madrimov, who succumbed to a 12-round unanimous decision defeat at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles on Saturday. The official scores were 116-112, 115-113 and 115-113.
WATCH: Terence Crawford vs. Israil Madrimov on ESPN+
From a technical aspect, Crawford (41-0, 31 KOs) was tested more in this fight than any other since turning professional in 2008. However, the styles did not gel, there was some sporadic booing from the crowd, and clean effective punching came only in cameos.
“Israil was a tough competitor,” acknowledged Crawford during his post-fight interview with DAZN. “He’s real strong, he’s durable, and he takes a lot of good shots. He had fast feet and good rhythm upstairs. He was looking to counter me just like I was looking to counter him. He was very disciplined, and he fought a good fight.”
Almost immediately, Crawford elected to box out of the southpaw stance in round one. Madrimov looked loose and confident in the early going although feints and head movement were a lot more frequent than punches. Renowned for his patience, “Bud” used the ring and refused to be tempted into making a mistake.
Almost every round of the fight was difficult to score, though it was tempting to favor Crawford because he threw more shots. Regardless, Madrimov never looked out of his depth at any time and his stock will have risen in defeat. There were many predicting that this would be a mismatch and it was far from it.
Neither fighter was down and neither fighter was seriously hurt. Madrimov landed his best shot of the fight in round nine when he nailed the American with a whipping left hook. However, Crawford returned the favor in the penultimate round when he blasted home a terrific left uppercut that visibly stunned the champion.
The final round was the entire fight in microcosm – close and difficult to score.
The drive for a Canelo-Crawford fight remains. Turki Alalshikh was banging the drum throughout the night, telling DAZN that an offer would be made to the Mexican superstar for a February date and that he should accept it. Do we see that fight? Is the risk worth the reward for Canelo, who would be risking his Hall of Fame legacy against a talented but far smaller opponent?
“If the money is right, we gotta fight,” said Crawford with a smile. “He’s got a fight that he’s gotta win [against Edgar Berlanga in September] and I’m going home to my family. I want to enjoy all my accomplishments in the sport of boxing.”
If that one doesn’t happen, the other piece of history for Crawford to chase is triple undisputed. If Bud could consolidate all the belts at 154 pounds, then he would be the first three-weight undisputed champion since Henry Armstrong. With that said, “Homicide Hank” held three championships (featherweight, lightweight and welterweight) simultaneously.
Madrimov falls to 10-1-1 (7 KOs).
The Sporting News provided live coverage from the full card in Los Angeles and round-by-round scoring for the main event and co-feature bouts.
Terence Crawford vs. Israil Madrimov live updates, highlights, and commentary
Terence Crawford vs. Israil Madrimov: SN live scorecard
| Round | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | Total |
| Crawford | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 10 | 10 | 9 | 116 |
| Madrimov | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 9 | 9 | 10 | 112 |
AND THE NEW WBA SUPER WELTERWEIGHT CHAMPION OF THE WORLD IS TERENCE "BUD" CRAWFORD. HE WINS A UNANIMOUS DECISION BY SCORES OF 116-112, 115-113, 115-113.
Round 12: Crawford is taken the distance for the first time since 2016. Hard round to score AGAIN. I edge to Madrimov. I have Crawford ahead at the end of 12 rounds, but we can expect to see wildly different scorecards from the officials.
SN Unofficial Scorecard: 10-9 Madrimov (116-112)
Round 11: Madrimov with a right. Crawford scores with a two-piece. Another attack from Bud misses the target. The jab scoring again from Crawford. Single right scores from Madrimov. That has been his best shot. Body shot from Bud up close. Right hand to the body by the champion. Crawford stuns Madrimov with a left uppercut. Best punch of the fight.
SN Unofficial Scorecard: 10-9 Crawford (107-102)
Round 10: Body shot by Crawford and a terrific left uppercut. Some excellent skills on display from the pound-for-pound star. Nice right hook-left hand by Bud. Nice right from Madrimov in response. Another one. Madrimov misses with the left and takes a body shot.
SN Unofficial Scorecard: 10-9 Crawford (97-93 Crawford)
Round 9: Combination from Crawford ends with two lefts to the head. Check right hook forces Madrimov's head through the ropes. Madrimov scores a right. Double jab from Crawford. Swelling under the champ's eye is a product of Bud's right jab. BIG LEFT from Madrimov on the counter. GREAT SHOT! This is a solid spell from the visitor.
SN Unofficial Scorecard: 10-9 Madrimov (87-84 Crawford)
Round 8: A couple of big power punches caught on the gloves by Crawford. Varied attack from Madrimov and two rights. Left hook from the champion who is fighting with more urgency. Mot much back from Crawford. BIG RIGHT from Madrimov.
