Terence Crawford will hope to put talk over a blockbuster showdown with Canelo Alvarez to one side as he returns to action this weekend against Israil Madrimov .
Rumours over a massive ‘super fight’ between two of boxing ’s biggest global names and pound-for-pound superstars has continued to ramp up in recent weeks as ‘Bud’ and Canelo prepare to take on Madrimov and Edgar Berlanga respectively this summer.
While Crawford has talked up a potential clash with the Mexican as well as several other top names from different divisions, he is first focused on attempting to become a four-weight world champion in Los Angeles on Saturday night.
The ultra-skilled American southpaw, whom many would have above the likes of Oleksandr Usyk and Naoya Inoue as the current P4P No1, is heading up to super-welterweight to challenge for the WBA title at 154lbs - stripped from former undisputed champion Jermell Charlo in March - that has been held by Uzbekistan’s Madrimov since he stopped the previously undefeated Russian Magomed Kurbanov on the undercard of Anthony Joshua’s win over Francis Ngannou in Saudi Arabia. The vacant WBO ‘interim’ title is also on the line.
It is Crawford’s first fight since last July, when he produced arguably one of the greatest performances in recent boxing memory with a one-sided, systematic, ruthless nine-round beatdown of Errol Spence Jr in Las Vegas that saw him become the first undisputed welterweight champion of the four-belt era, having also previously been undisputed at light-welterweight.
He will be the strong favourite to now stay unbeaten and move to 41-0 against Madrimov, who is undefeated himself at 11-0-1.
However, he will not want to overlook the hard-hitting Uzbek, AKA ‘The Dream’, an accomplished former amateur whom promoter Eddie Hearn says will provide the toughest test of Crawford’s career to date.
Crawford vs Madrimov date, start time, venue and ring walks
Crawford vs Madrimov takes place on Saturday August 3, 2024 at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles, California.
The event is scheduled to begin at 9:30pm BST in the UK, which is 1:30pm local time in LA and 4:30pm ET.
Ring walks for the main event are expected at 4:30am BST in the early hours of Sunday morning, 8:30pm PDT and 11:30pm ET.
Crawford vs Madrimov fight card/undercard in full
There is plenty of other intriguing action coming up on Saturday night’s card, including big heavyweight showdowns between Andy Ruiz Jr - fighting for the first time in almost two years - and Jarrell Miller plus Jared Anderson and Martin Bakole.
Isaac ‘Pitbull’ Cruz also defends his WBA super-lightweight world title against Jose Valenzuela.
Israil Madrimov vs Terence Crawford
Andy Ruiz Jr vs Jarrell Miller
Jared Anderson vs Martin Bakole
Isaac Cruz vs Jose Valenzuela
David Morrell vs Radivoje Kalajdzic
Andy Cruz vs Antonio Moran
Steven Nelson vs Marcos Ramon Vazquez
Ziyad Almaayouf vs Michal Bulik
How to watch Crawford vs Madrimov
TV channel: Crawford vs Madrimov is being shown live on DAZN pay-per-view at a cost of £24.99 in the UK.
Live stream: Those who have bought the fight can watch it live online via DAZN’s website and app .
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Crawford vs Madrimov fight prediction
Madrimov is being too easily overlooked by many.
The Uzbek carries real threat and power in both hands and is a smart fighter capable of exploiting an off-night from Crawford if the latter is guilty of looking past him and to greater riches down the line against the likes of Canelo.
The trouble is, Crawford just doesn’t really do off-nights or take his eyes off the prize, while he should have little trouble in moving up another weight class.
His utter destruction of a fellow great champion in Spence last summer was truly jaw-dropping and deserves to be ranked among the very best performances seen in a boxing ring in recent times.
If ‘Bud’ gets anywhere near those levels again, he will surely claim another rousing victory on Saturday night.
Crawford to win via late knockout.
Crawford vs Madrimov weigh-in results
Both men took to the scales in LA on Friday. Madrimov weighed in at 154lbs exactly, with Crawford a fraction lighter at 153.4lbs.
Crawford vs Madrimov betting odds
Crawford to win: 1/7
Madrimov to win: 9/2
Draw: 20/1
Crawford to win on points or by decision: 9/4
Crawford to win by knockout or technical knockout: 4/6
Madrimov to win on points or by decision: 11/1
Madrimov to win by knockout or technical knockout: 15/2
Odds via Betfair (subject to change).
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