Terence Crawford Defeats Israil Madrimov to Become Four-Division Champion

Terence Crawford, the consensus best pound-for-pound boxer in the world, defeated Israil Madrimov by unanimous decision on Saturday, August 3 2024 night to become a four-division champion.

Saturday’s victory could set up a fight between Crawford and Canelo Álvarez, the reigning 168 lbs champion. “You know what I say, if the money is right, we got to fight,” Crawford said after the fight.

Madrimov (10-1-1), a relatively unknown boxer, performed well on his highest-profile stage to date.

The 29-year-old from Uzbekistan said, “I fought the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world, and I believe I did enough because I was the champion. I was controlling the rhythm and felt very comfortable inside the ring. I believe that I did really well.”

The fight began cautiously, with both fighters trying to establish their position and gauge each other through the first three rounds.

The capacity crowd at BMO Stadium responded with jeers and whistles, having endured blazing temperatures and sunshine for most of the long card at the outdoor venue.

Madrimov was energized in the fifth round after Crawford slipped and ended up on his backside. Madrimov responded with a series of aggressive punches, putting his American opponent on the defensive.

This forced Crawford back into a cautious stance for most of the next two rounds before he landed an effective combination to the body late in the seventh.

Madrimov regained momentum with three straight rights to the face in the eighth round. Crawford landed a shot of his own, forcing Madrimov to clinch and break the momentum, allowing Crawford to come back with a right hook.

The action intensified over the next two rounds, with both fighters attempting power punches instead of trying to control the bout for longer periods.

Crawford surged in the last 30 seconds of the 11th round. The flurry energized him and carried over to the final round as he pushed unsuccessfully for a 12th straight win by knockout.

Both fighters missed wild throws in the final minutes, but it was Crawford who emphatically raised both gloves in the air when the bout ended.