SN Unofficial Scorecard: 10-9 Madrimov (78-74 Crawford)
Round 7: Madrimov with a counter right. Not as many jabs from Crawford now. Not enough punches are being thrown in this fight. Body shots score from Bud late. I'll give the champ around with as much confidence as I've had in scoring EVERY ROUND. Despite the skill level, this has been poor so far.
SN Unofficial Scorecard: 10-9 Madrimov (69-64)
Round 6: Nice combination from Crawford. Right hand from Madrimov. Crawford sustains damage to his right eye. Bud scores with a left hand. Styles not gelling at all and scores are varying. I have the challenger way ahead but every round has been close.
SN Unofficial Scorecard: 10-9 Crawford (60-54 Crawford)
Round 5: It's not exciting but the jab is artistry from Crawford. Madrimov competing but he needs to disrupt the rhythm more often. Bud is beginning to have more success. Right hand falls short by Madrimov. Crawford slips to the canvas. Nice right from Madrimov late. Every round has been close but Crawford taking rounds on activity.
SN Unofficial Scorecard: 10-9 Crawford (50-45 Crawford)
Round 4: Right hand getting closer from Madrimov. Bus still controlling things behind a beautiful right jab. Another right from Madrimov. Bud responds with a brutal left to the body. Both fighters exchange at center ring and fall into a clinch. Right hand from Madrimov scores and is answered by an uppercut. Two lefts from Crawford score late. He's just busier.
SN Unofficial Scorecard: 10-9 Crawford (40-36 Crawford)
Round 3: The jab from Crawford again. Three-punch combo backs Madrimov up. Quality jab again from Crawford. Right jab again and again. It's smart boxing from both sides but it's not crowd-friendly. Crawford scores a left uppercut out of the southpaw stance. NICE! Jab scores from Madrimov... and a right. Crowd booing. Madrimov scores a solid jab, his best punch so far.
SN Unofficial Scorecard: 10-9 Crawford (30-27 Crawford)
Round 2: Crawford stays lefty and uses the ring. The jab starting to find its mark. Crawford seems to want to counterpunch, but Madrimov refuses to commit at the moment. Two rights from Madrimov almost reach the challenger. The crowd is getting restless. Sharp two-piece to the body from Crawford.
SN Unofficial Scorecard: 10-9 Crawford (20-18 Crawford)
Round 1: Madrimov takes center ring and looks nice and loose. Crawford switches southpaw almost immediately and flashes out the right jab. A minute has gone and nothing significant landed from either side. A couple of nice jabs from Bud. Plenty of feints from Madrimov, but no punches as yet. Both fighters trying to win the foot game right now. Right to the body from Madrimov blocked. Quick combo from Crawford scores light to end the round.
SN Unofficial Scorecard: 10-9 Crawford
We switch back to round-by-round scoring for tonight's main event between pound-for-pound superstar Terence Crawford and undefeated WBA super welterweight champion Israil Madrimov.
As has been widely publicized, fans are now being treated to a stage performance by rap artist Eminem. The main event between Terence Crawford and Israil Madrimov will follow.
Isaac Cruz vs. Jose Valenzuela: SN live scorecard
| Round | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | Total |
| Cruz | 10 | 10 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 10 | 9 | 9 | 10 | 116 |
| Valenzuela | 9 | 9 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 9 | 10 | 10 | 9 | 112 |
AND THE NEW WBA SUPER LIGHTWEIGHT CHAMPION OF THE WORLD... JOSE VALENZUELA. THE UNDERDOG SPRINGS THE MASSIVE UPSET ON A SPLIT DECISION (116-112, 116-112, 113-115).
Round 12: Terrific right from Cruz. One of his best shots of the fight. Valenzuela, who has moved all night, seems to be tiring. Good right uppercut from the challenger. Some better work from Cruz, but it's too little too late. Valenzuela has won this fight and any other result would be a farce.
SN Unofficial Scorecard: 10-9 Cruz (116-112 Valenzuela)
Round 11: Cruz getting wilder and wilder, but missing, missing, missing. Valenzuela is enjoying himself now. Left uppercut scores. Left hook around the guard scores. The challenger is controlling distance and has Cruz tamed. A big attack has Valenzuela looking a little distressed at the bell. On this card at least, the champion needs a KO to keep his title.
SN Unofficial Scorecard: 10-9 Valenzuela (107-102 Valenzuela)
Round 10: Cruz looks desperate which is just giving Valenzuela more punching opportunities. Nice right hook counter from the challenger who spins away for the umpteenth time. Terrific stuff! Stabbing jab to the body from Valenzuela. Left hand from Cruz, but that was about all he did in the round.
