Terence Crawford beats Israil Madrimov to become four-division champion | Terence Crawford

Terence Crawford, the consensus finest pound-for-pound boxer on this planet, defeated Israil Madrimov by unanimous resolution on Saturday night time to develop into a four-division champion.

Crawford gained the WBA tremendous welterweight title in his first combat at 154lbs, taking it 116-112, 115-113 and 115-113 on the judges’ scorecards.

Crawford (41-0, 31 KOs) had not fought since he stopped Errol Spence Jr in July 2023 to develop into the undisputed welterweight champion. He has additionally gained titles at tremendous light-weight and light-weight.

Saturday’s victory may arrange a combat between Crawford and Canelo Álvarez, the reigning 168lbs champion.

“ what I say, if the cash is correct, we bought to combat,” Crawford mentioned instantly after the combat.

The largely unknown Madrimov (10-1-1) acquitted himself nicely on the highest-profile stage thus far for the 29-year-old from Uzbekistan.

“I fought the most effective pound-for-pound fighter on this planet, and I consider I did sufficient as a result of I used to be the champion,” Madrimov mentioned. “I used to be controlling the rhythm and felt very comfy contained in the ring. I consider that I did very well.”

It began out as a cautious affair, with each fighters attempting to determine place and really feel out the opposite by means of the primary three rounds. That strategy didn’t agree with the capability crowd at BMO Stadium. Having handled blazing temperatures and sunshine for a lot of the lengthy card on the out of doors residence of MLS crew LAFC, they responded with jeers and whistles.

Crawford turned on the strain within the fourth spherical, simply lacking on a fierce proper hand within the closing seconds.

“I didn’t wish to rush in with something as a result of that’s how I bought caught a pair instances, dashing in, attempting to eat too quickly,” Crawford mentioned. “However I did my factor.”

Madrimov was energized within the fifth spherical after Crawford slipped and ended up on his bottom. Madrimov got here in with a sequence of aggressive punches to place his American opponent on the defensive. The flurry despatched Crawford again right into a cautious posture for a lot of the subsequent two rounds earlier than he landed a uncommon efficient mixture to the physique late within the seventh.

“He was ready to counter me similar to I used to be attempting to counter him,” Crawford mentioned. “He was very disciplined, he wasn’t coming in throwing them wild pictures like I supposed him to, and it was an excellent combat.”

Madrimov reestablished momentum with three straight rights to the face within the eighth spherical. Crawford landed a shot of his personal, forcing Madrimov to clench and break momentum and permitting him to return again with a proper hook.

“I made a pair errors, however I felt I did sufficient in every spherical,” Madrimov mentioned. “I used to be holding myself again so much too, so within the rematch I could make much more.”

The motion picked up over the following two rounds, with each fighters seemingly attempting to land energy punches as a substitute of making an attempt to string collectively longer intervals of management.

Crawford got here on within the final 30 seconds of the eleventh spherical. The flurry energized him and carried over to the ultimate spherical as he pushed unsuccessfully for a twelfth straight win by knockout. Each fighters missed on wild throws within the closing minutes, however it was Crawford who emphatically raised each gloves within the air when the bout ended.

Jose Valenzuela (14-2) gained the WBA tremendous light-weight title by cut up resolution over Isaac Cruz (26-3-1) within the co-main occasion. Valenzuela bought equivalent 116-112 scores from two judges, whereas Cruz acquired a 115-113 mark from the third.

The gang booed the outcome and once more when Valenzuela was interviewed afterwards, having seen Cruz stay as much as his “Pitbull” nickname to depart Valenzuela constantly backpedaling for a lot of the bout. However Valenzuela’s tactical counterpunching was sufficient to sway the opinions which mattered. Cruz mentioned he would push for a right away rematch.