The main event of the card that took place yesterday in Los Angeles as part of the Riyadh Season was much more balanced than expected. In the end, American Terence “Bud” Crawford (41-0-0, 31 KO) managed to claim the WBA super welterweight world title, taking it from the tough Uzbek boxer Israil Madrimov (10-1-1, 7 KO). The fight, which remained in the balance for long stretches, was decided in the last two rounds, marked by a decisive sprint from Crawford: a champion’s finish that proved crucial to obtain the unanimous decision from the judges with the following scores: 116 to 112 and twice 115 to 113.
Usually, when two high-level boxers face off, one or two rounds pass without major surprises as the contenders want to avoid dangerous shots and need a few minutes to decipher the rival’s style and set up the best possible strategy. These are known as “feeling-out rounds,” but in last night’s main event, it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that this phase lasted, with few interruptions, for ten rounds.
The match was characterized by the apparent fear of both athletes to make a false move, leaving themselves open to the opponent’s counters. Madrimov immediately took the center of the ring, but his pressure was extremely bland and cautious, focused more on feints than on combinations of punches. For his part, Crawford moved nimbly on his feet but was also very cautious in unleashing his formidable right jab, preferring to leave the initiative to the champion.
After four rounds marked by very low rhythms and without a clear leader, Madrimov won the first clear round of the fight thanks to a good acceleration at the end. The Uzbek thus inaugurated a new pattern that repeated for another couple of rounds: the two boxers kept the handbrake on for two and a half minutes, then ignited in the last thirty seconds trying to earn the point in the eyes of the judges.
Crawford’s best actions in the middle of the fight were marked by fine uppercuts to the body, while Madrimov, in his sporadic offensive attempts, was more varied, alternating the right straight, the left uppercut to the chin, and the left hook. The Uzbek tried to be more active and lively starting from the eighth round, and in the ninth, he landed one of the best punches seen until that point in the fight, before being immediately put back in line by three consecutive jabs from the challenger.
At the end of the tenth round, the fight still appeared extremely uncertain. The main specialized journalists all had a balanced score, many had it tied, some were slightly favoring one or the other contender. But there is a reason why the last two rounds of a world championship boxing match are called “championship rounds,” and that reason is that it is in those six minutes that the true champion, the ace, the ring genius, often emerges.
Terence Crawford broke the deadlock and finally went on the attack, starting to bombard the champion with fast and violent punches, giving him no chance to reply. Madrimov gritted his teeth, clinched several times to interrupt the American’s action, and desperately tried to land some wide hooks to turn the situation around, but could only endure until the final bell.
The official scorecards, all acceptable, show that the challenger’s final sprint was decisive in securing the victory and winning the title. If Crawford had lost even one of the last two rounds, the fight would have ended in a draw and Madrimov would have retained the title. But Bud’s greatness emerged when needed, confirming once again that we have the honor of admiring one of the most brilliant talents ever to step into a boxing ring.
Honors and applause must be given to the now-former world champion Madrimov, who, despite the initial odds set by bookmakers that saw him as doomed, kept the fight balanced, fighting with extreme concentration and notable tactical acumen for ten rounds before losing ground. The Uzbek is 29 years old and has plenty of time to bounce back: we are certain that he will soon gain new prestigious opportunities and that in the 154-pound limit, he will be a tough nut to crack for anyone.
Although this world title victory in the fourth weight class by Crawford represents a true sporting masterpiece, the writer of this article, after watching this fight, has reinforced his opinion that Bud, despite his brilliant class, would start significantly disadvantaged in a hypothetical stellar fight against the super middleweight world champion Saul “Canelo” Alvarez. But there will be plenty of time to discuss this in the future: today is Crawford’s day and it’s time to celebrate his triumph!