SN Unofficial Scorecard: 10-9 Valenzuela (97-93 Valenzuela)
Round 9: Round started well again for Valenzuela, but Cruz suddenly comes to life. HUGE LOW BLOW from the champ hurts Valenzuela and time is called. A desperate Cruz piles on the pressure and takes the round on aggression. Can he keep up the momentum? Valenzuela closes the round well but may have lost that one.
SN Unofficial Scorecard: 10-9 Cruz (87-84 Valenzuela)
Round 8: Valenzuela continues to outbox his man and showcase some excellent defensive skills. An uppercut from the challenger scores to the body this time. Cruz looks lost! The jab explodes off his face as Valenzuela steps around. Left hand from the challenger. Good left from the champion momentarily changes things, but normal service resumes.
SN Unofficial Scorecard: 10-9 Valenzuela (78-74 Valenzuela)
Round 7: Cruz is either unwilling or incapable of changing the tide right now. Balletic footwork from Valenzuela, who has the champion chasing shadows and looking very ordinary. Uppercut again from the challenger. Cruz has his weight over his front foot and is open for that shot. The jab working well for Valenzuela. ANOTHER uppercut, this time with the left hand. Decent attack from Cruz, his best in a while, but nothing resembling a breakthrough.
SN Unofficial Scorecard: 10-9 Valenzuela (68-65 Valenzuela)
Round 6: Wild attack by Cruz which Valenzuela avoids effortlessly before pivoting back to center ring. Excellent work. Cruz hasn't landed a decent shot for several minutes. Counter right hook scores from the challenger. Brilliant right uppercut lead from Valenzuela off the ropes was his best punch of the fight. Cruz responds but he's not doing enough. The champ lures Valenzuela in, deflects a combination and counters well. It's another Valenzuela round.
SN Unofficial Scorecard: 10-9 Valenzuela (58-56 Valenzuela)
Round 5: Despite Cruz's signature aggression and brutality, Valenzuela looks very comfortable boxing off him. His ring generalship is apparent and Cruz is having problems solving the style. The challenger continues to befuddle his man with movement and hand speed. Terrific round again from Valenzuela.
SN Unofficial Scorecard: 10-9 Valenzuela (48-47 Valenzuela)
Round 4: Valenzuela's quickness, mobility and southpaw stance presenting problems right now. Cruz has slowed down the pace and is being clipped on the way in. Another wild miss by Cruz and nailed on the counter by the challenger who is in a nice rhythm at the moment. Cruz gets inside but he can't land the big blows. Nice combination at center ring by Valenzuela. The challenger completely controlled this round.
SN Unofficial Scorecard: 10-9 Valenzuela (38-38)
Round 3: Valenzuela is moving well and getting punches off, but he's struggling to penetrate the champ's guard. Nice combination from the challenger, but he takes two lefts in return. The lefts were HARDER! Cruz is now on the backfoot and that's a first. More jabs and a left hand from Valenzuela in what was his best round so far.
SN Unofficial Scorecard: 10-9 Valenzuela (29-28 Cruz)
Round 2: BIG left hand by Cruz sets up a pulverising body assault. Again, good defense by Valenzuela, who slips and dips effectively. Another nice left hand by the champion. Some wild assaults by Cruz, but his aggression is keeping Valenzuela honest. Good left hand by the challenger. Cruz eats it and keeps coming. Big right from Cruz scores. Another body attack by the Mexican star.
SN Unofficial Scorecard: 10-9 Cruz (20-18 Cruz)
Round 1: Southpaw Valenzuela is cornered almost immediately and Cruz unloads with both hands. The challenger avoids the worst of it and escapes. Good straight left to the body by Valenzuela. Untidy action up close and both men struggling with their timing. Hard right to the body by Cruz may have strayed low. Close round.
SN Unofficial Scorecard: 10-9 Cruz
We now switch to round-by-round scoring for the WBA super lightweight title fight between champion Isaac Cruz and challenger Jose Valenzuela.
10:22 p.m. ET | 7:22 p.m. PT: During the post-fight interviews, Ruiz shows his right hand to the camera and it appears to be broken. A bone is protruding from the back of the hand and is sure to keep Ruiz out of action once again. Miller is extremely aggrieved with the decision.
IT'S A MAJORITY DRAW! THE JUDGES COULDN'T DECIDE A WINNER IN THIS FIGHT. ONE CARD FAVORS MILLER AT 116-112, OVERRULED BY TWO TALLIES OF 114-114. DO WE SEE IT AGAIN? THERE WON'T BE MANY REQUESTS FOR A SEQUEL!
