Avila Perspective, Chap 290: Crawford vs Madrimov Tops Mammoth LA Card

Led by boxing’s impressive Terence Crawford, a sports promotion called Riyadh Season is dipping its toes into America.

Welcome to L.A.

Considered my many the top fighter pound-fo- pound, Crawford (40-0, 31 KOs) moves up a weight division to challenge WBA super welterweight titlist Israil Madrimov (10-0-1, 7 KOs) at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles, Calif. PPV.COM and DAZN pay-per-view will stream the multi-promotion card.

It’s an impressive array of talent.

Boxing presentations are not new to Riyadh Season which already hosted several prizefighting events on their own soil in Saudi Arabia.

Now, they’re coming to Los Angeles.

Who better to lead the show than Crawford the undisputed welterweight champion? A year ago, he claimed that prize with a surprising destruction of Errol Spence Jr. in Las Vegas. This will be his first foray into the boxing ring since that victory as he moves up in weight.

“People keep thinking this whole fight he’s the bigger guy and stronger guy since I’m moving up in weight,” said Crawford, 36, at the press conference in Hollywood, Calif. “We always have these same questions in other fights against bigger guys, but when they get in the ring with me I’m stronger than they thought.”

Crawford’s newest challenge will be Madrimov.

The WBA titlist Madrimov has lived and trained in the desert area of Indio, California for the past six years along with many of his Uzbekistan teammates. Their co-trainers Joel and Antonio Diaz have groomed them to become aggressive pressure fighters.

Joel Diaz is very familiar with Crawford who served as a sparring partner for Tim Bradley Jr. years ago in Indio.

“We have a lot of respect for Team Crawford,” said Diaz. “You guys are going to see what a great fighter, what a great athlete, and a person Israil Madrimov is.”

Madrimov defeated Russia’s Magomed Kurbanov by knockout last March on a Riyadh Season card that also featured Anthony Joshua’s brutal knockout of Francis Ngannou.

“I am fighting the best boxer in the world. This is a dream come true. I feel great and want to be a part of history,” said Madrimov, 29.

Crawford seeks to become a four-division world champion and plant a claim as the best fighter on earth.

“I’m going to be stronger at 154 pounds and be more energized,” Crawford said,

Other Bouts

Two other world title belts are featured including a clash between Mexican lightweights Isaac “Pitbull” Cruz (26-2-1) the WBA super lightweight titlist and Jose “Rayo” Valenzuela (13-2). Cruz is a relentless slugger and Valenzuela packs smashing power.

Light heavyweights Radivoje Kalajdzic (29-2) and David Morrell (10-0) the Cuban knockout specialist vie for the vacant WBA world title. Morrell is moving up two weight divisions for this fight.

Heavyweights fill out a strong portion of the card including former world champion Andy Ruiz who destroyed Anthony Joshua in their first meeting five years ago. The Mexican heavyweight has been out of action the past two years and ready to prove he shouldn’t be overlooked in any heavyweight conversation.

Ruiz (35-2, 22 KOs) meets Jarrell “Big Baby” Miller (26-1-1, 22 KOs) in a 12-round bout.

“I’m beating Andy Ruiz up,” announced Miller who lost his last match in Riyadh to Daniel Dubois last December.

Ruiz remains calm despite not fighting since September 2022 when he defeated Cuba’s Luis Ortiz in Los Angeles.

“I know that he’s coming hungry, I know he wants to win, but so do I. I want to win, I’m hungry and I’m motivated. I’m physically ready and prepared.. Let’s do this,” said Ruiz.

A captivating heavyweight companion bout pits Ohio’s undefeated Jared Anderson (17-0, 15 KOs) against Congo’s Martin Bakole (20-1, 15 KOs) who fights out of Scotland. Both are heavy-hitting big guys.

PPV.COM or DAZN ppv.?

Once again Jim Lampley and friends Lance Pugmire and Dan Canobbio are providing their own analysis and coverage of the impressive Aug. 3, L.A. fight card on PPV.COM. Viewers can text Lampley or give their own opinions on the message board.

This is Lampley’s first return to Southern California since HBO’s last boxing coverage back in December 2018 when Claressa Shields, Cecilia Braekhus and Juan Francisco Estrada performed.

On DAZN’s American coverage the improving blend of Todd Grisham, Chris Mannix, Sergio Mora, and Shawn Porter will provide coverage in L.A. on August 3 too.

The broadcasts begin at 5 p.m. Cost is $79.99.