10:13 p.m. ET | 7:13 p.m. PT: Both heavyweights trading leather down the stretch. Ruiz had a good start in this fight, so it might be close, but we've seen the best of Miller in the second half of this bout. Great finish to the round by Miller, who unloaded with both hands. No telling which way this one will go on the cards.
10:07 p.m. ET | 7:07 p.m. PT: WBA super welterweight champ Israil Madrimov arrives at BMO Stadium accompanied by his team which includes former unified super bantamweight champion and countryman Murodjon "MJ" Akhmadaliev.
9:59 p.m. ET | 6:59 p.m. PT: We're through eight rounds and Ruiz is out of fuel with no gas station in sight. Miller is the one doing all the scoring, he's closed the gap and he's on the ascent. Can Ruiz get a second wind? It looks unlikely right now.
9:50 p.m. ET | 6:50 p.m. PT: The sixth was another very bad round for Ruiz, who looks absolutely exhausted. A lack of ring time and notoriously poor discipline appear to be catching up with him. Miller is purposefully upping the pace and taking away his opponent's time and distance.
9:46 p.m. ET | 6:46 p.m. PT: The best round of the fight by Miller, who targeted the body and worked Ruiz over for the full three minutes of round five. Ruiz, who is very heavy at 274 pounds, appeared to be rocked by a combination at the end of the session.
9:38 p.m. ET | 6:38 p.m. PT: While the action is nowhere near as explosive as what we saw in Anderson vs. Bakole, there's still plenty of contact. The fight is competitive, but Ruiz's punch variety and speed have him ahead after three rounds.
9:31 p.m. ET | 6:31 p.m. PT: A slow start in round one, but Ruiz settles first and sparkles with a quick combination of headshots just before the bell. That was nice and Miller looked shocked by the speed. No sign of rust from Ruiz, who has been very inactive in recent years.
9:13 p.m. ET | 6:13 p.m. PT: We stay at heavyweight for a showdown between two goliaths that combine for an overall weight of... 580 POUNDS!!! Former unified champ Andy Ruiz returns from a two-year layoff to take on enigmatic Brooklynite Jarrell "Big Baby" Miller.
THE WINNER OF AN EPIC HEAVYWEIGHT SHOWDOWN IS MARTIN BAKOLE, WHO IMPROVES TO 21-1 (16 KOS). THE SCOTLAND-BASED CONGOLEAN COLLOSUS HAS PUT THE GLAMOUR DIVISION ON NOTICE. THE OFFICIAL TIME IS 2:07 OF ROUND 5. ANDERSON DROPS TO 18-1 (15 KOs).
8:53 p.m. ET | 5:53 p.m. PT: HUGE LEFT UPPERCUT DECKS ANDERSON IN THE FIFTH! Anderson gets up again and gets battered to the floor again with a combo punctuated by A MASSIVE RIGHT! Anderson is on his feet, but he looks woozy and defeated. The referee is close to calling it off but lets it go. A follow-up attack forces a warranted intervention. THE REAL BIG BABY LOSES FOR THE FIRST TIME! WOW! MARTIN BAKOLE HAS ARRIVED!!!!
8:50 p.m. ET | 5:50 p.m. PT: We're in Round 4 and both fighters duking it out at center ring. Big combination by Bakole AND A HUGE LEFT HOOK LEAD! Suddenly, Bakole slows and Anderson opens up with some quick combinations. In the final minute of round four, Anderson's speed was decisive. Best round for the American.
8:45 p.m. ET | 5:45 p.m. PT: Anderson is back to the lefty stance and having some success to the body. Bakole undeterred marches forward. BIG LEFT UPPERCUT from Bakole. The home fighter is stunned again in the third! Nice response from Anderson, who nails his man with a big combination. HUGE COMBO BY ANDERSON ON THE BELL TO END ROUND THREE! WHAT A FIGHT!
8:41 p.m. ET | 5:41 p.m. PT: Anderson goes back to the orthodox stance in round two and looks a lot more cautious. Bakole now letting more shots go and they look VERY HARD!!! Bakole is nailing Anderson to head and body. The American looks spooked and is backing off. Another right buckles Anderson's back leg.
8:36 p.m. ET | 5:36 p.m. PT: Nice opening round from Anderson, who switched to the southpaw stance immediately and worked behind the right jab. DOWN GOES ANDERSON FROM AN UPPERCUT AND A FOLLOW-UP ATTACK!! WOW!!!! Bell rings and saves Anderson. WOW!!!!
8:25 p.m. ET | 5:25 p.m. PT: We now switch to the heavyweight division for a potentially thunderous collision between American Jared "The Real Big Baby" Anderson and Scotland-based Congolean Martin Bakole. The advice? Don't blink! Most believe this is Anderson's biggest test to date.
THE WINNER AND THE NEW WBA "REGULAR" LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION IS DAVID MORRELL. THE CUBAN LEFTY WINS A UNANIMOUS DECISION (118-110, 117-111, 117-111) AND WILL LOOK TO TARGET THE BEST THE DIVISION HAS TO OFFER.
8:05 p.m. ET | 5:05 p.m. PT: The fight is over and we've gone the distance. The unbeaten Morrell wins the final round and should be posting a unanimous decision win. However, it was not the exciting light heavyweight debut that he was looking for.
7:57 p.m. ET | 4:57 p.m. PT: We're through 10 rounds and this fight has been disappointing. The only drama is that Morrell has lost some rounds. Still, his harder-hitting and eye-catching bursts will have him ahead on the scorecards. Kalajdzic has produced some nice work, but not enough to close the gap.
7:47 p.m. ET | 4:47 p.m. PT: BIG RIGHT HOOK ROCKS KALAJDIC IN ROUND EIGHT. Hot Rod's legs dipped, but he's over the worst of it and fighting back.
7:42 p.m. ET | 4:42 p.m. PT: We're through six rounds. Morrell is ahead, but he's beginning to look bored and may have lost a couple of rounds following Kalajdzic around. Neither fighter has been hurt and the action has been largely one-paced.
7:30 p.m. ET | 4:30 p.m. PT: Three rounds in and Morrell is in command. The Cuban fighter boxing beautifully out of the southpaw stance and controlling the action behind the jab. At the end of the third, a sustained attack from Morrell had Kalajdzic on the retreat.
7:10 p.m. ET | 4:10 pm PT: Next up is David Morrell vs. Radivoje Kalajdzic for the WBA "regular" light heavyweight title (yes, Dmitry Bivol is the REAL WBA champ at 175 pounds). But while it might not be an authentic world title fight, it's a great chance to see the unbeaten Morrell in his light heavyweight debut against a top opponent in "Hot Rod"!
THE WINNER IS UNBEATEN LIGHTWEIGHT SENSATION ANDY CRUZ. OFFICIAL TIME IS 2:59 OF ROUND 7. HE IMPROVES TO 4-0 (2 KOs).
6:52 p.m. ET | 3:52 p.m. PT: HUGE POWER JAB FROM CRUZ ROCKS MORAN! A RIGHT MONSTER RIGHT SENDS HIM SPRAWLING INTO THE ROPES. The referee calls it a knockdown and Moran cannot recover his senses. IT'S ALL OVER in round seven!!!
6:48 p.m. ET | 3:48 p.m. PT: Moran just posted his best round of the fight in the sixth. He's being very aggressive and walking through Cruz's jab and pot-shotting. The second half of this fight promises to be very interesting.
6:40 p.m. ET | 3:40 p.m. PT: OHHHH! Cruz was momentarily rocked by a sharp left hook to the jaw in the fourth. The first moment of adversity in his professional career. He recovers and gets a telling-off from his corner.
6:38 p.m. ET | 3:38 p.m. PT: We're three rounds into this lightweight 10-rounder and Cruz is in command. Moran is game and having sporadic success, but he's on the end of the Cuban's jab and has been absorbing a shellacking to the body.
6:20 p.m. ET | 3:20 p.m.PT: Our first fight features white-hot prospect Andy Cruz, the former Olympic and triple world champion against Antonio Moran. Cruz, who campaigns at lightweight, is a dazzling talent who's looking to go 4-0.
5 p.m. ET | 2 p.m. PT: Hello and welcome to The Sporting News' live coverage of the eagerly anticipated showdown between pound-for-pound superstar Terence Crawford and WBA super welterweight champion Israil Madrimov. We're in the countdown!!!
Isaac Cruz vs. Jose Valenzuela fight card
- Terence Crawford def. Israil Madrimov for the WBA super welterweight titles (116-112, 115-113, 115-113)
- Martin Bakole def. Jared Anderson via KO 5 (2:07); Heavyweights
- David Morrell def. Radivoje Kalajdzic via UD 12 (118-110, 117-111, 117-111) for the WBA "regular" light heavyweight title
- Jose Valenzuela def. Isaac Cruz (c) for the WBA super lightweight title (116-112, 116-112, 113-115)
- Andy Cruz def. Antonio Moran via KO 7 (2:59); Lightweights
- Andy Ruiz Jr. draw Jarrell Miller (112-116, 114-114, 114-114); Heavyweights